Mostly people make their first steps on a windsurf during their vacation. Slightly frustrated, they rapidly notice how difficult it is even to keep the balance – and to start riding. To get the knack, instructions are a must. VDWS memberschools teach more than a 100.000 beginners and advanced every year.
Not alone, a professional training helps you to have fun on the water and also to learn all the safety procedures to practice the sport in safety conditions.
Windsurfing classes – for whom?
“Anybody – from 7 up to 70 years – can learn windsurfing. Step by step, safely, experiencing fun and excitement. That’s what most of watersport-instructors state. And they are right: for all who are able to swim, windsurfing is as easy if instructions are correct.”
Be careful: a comparison between different children of that age leads quickly to the conclusion of an obvious difference in physical and mental development. An in-depth conversation with parents and child concerning age, weight (from experience not less than 30 kilos) experiences in other disciplines and the child’s autonomy can give first indications. In case of doubt, little games or exercises on land or on water are indicated.
What helps me to know if my child is old enough to learn windsurfing?
- Is your child capable of ducking without neither difficulty nor fear for a few seconds and is he/she able to dive under a board/rig?
- Is your child able to carry a kiddy-rig, without any part touching the ground?
- Is he/she able to pull up a sail and to right it without a tremendous effort?
- Does he/she easily succeed in carrying a teaching-board about 30 to 40 meters à deux?
Contents of a beginner course
Besides the practical and theoretical basics of windsurfing (wind recognition, basic equipment as clothing, board & rig, rigging and derigging, getting on the board, pulling up the sail and start riding, stopping, steering , riding all courses, getting windward, tacking and jibing at low-wind conditions), topics related to free-time leisure (equipment tips), protection of nature and waters as well as safety (rules of way, traffic regulations, transport of boards and rig on the roof of a car, what to do in emergency situations, knots) on water and on land are part of every modern windsurfing course.
How much time does a windsurfing course take?
Generally, a complete beginner course takes 8 to 14 hours. At good weather conditions, beginners only need one hour to learn how to start riding. Easy conditions, e.g. low wind, little waves and flat water, are idealfor the start.