Windsurfing courses for beginners to advanced

Windsurfing appeared in the 70’s and became well known on our beaches in the 80’s. It is THE sailing medium that has become accessible to all, long before kitesurfing and today wingfoil, a leisure activity for some during the summer, and a fully-fledged passion for others. Beginning windsurfing or improving your skills is easy as windsurfing schools have become numerous all over the world.

Why start Windsurfing courses?

Are you wondering if windsurfing is the sport for you or for your children? It is, since it’s accessible to everyone no matter what age or level of experience in watersports and sailing. You don´t need to be super sporty. It is a way to understand the wind in all of its states, as well as the marine elements. In short it is a beautiful experience that will allow you to draw from the depths of your resources. You are completely in touch with nature, and of course it is highly recommended to take windsurfing lessons to learn or improve, even if this process will require you to dig deep and immerse yourself fully.

Gliding over the water on a board using a sail as a motor gives you a feeling that you can’t get anywhere else. Today there is stand up paddle boarding which you can use as an approach to perfecting balance, and then why not add a sail to the party! In the last 20 years, windsurfing boards have become very stable because they are larger and wider and adapted to every physique. The sails, masts and booms are also lighter.

Windsurfing is also a safer water sport than kite and wingfoil, and it’s a lot less scary in case of a fall. 

What does a windsurfing course involve?

A windsurfing course always starts with getting to know the equipment you are going to use, and this happens first on land. The wind, the wind, the wind … we can’t say it enough, but it’s your natural engine to move you forwards and steer you in windsurfing. Once you have spent some time on the beach with your rig – consisting of the sail, boom and mast – you will finally go on the water and get your balance on your board. Some instructors will put you on a stand up paddle or a very large windsurf board with a daggerboard without the sail, for a few minutes, in order to find the balance and feel more comfortable once the boom is in your hands. Then it is time to get going, learning to pull your sail in to accelerate by pulling in on the boom, and to slow down by easing off on the boom.

Gradually you will gain confidence and be tempted to go further out to sea. Mastering the tack – turning into the wind – will be necessary to get back to your starting point without losing distance downwind. It is true that gybing (turning away from the wind) is easier than tacking, (turning into the wind) – but you will lose distance. Many beginner windsurfers prefer to gybe because the forward motion keeps you more balanced, but it will then take longer to get upwind.

How much does a windsurfing course cost?

A windsurfing course for beginners of about ten hours, i.e. 5 sessions of 2 hours, costs around 250 euro in group lessons (between 4 and 6 people), and so is much cheaper than kitesurfing and wingfoil. Some schools will also offer private lessons, with a much higher price, and for more advanced levels, such as learning the water start or the jibe, windsurfing packages are also offered for a price of 140 euro for 2 hours, as there are never more than two students.

Windsurfing is still hugely popular as it is such a fun sport … children and adults alike, everyone experiences the feeling of pure gliding in direct connection with nature and the water. Even if you are not yet a world champion or surfing nice waves, windsurfing is a kind of boat in which you are the only captain, and that’s fun!