What Level Of Windsurfer Am I or What level of windsurfing lessons should i join, is a question we regularly get asked.
It really simply if you’re a total beginner, having never sailed before, but is much harder to answer if you’ve been sailing for years and have developed some skills.
Windsurfing is one of those sports that has a roller coaster learning curve. And for each and every person it varies how fast you go through that journey. For some it is pretty quick and may take a few weeks for things to click, whilst others may take months or even years.
To go sailing you need a few things to come together, such as wind and water. If you’re inland, then finding a reservoir or big lake that allows windsurfing will probably mean joining a club and then you’ll generally find light winds and smoother water. Compare that to coastal waters and you’re going to get tides and varuable winds from strong to calm. What this means is your time spent on the water may also deliver different progressive results depending on conditions more than the actual time spent.
I thought it might be easier to break down the various stages of learning below so you had a better idea of what windsurfing lessons or windsurfing courses to book into.
Starting with the right foundations
If you get the basics right using our amazing skill base, you will find progression so much easier. These core skills focus on Looking, Balance, Stance and the yoga based Warrior pose. We have excercies that link each element together and build actions and muscle memory that will really help as your skills develop.
Breaking bad habits
For others, they’ve been windsurfing for a very long time and have got stuck, due to bad habits and poor foundations blocking their progress. At Surfs SUP Watersports, we will sail with you and find ways to make changes that will break down those barriers and help you to move forwards quickly.
Beginner Windsurfers
As a beginner, you’re in a strong position to take on new skills all done in the right way. You’re a blank canvas which make it much easier to take on new ideas and skills, but that said, if you have any sailing experience or paddle boarding experience it can make it a little easier.
What are the best conditions for a beginner windsurfer?
When you start windsurfing, you’re going to want flat water and light winds, which we often find in Chichester Harbour, where we run our windsurfing lessons year round.
Something to be very aware of is wind direction if you’re at the beach: onshore winds, will always see you blowing back to shore, which is great in the very early stages, in case anything goes wrong. Also try to sail in places where there is no current and shallower water, but this last one is not so important if you have the right kit and instructor.
What do you learn as a beginner windsurfer?
On our beginner windsurfing lesson, we’re setting you up with the right tools to make sure you have a progressive learning curve.
A rough outline of you first lesson
- It is important to understand the kit so we spend a little time looking over the board and rig and how it works.
- We then cover wind direction and the location and environmental bits so you’re aware of your surroundings and how we will work within them.
- We run through the very basic movements on land, covering: Getting on the windsurf board | Uphauling | Hold position | Stance | Sailing position | Basic turn, gybe & tack.
- Onto the water, you will do each land phase in stages so we’re not trying to connect it all up, just do each piece one at a time.
- Once each piece has been done you will try to tie bits together, so uphaul to sailing position more quickly and seamlessly.
- We will also deliver our unique skills training tips within the hands on phase so you can become more effective.
Improver windsurfer
If you have already joined us for a beginner windsurfer course or have been sailing yourself for a little while, an Improver Windsurfing Lesson would certainly help. These lessons are aimed at non-planing conditions and light to medium winds of max 15 knots.
As an improver, you ‘ll be able to sail a basic course and maintain direction, do some basic tacks and gybes, even if a bit rusty. The main thing here is goals an having the want to improve the basic skills you have.
What conditions do we aim for as an improver windsufer?
Improver windsurfers should see improvement every time they head out if they’re using solid fundamental skills and focussing on improving moves.
Basic sailing technique, handling shifting winds and gusts, tacking and gybing, a basic beach start, light wind snaking. There are so many things we drill to better your core skills and overall windsurfing abilities.
To keep the progression going you’re still going to want flat water and at most 15 knots, so you’re not hanging on too much, but not fluffing around in light winds.
What should an Improver Windsurfer expect to learn?
Dynamic movements and more efficient board control is a big part of what we expect to see developing. You’ll improve and work on a more powerful stance, which helps improve board control and even work on using a harness to better control the rig.
If we have the right level of wind we can begin to use footstraps, smaller boards and beginning to plane or try beach starts.
Intermediate Windsurfer
By far, the biggest group of windsurfers are the intermediate sailors. Windsurfers who have reached an intermediate level, can use a harness and footstraps, sail with a daggerboard and can easily sail in light and marginal winds, whilst looking pretty smooth.
The things you’re probably working on will be blasting in the footstraps and trying to gybe with mixed success.
What conditions do intermediate windsurfers need?
You’re going to need stronger winds that can get you planing, so you can move up a gear in terms of speed and moves.
Flatter water is still preferable as it takes out some of the blockers when trying new moves or drills, but inevitably, when it gets windy you will get chop, so you need to start getting used to that.
As an intermediate windsurfer, what can you expect to learn on your lesson?
The quicker we can get you planing comfortably, the better as windsurfing really comes alive at this point. This means you can look to developing fast tacks and gybes, improved beach starts and waterstarts and better harness use.
A big part of our sailing methods is to disect where you are right now and use our own coaching system to help you to improve all of those fundamentals that build into a stronger sailing style.
You’ll develop new early planing techniques, stance, control when in rougher water, efficient power control when in the harness and footstraps.
Advanced windsurfers
This collection of windsurfers could cover most things from blasting in open sea over rougher water to power gybes and jumping or wave riding.
An advanced sailor will be comfortable in the straps and gybing, but is looking to better those moves and add more pazazz.
What conditions do you need for this level of sailing?
Advanced windsurfers need winds of between 17-25+ knots that deliver planing and mixed water state. The water state will be getting rougher so you’ll start to encounter waves and gustier winds as well.
How much can an advanced windsurfer expect to learn?
Most windsurfers hit a ceiling limit when they get to this point in their sailing. There’s many reasons, be it a lack of time on the water, poor conditions and even crappy kit holding them back.
Suffice to say, so much more is achievable if you have the chance to get help and really focus on the core skills that will help to develop the more advanced moves.
Being able to work on jumping, wave riding, gybing and tacking will be a big part of your learning journey. You will be sailing lower volume boards that offer more performance and options.
