EDITORIAL #335 – HMMMM, BEER.

Homer Simpson might be onto something after all …

QUESTION: WHY DOES BEER TASTE SO GOOD AFTER WINDSURFING?Depending on what – or who – you believe, drinking beer can actually be good for you. Especially after exercise.

Now, with several features in this very issue [May 2014] focusing on how to get – and stay – in shape for windsurfing as the summer season approaches, we think it’s time to keep a little balance (pardon the pun), make sure things aren’t too serious and to remember to relax a little and enjoy a well-deserved icy cold after a decent session on the water.

A WINDSURFER DESERVES A BOTTLE OF SUDSOK, so you’ve just had an awesome day at the beach. You’re pumped about the conditions and everyone’s packing up and sharing funny stories about all the thrills and spills on the water.

At popular spots all around the world the iconic sound of cans being cracked open and bottle tops popped, is followed by that heavenly, astoundingly satisfying gulp of hoppy, malty, soapy nectar.

Nothing quite hits the spot like your favourite ale or lager hitting the back of your throat as the sun sets and the first whiff of a lit BBQ tickles your taste buds.

And forget the summer. On a filthy, rain-lashed, gale-force day, it’s just as good ducking out of the wet into a British or Irish pub and necking a pint of delicious Real Ale or Guinness.

RECOVERY DRINK?You’ll find as many counter arguments as you will pro-brewski points, but what harm can a couple of scoops do? (So long as you’re under the legal limit to drive home of course!) Some say beer’s a perfect post-workout fluid.

It’s got iron, calcium and phosphates. It’s good for your circulation and is even supposed to give volume to your [windswept, sun-drenched] hair!

There’s even a ‘Recovery Ale’ on the market in North America that’s a low-calorie pilsner supposedly enriched with nutrients, antioxidants and electrolytes to help replenish the body.

Now, while too much alcohol might not be so good for your hydration levels, some research says that the sugars, salts and bubbles in a pint can help drinkers absorb fluids faster.

It’s even said that the Carbon Dioxide is what helps quench a thirst and that the barley-derived carbohydrates help replenish calories lost during exercise faster.

Obviously the Daily Mail is a reliable, upstanding, respected and authoritative publication, so I was interested to read an article of theirs where a Dr. James Betts, an expert in post-exercise rehydration at Bath University, said: “People think of alcohol as being a diuretic, but if you are already hydrated, a small amount of beer could be a way of getting the fluid in.”

That’s all I need to hear. I’m sold. And what about ladies? Apparently women metabolise beer differently and some studies claim that a few post-session ales can aid a female’s recovery significantly more than their male counterparts. (So, they sail together, but She drinks and He drives? Hmmm.)

Read a little more here and there and the argument obviously dilutes. (Apologies again for the unintentional pun.)

Basically, there are caveats aplenty – with the exception of non-alcoholic beer – but the good news is that, all things considered – and as we all know already – moderate beer consumption does no more good than it does harm to our health, recovery or performance the following day.

So why is the flavour so darn right, extra, turbo, astonishingly good after sailing? Even if you’re not accompanied by a load of fellow windsurfers buzzing from the session?

Answer:Because windsurfing’s amazing, your mouth’s salty and you’re thirsty and dehydrated, dumbass.

Now, where’s that bottle opener gone again …BM

“ NOTHING QUITE HITS THE SPOT LIKE YOUR FAVOURITE ALE OR LAGER HITTING THE BACK OF YOUR THROAT AS THE SUN SETS AND THE FIRST WHIFF OF A LIT BBQ TICKLES YOUR TASTE BUDS ”

Pic: JC: ‘In typical Aussie style, Scott McKercher toasts another great day on the water with friends. But, nice as it is, beer doesn’t beat the stoke, as Scotty’s abstinent buddy Boujmaa will profess.’