5 Step Guide for Integrating Windsurfing into Clubs

The windsurfer was patented on 6th Jan 1970 by Jim Drake and Hoyle Schweitzer

The original windsurfer became the Windsurfer One Design that is still sailed and raced around the world today

Windsurfing is broken up in to two major categories (Long and Short Board sailing)

What is Windsurfing?

Adults up and over 70 years of age are known to short board windsurf

Windsurfers in their early 60s are achieving speeds close to 50 knots here in Victoria

Kids as young as 5 years old windsurf, though we would suggest 8 years of age is the preferred starting age

Who Windsurfs?

Long board windsurfing stems from the original windsurfer

Long board windsurfer had its biggest impact within Australia in the 80s

Short board windsurfing took over as preferred level of the sport in 90s once the equipment became easier

Long boarding came back in to style in 00s, with the Raceboard class and now the Stand Up Paddle (SUP)

Different Styles of Windsurfing

Raceboard (designed for course racing) Funboard (user friendly, previously used as beginner

boards) Windsurfer One Design (sometimes known as a Wally and

used for long board freestyle) SUP (the new breed of long board windsurfer that can be

used for SUPing, windsurfing on flat water or in the waves in light wind)

Hybrid (cross between a long and wide style short board) Modern beginner board (shorter and wide for easy

learning)

Long board categories

Speed (designed for straight line speed) Slalom (designed for across and down wind racing) Formula (designed for course racing) Freerace (cross between a slalom and freeride) Freeride (a short board version of a funboard) Freestyle (specially designed board for short board

freestyle tricks) Freestyle Wave (cross between a freestyle and wave

board) Wave (designed for wave jumping and wave riding)

Short board categories

Competitive windsurfing is done all round the world

The Professional Windsurfing Association (PWA) include Slalom, Freestyle and Wave

Windsurfing Victoria with our local windsurfing stores and Yacht/Sailing clubs run a variety of Slalom, Course Racing, Wave, Speed, marathon and fun events (Inc. clinics)

Competitive Windsurfing

Windsurfing Victoria has been running windsurfing events at Yacht and Sailing clubs for a number of years

Some of these events include come and try windsurfing components

These come and try events have been organised and managed by Windsurfing Victoria with some times support from our local windsurfing stores and/or schools

Step 1 - Come & Try Events

Beginner windsurfing programs can be setup at the clubs

These programs can be for children and for adults The programs can be based on current

windsurfing school programs and the very successful Windsurfing Victoria Kids Club

Modern beginner windsurfer equipment and the right tutoring can have a new windsurfer sailing in 30 minutes

Step 2 - Beginner Programs

Before a sailor steps in to racing they need to experience social sailing

Social sailing is where the fun begins and doesn't stop

A number of prime windsurfing locations in Victoria are based around our clubs

Some of these clubs have establish their own windsurfing clubs

Step 3 – Social Sailing

Type of windsurfing racing that have and could be setup as regular club racing program Course Racing Slalom One Design

Costs of windsurfing racing can be very cheap and could be the most cost affective club racing option

Step 4 - Club Racing

The race course can be the same as the current courses set for other sailing boats

Starts from the water as per sailing boats Equipment required can be based on;

second hand long board style windsurfers from the 80/90s that have a centre board to help go up wind

modern course racing boards the original Windsurfer One Design hybrid board (long/shortwide board) Stand Up Paddle (i.e. WindSUP)

Club Racing – Course Racing

The race course needs to be either a figure 8 or a down wind M style course

Starts are preferred to be from the beach Equipment required can be based on;

second hand short fun boards modern free ride board dedicated slalom boards course racing style boards

Club Racing – Slalom

Windsurfing has a number world cup racing paths (e.g. PWA – slalom, Raceboard, Formula, BIC 293 youth class, RSX, RS:One?, etc.)

If clubs want to head down a set path it needs to be decided with cost, availability, support and a progression structure in mind

Step 5 – World Cup

Come & Try Events A beginner and course racing clinics were included in the

2011-2012 Windsurfing Victoria Course Racing series that were ran at Parkdale and Mordialloc

Support was from WaSSuP, SHQ and SBHQ Beginner Programs

Parkdale Yacht Club has been running a beginner program off and on over the years within the club

Social Sailing Elwood Sailing Club have a Windsurfing Club (Elwood

Sailboarders)

Case Studies

Club Racing Parkdale Yacht Club has been hosting Windsurfing One

Design racing since the 80s Windsurfing Victoria has been hosting windsurfing races

at Elwood Sailing Club for a number of years and now back at Parkdale Yacht Club as well

Over the years a number of clubs have hosted national and international windsurfing events since the 80s

World Cup Victoria has only had a hand full of very successful

windsurfers with one or two world champions

Case Studies

Any Questions?

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