WINDSURFING
lessons
Learn Windsurfing in West Sussex
Our unique, three hour windsurfing lessons are the best way to get up and going fast, from beginner to advanced sailor, flat water to wave sailor, private and group lessons. Based on the south coast by the Witterings, Chichester Harbour, Hayling Island and Bracklesham Bay, we find the perfect conditions, no matter what level we’re teaching.
Our RYA Qualified Instructors use principles from RYA Start Windsurfing, Intermediate Non-planing, Intermediate Planing, and Advanced levels, speeding up the process with our own unique training methods and core skills.
BEGINNERS Windsurfing Lesson
what to expect as a beginner
Starting your windsurfing journey with a beginner lesson is essential to ensure you’re on the right path from the start.
Our lesson teaching style is quite unique and helps to build confidence and good practice, right from the start.
As a beginner you’ve got no bad habits to break, which is why this is the right time to focus on some core techniques, that will really speed up the learning process and help you to recognise key movements that are fundamental to proper advancement.
To make life easier, we use BBTalkin headsets, which are 2 way bluetooth communication devices. This has been a real game changer for teaching as it allows us to receive and offer constant feedback, exactly when it’s needed.
Details
-
Wind: 6-13 mph
Water: Flat/harbour -
Kit: 160 litre board and Sail
Clothing: Wetsuit (can be hired)
Safety: PFD provided - Where: Chichester Harbour / Bracklesham Beach
- Duration: 3hrs
-
Safety: RIB
Comms: 2 way radio -
Private: Just You
Group: For You And Your Friends - Ages: 12+ yrs
your beginner lesson
As a newbie, your journey begins with our START WINDSURFING lessons, which is designed to get you up and sailing within hours. This course is our most popular session, for adults and children alike who are just getting started.
Who should attend the beginner lesson:
* If you have zero windsports experience, or never ever windsurfed before then this is an absolute must.
What we will cover:
- Beginner kit anatomy
- Understand the environment for beginner windsurfing
- Setup the sail and board
- Carrying the kit safely
- On land demo of basic stances, secure position and sailing position
- On water demo and time to try
- On water demo of turning around, tacking
next level
INTERMEDIATE Windsurfing Lesson
let's start developing those skills
The Intermediate Windsurfing lesson is where you go once, you’ve had some time on the basics and now need to improve those early techniques.
Taking the basic movements, now speeding them up and making them more refined, really helps to increase success rates, with moves like tacking and gybing.
The Intermediate phase in windsurfing can be quite broad, so you may start to head out in stronger winds, where you’ll need to be more dynamic and aggressive in your actions, but utlimately those Core Skills are really tarting to make sense.
Repetition is a big part of this phase in your windsurfing journey and we’ll be drilling certain movements and focussing on balance, vision and counter balance. You’ll be feeling the control increase and your actions and responses will being to make more sense.
Details
-
Wind: 10-18 mph
Water: Flat/harbour -
Kit: 160 litre board and Sail
Clothing: Wetsuit (can be hired)
Safety: PFD provided - Where: Chichester Harbour / Bracklesham Beach
- Duration: 3hrs
-
Safety: RIB
Comms: 2 way radio -
Private: Just You
Group: For You And Your Friends - Ages: 12+ yrs
YOUR INTERMEDIATE LESSON
The Intermediate phase is when your windsurfing really starts to take off. All of those basic movements you’ve been working with like the Warrior stance, Counter Balance and Vision, will now come into play as we push things harder.
Who should attend the Intermediate lesson:
* If you’re already sailing as a beginner with very little experience, either on our Beginner session or on your own, this level is for you.
What we will cover
- Discussing stronger winds and safety.
- Speeding up and improving the Core Skills such as Vision, Warrior and Counter Balance.
- Kit setup and adjusments.
- Harness and lines.
- Pumping the rig.
- Counter balance and vision.
- Foostraps.
next level
ADVANCED Windsurfing Lesson
this is when things get really fun
If you’ve made it this far in your windsurfing journey and are still hooked, then you’re in for a real treat.
If you’re moving into footstraps and harness or trying to carve gybe, then this is where you’re at. The more Advanced levels of windsurfing will lead you onto smaller faster boards where everything gets faster, turns become more radical, jumping is awesome and you’re now entering a level of the sport that will take you all over the world.
Windsurfing is one of those sports, where you never stop learning and every time you head out the conditions vary and change how you sail, so you’re going to need to put the work in.
Our windsurfing coaching sessions can be run using your own kit or ours and we’ll look for windier conditions, either in the harbour or in open sea, but this is down to you as our advanced courses are totally unique.
Details
-
Wind: 15-30 mph
Water: Flat/harbour -
Kit: 120 litre board and Sail
Clothing: Wetsuit (can be hired)
Safety: PFD provided - Where: Chichester Harbour / Bracklesham Beach
- Duration: 3hrs
-
Safety: RIB
Comms: 2 way radio -
Private: Just You
Group: For You And Your Friends - Ages: 12+ yrs
your advanced lesson
The Advanced windsurfing coaching sessions are more freeride and freewave sessions, where we take people into the more advanced phases of windsurfing.
We can customise the session to target the things you need to learn, based on your current skills.
Who should attend the Advanced lesson:
* If you’re already sailing comfortably and have your own kit then this session will be for you.
What we will cover
Going back over the basic drills from your START lesson, we’re going to tidy things up – fine tuning those basic movements, balance and vision.
- Improving footstrap control
- Working through the harness
- More advanced gybing and tacking
- Handling stronger winds
- Jumping waves
- Riding waves
next level
4 Week Course
let's take it step by step over 4 weeks
For those of you who want to really dig in and get sailing properly, we offer a 4 week course that will get you from the basics to a comfortable level of sailing.
This could be a total beginner or advancing sailor, who just want to really crack on and get thigns done.
The 4 weeks course, doesn’t guarantee one day per week as conditions have to line up for the level of sailor and what they’re aiming to achieve, but the goal is to get it done as quickly as possible, so we’ll liaise together t make sure we maximise the timing.
Details
-
Wind: 10-15 mph
Water: Flat/harbour -
Kit: 200 litre board and Sail
Clothing: Wetsuit (can be hired)
Safety: PFD provided - Where: Chichester Harbour / Bracklesham Beach
- Duration: 3hrs
-
Safety: RIB
Comms: 2 way radio -
Private: Just You
Group: For You And Your Friends - Ages: 12+ yrs
your course
Beginner – as a total beginner windsurfer, we will run you through our program step by step. As you naturally progress, we’ll continue to push you to faster transitions, whilst maintaining a focus on those Core Skills, that are such a big part of our success.
Who should attend the Advanced lesson:
* If you’re already sailing comfortably and have your own kit then this session will be for you.
What we will cover
Going back over the basic drills from your START lesson, we’re going to tidy things up – fine tuning those basic movements, balance and vision.
- Improving footstrap control
- Working through the harness
- More advanced gybing and tacking
- Handling stronger winds
- Jumping waves
- Riding waves
Where do Our windsurfing Lessons Run?
We’re really lucky to have venues including: Chichester, Bracklesham Bay, Bosham, West Wittering, Emsworth, Bognor, and across West Sussex, Hayling Island, and Portsmouth in Hampshire. that allow us to deliver windsurfing lessons that offer something to all levels of sailor.
For our beginner lessons we have Prinsted in Chichester Harbour which is a fantastic spot offering flat water, clean wind and a big area for us to sail around in safety.We’ve then got Bracklesham Bay, which faces out to open sea. This spot gives us choppier conditions and waves, which is great when you’ve got the basic moves down and want to test yourself, both in and out of footstraps. Hayling Island has a few spot that will deliver flat water or waves. This works well for us in certain wind directions, so beginners to advanced sailors have the chance to further their skills in Hampshire.
The google maps show our venues and that everything we do is withing easy reach to London and main routes to other cities like Portsmouth along the south coast.
bEGIN YOUR WINDSURFING ADVENTURE
What's it like windsurfing on the Sea
Seriously, get on board now and you’ll never look back with windsurfing taking you around the world. This short video shows you a sunny, windy day at Bracklesham Bay in flat water on my wave board.
Dream big
Windsurfing is truly addictive and there are so many possibilities, so be inspired!
Check out our windsurfing blogs and other vidoes to get you in the mood, but don’t forget to BOOK IN FOR YOUR FIRST LESSON NEAR ME NOW.
windsurfing lessons FAQS
- 1. What is windsurfing?
- Windsurfing combines surfing and sailing, where you use a sail attached to a board to glide across the water.
- 2. Who can take windsurfing lessons?
- Our lessons are suitable for anyone aged 12+ and above with basic swimming skills.
- 3. Do I need prior experience to join a lesson?
- No prior experience is necessary. We offer beginner, intermediate, and advanced lessons.
- 4. What is included in the lesson fee?
- The fee includes equipment rental, coaching, and safety gear.
- 5. How do I book a windsurfing lesson?
- You buy voucher and then we sort out dates due to wind and tides in Chichester Harbour.
- 6. What should I wear for a windsurfing lesson?
- Wear a wetsuit if you have one, or comfortable swimwear. We provide wetsuits and safety gear if needed.
- 5. Do I need my own equipment?
- No, all necessary equipment, including boards and sails, is provided. If you have your own gear, we can teach you how to use it effectively.
- 6. Is there a weight or height limit for windsurfing?
- Most equipment can accommodate a wide range of body sizes. Let us know your requirements when booking.
- 7. Where are the lessons held?
- We conduct lessons at Chichester Harbour and Bracklesham Bay, depending on skill level and conditions.
- 8. How long does a lesson last?
- Our lessons are 3 hours long, including on-land instruction and water practice.
- 9. How many lessons do I need to learn windsurfing?
- It varies by individual. Beginners usually benefit from 2-3 lessons to gain basic skills.
- 10. Is windsurfing safe?
- Yes, windsurfing is safe when taught properly. Our instructors prioritize safety and monitor weather and water conditions.
- 11. What happens if the weather is bad?
- Lessons are rescheduled if conditions are unsafe. We’ll contact you ahead of time if a session needs to be moved.
- 12. Do I need to know how to swim?
- Yes, basic swimming ability is required for safety.
- 14. Are group or private lessons available?
- We offer both. Group lessons are great for social learning, while private sessions provide focused instruction.
- 15. Do you offer gift vouchers for windsurfing lessons?
- Yes, we offer vouchers that make great gifts for water sports enthusiasts.
- 16. Can children take windsurfing lessons?
- Yes, but they need to be big enough to be able to pick up a sail and hold it up. We recommend 12+ years old.
- 17. How do I progress after learning the basics?
- We offer advanced coaching for techniques like wave riding, freestyle, and speed sailing.
Summary
Windsurfing Lessons at Surfs SUP
Service Overview:
Join Surfs SUP for windsurfing lessons in Chichester Harbour, Bracklesham Bay, West Wittering and Hayling Island, taught by RYA and ASI qualified instructors with over 30 years of coaching experience.
Lesson Levels:
- Start Windsurfing (Beginner): Learn the basics of windsurfing in a safe and structured environment.
- Intermediate non-planing (Improver): Enhance your skills and techniques with guided practice.
- Intermediate planing: Stronger winds, harnesses, footstraps and planing conditions.
- Advanced Windsurfing: Master advanced maneuvers and handle stronger winds and waves.
Who will be coaching you:
Head RYA Qualified Coach, Ian Phillips has been windsurfing for over 40 years and in that time has raced in slalom events, speed sailed, travelled the world and enjoyed some epic wave sailing conditions around the globe. His passion for windsurfing is addictive and he’s developed his own Fast-Track methods to help you get there quicker.
What ages do we teach:
It’s not an exact science, but you need to be able to uphaul a sail and balance the rig. Whilst we have lightweight kit, it can be hard for really little kids, so we suggest that you call us to discuss first. We always try to get the best conditions, being not too windy and not too light mixed with flat water. We also teach first timers coming to and learning windsurfing later in life so it realy is never too late to learn.
Lesson Options:
- Private sessions
- Private group sessions
For more details, visit Surfs SUP Windsurfing Lessons or check out our Windsurfing Blogs and Google Reviews.