Beginner Windsurf

Windsurfing combines a board with a mast and sail, connected by a flexible joint that allows the sail to move freely in different directions. You use the sail to harness the wind and propel yourself across the water, controlling your direction and speed by adjusting the sail angle, shifting your body weight and using the board’s edges. Once you get the hang of the basics, you can sail upwind, turn around, build speed and explore different conditions.

It's a hugely rewarding sport with plenty of room to progress, from cruising on flat water and enjoying a relaxed session in a light breeze to blasting at speed, jumping over chop and riding waves. Windsurfing rewards both technique and time on the water, with new skills and challenges to discover as your confidence grows. It's also a sport that can take you in many different directions, whether you enjoy the freedom of exploring a local spot, the thrill of high-speed sailing or the challenge of mastering waves and aerial manoeuvres.

Conditions

Windsurfing can be enjoyed in many places where there's wind and water. For beginners flat water and 8-15kts suits learning well. Although with the right instruction and gear stronger winds can be used to learn.

Some conditions can make learning more challenging.

• Large shorebreak: Breaking waves at the beach can make getting out through the surf difficult.

• Onshore winds: Wind blowing directly towards the beach can make it harder to get away from shore and return safely.

• Light or inconsistent winds: These can make it harder to get going and keep the sail powered, depending on your equipment.

For beginners, a sheltered location with steady wind and relatively flat water is generally a great place to start.

Learning curve

Getting on the water

With the right gear and instruction windsurfing can be quick to pick up and get going with the majority of learners managing to stand up and engage the sail in their first session.

Riding independantly

Comfortablly riding upwind and returning to the same spot is a bit harder to master. Although this can be very condition and gear dependent. 

With a good beginner board you should be able to accomplish this within after 5-10 hours of riding.

Advanced riding

This is where windsurfing gets fun but also very tricky. Advanced moves, wave riding, slalom sailing are all difficult, technically and physically demanding. The progression at this stage is often quite slow but hugely rewarding for those who have the time and determination to put into it.

Fitness level

Windsurfing can be physically demanding, particularly as you progress into stronger winds and more advanced disciplines. Beginners need some balance, coordination and stamina, while more demanding styles of riding require greater strength and fitness.

The good news is that you can build your fitness and technique as you go, and choosing the right sail size and conditions makes a big difference to how manageable the sport feels.

Riding Styles

The chart below should give some indication of how the sport fits the various riding styles as your skill level progresses. Note that this information is subjective and should only be taken as such, with the right gear, skill and conditions all sports can be fun for almost all riding styles.

Safety

Windsurfing is a fairly safe sport. As a beginner in managable conditons the most common injuries are strained muscles or the mast hitting you on the head.

A helmet and bouyancy vest is advisable to keep your head un-bonked and stop you from tiring so quickly when in the water.

What gear do i need

Check out this link for beginner gear recommendations.