Wind surfing


     Now you’re talking when you say wind surfing.  Wind surfing is the sport requiring excellent balance, agility, and patience.

    Unlike in surfing where a person can crouch low and get near to the board when needed, the wind surfer has to remain standing.  Quite an easy feat if not that at the same time the wind at the sail is also trying to overturn everything upside down.  I would say that the physical demands are not as much as weightlifting but every muscle of the surfer’s body has to react unpredictably and fast.

    The equipments needed are the boards and sails.  There are various sizes for different ages from a small 7 feet 9 inches in length to 11 feet in length. Popular models sell as much as $1500 per board while older stocks can go reasonably cheap at $700 or less.

    The sails are very advanced in style and design too.  Sail panels are made of extra strength spectra x-film with clear tear resistant vinyl windows, and costs anywhere from $660 to a thousand or more.  Renting the gear is another option which costs about $15 an hour.

    Other accessories are a wetsuit for cold weather surfing, sun block specially for the kids, eyewear, hats and caps, backpacks, mast and quiver bags, windsurfing soft wear spares such as mastfoot protectors, foot straps, boom protectors, uphauls, and windsurfing hardware spares which include extensions, rigging aids, fin bolts, and vent screws. Flotation devices should always be provided for children.  See our Online Store or our partnersbelow for a great selection.

    Actually wind surfing is easy to learn.  The basics can be taught to a child by first using the board without the sail.  Or, you can take your child onboard while sailing. 

    When you are familiar with your equipment, get the board on the water. Climb aboard facing the sail floating on the water. Get to your knees and raise the up haul. Slowly stand on your feet while raising the uphaul. When the sail is about straight, transfer your hands to the mast, then pull back when the wind is enough to get the board moving forward.

    The benefits of surfing are enormous. For example there are cardio respiratory benefits for the heart and lungs. The muscles are exercised for strength and endurance.  The related movements result in lower body fat.

    The physical demands involve good balance, hand and feet coordination, strong extensor foot muscles, biceps, triceps, and other muscles of the body particularly in the chest, abdomen, calves and lower back...  Mentally, it demands alertness, quick thinking, and some degree of concentration.

    With the right equipment, windsurfing is considered generally safe. It is less dangerous and harmful than wakeboarding, jet skis, mountain biking or skateboarding. 

    Of course there are risks and hazards associated with it like in any other sport. Muscle strains can occur, sunburns, leg, hand, back and neck injuries, hypothermia, and drowning. 



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