Doug Maas wrote ..
> just extremely interested in getting started
>
> looking at products....quite a range. really cheap stuff and easily
> some basic models over $2000
>
> where do I start???
>
> would like to see various products, understand what drives price, and
> where do we go to see and learn?
>
> locatated in Washington state

Unfortunately, you have to go a long ways. The only place I know that one is
allowed to landsail in Washington State is Washaway Beach, which is more than a
two-hour drive from Seattle, and it's not a very suitable area. I've been
sailing there four times, and twice there was enough wind to sail and twice
there wasn't - not good odds when you're driving 4 - 5 hours round trip. The
beach is wide but most of it isn't useable for sailing because it is soft, dry
sand. You have to time your sailing for when there is a low tide so that you
can sail on the wet, hard-packed sand. There's a much better beach just north
of there, but we're not allowed to sail on it because it's designated a publich
highway. Personally, I think landyachts mix better with cars than pedestrians,
but the State of Washington doesn't see it that way. You also have to obtain a
permit from the State Parks office north of there. It's been over 10 years
since I was out there, so I don't know what the situ
ation is currently.

After that, the best landsailing in the NW is at the Alvord Desert in SE Oregon.
As a practical matter, that requires a 3-day weekend summer holiday to make the
trek to the Alvord. The Portland bunch go to the Alvord on the major holidays,
and that is probably your best bet to see different landyachts and experience
landsailing.

Other good opportunities are the NALSA events - the America's Landsailing Cup in
the Spring and the Speed Trials the week of Thanksgiving - both of which are
held at Ivanpah Dry Lake on the CA/NV border at Primm, NV. And if you're
traveling in SoCal, take some time to go out to El Mirage to sail with the Wind
Wizards on the weekends.

Cheers,

Tom Speer