If you have just decided to start windsurfing or have already taken some first steps in this sport, we recommend reading this article. In it, we tried to describe the most common mistakes of newbies and methods for correcting them.
Tips for Windsurfing Beginners
The first thing you need to know is what a windsurfing kit consists of. The most basic components are the board and the top (sail, mast, boom).
On our website, you can learn more about what types of sails are and how to properly build a sail for windsurfing.
It is also very important to know the wind direction and basic windsurfing courses relative to the wind. It is possible to determine the wind direction in many ways, but we will give the main ones: there are flags on any surfing station. Looking at them, you can determine the exact wind direction.
If you are in an open area, turn your head so that the wind “blows out” in the face and “whistles” in both ears. The same way you can determine the direction of the wind, while on the water.
- To start learning it is very important to use the right equipment. The board should be as large as possible in volume (measured in liters). The ideal size is 200-220 liters. Such a board will allow you to feel as stable as possible and give less attention to the balance.
- For the first lesson, choose a small training sail. These sails are made of “Dacron” – lightweight and durable material, which allows to significantly reduce the weight of the top.
- It is best to start training in the middle wind (3-5 meters per second). This will allow you to easily cope with the arising in the sail. A too strong wind will not allow making mistakes, which beginner windsurfers always have in abundance.
- Do not forget about the “centerboard” – with its help the board becomes more stable and does not go down so much downwind.
- Expose the boom at about chest level. Too low, or vice versa, too high position, will add difficulty in managing the sail.
- Do not be afraid of falling from the board – they teach us. After the fall, try to analyze what happened, think about why it happened. Maybe this is the wrong rack? Or did you turn the nose of the board against the wind, being in the “dead” zone?
- It is more correct to lift the sail from the water not with the arms and the back, but with the legs. Having sat down and having taken hands for start hot, begin to straighten legs smoothly. Arms and back should be straight.
- Try not to press your hands to your body, keep them almost straight. This will create a better balance between the position of the sail and the body and will facilitate the management of the board.
- While lifting the sail out of the water and making basic turns, do not straighten your legs. Keep your knees bent – this will allow you to better balance on the board.
- Raising the sail and when moving forward, put your feet shoulder-width apart. So it will be easier to keep the balance. The too wide stand will adversely affect the management of the board.
- Try to relax the body as much as possible. At first, it is quite difficult – it seems that the slightest relaxation will lead to a fall. But it is not. The more you relax, the easier it will be to resist on the board and sail.
- When you first try to windsurf your hands on the boom you can keep a little closer to the mast. This will reduce the thrust generated by the sail slightly. But do not abuse it – as soon as you feel confident, try to immediately move your hands to the correct position, starting to use all the wind energy.
- While driving, always looks ahead. In no case do not lower your gaze under your feet or sail. In windsurfing, the rule works very clearly – where we look, we go there.
Proper implementation of each of these items will contribute to your maximum progress in learning windsurfing. Bring all these movements to automatism and you will feel how much more comfortable you will feel on the board.
