Tips for Beginner Windsurfing
Notes from my Course Instructor
September 2000, Hood River, Oregon

While I recommend lessons for first timers, the following tips are ones I like to review before going out since SAILING from last season! Also, for you first timers, these tips will help you begin "thinking through" the basic terms and the "order" of them so you can really impress that instructor on your big lesson day! Happy Sailing!

Introduction: (For all you "naturals") Do you do any of The Big Four? That is, the sports that are LIKE windsurfing? For you surfers, wakeboarders, skateboarders, and snowboarders, don't get over confident that you'll immediately pick up the windsurfing moves. I thought I would. I didn't. As a matter of fact, what I know about The Big Four actually hindered me at first. Students in my class sailed ahead at first because they REALLY listened to the instructor, while I listened to my "ego" or experience! So let me give you a basic tip my instructor told me. She put it this way: The Wind Moves the Sail. The Sail controls the Board. Think about how radically different that is from The Big Four. On The Big Four, our focus is usually what WE do ON the board--- is it not? Is it not about our position, balance, and the correct surface or leading "edge" or "skeg" IN the water or ON the snow? Any ways, log that BOLD phrase in your memory bank to retrieve after your 10th plunge and 3rd Advil. It's solid advice man.

Second, Get familiar with the board and the basic components of windsurfing. Look below at the basic windsurfing profile of the board, mast, sail, and equipment.



OK... Now third: Get familiar with this term: NEUTRAL POSITION. It is your friend. You will visit this position often. It is the foundational position for you learning to windsurf. You will begin sailing FROM this position. You will return TO this position after you fall. Perhaps some of you first-timers need to whisper it now: "I like Neutral Position"

NEUTRAL POSITION = You + water + standing on the board + holding the mast upright.

Specifically, you will be standing--- Feet left & right of mast, Gripping the mast with both hands, Knees slightly bent, Head high, Rig (sail) 90 degrees to board, Arms straight, Hips tucked.
OK now... grab your broom handle. Go ahead, print this out and stand up now next to your computer and read this and DO it now. It will begin to make sense to you!

OK... let's go from IN THE WATER to NEUTRAL POSITION in steps now:

PREPARATION:
1. Rig Leeward & 90 degrees to board. (Leeward = "downwind")
2. Get on your board.
3. Grasp the uphaul line.
4. Feet left and right of the mast.
5. Arms stretched, crouch position, Tuck hips under, back straight, head high.
BRING SAIL UP:
6. Stretch legs... lift rig.
7. Hoist sail completely out of water.
8. Grasp mast with two hands under boom.
NEUTRAL POSITION:
9. Gripping the mast (feet still left & right of mast)
10. Check: Knees slightly bent, head high.
11. Check: Rig 90 degrees to board.
12. Arms straight, hips tucked.

Now... when you get the above stuff down, you'll be ready for some sailing. While "easier said than done", here's the steps for SAILING!

1. Neutral Position
2. Let back hand go.
3. Step behind mast with toes on centerline, feet shoulder width apart.
4. Stand straight, knees bent, arms straight, body square to board.
5. Check: 90 degrees? If not, pull mast up to vertical.
6. Hands lightly on boom.

Now for you beginners who really want to impress your instructor, memorize the steps to do your first turn!

1. Neutral Position
2. Lean rig to stern - tack back.
3. Let the board turn under your feet, toes pointing to clew.
4. Arms straight, hips tucked.
5. Continue to turn until new neutral position.

These are the basic TIPS for beginning windsurfing! HAPPY SAILING!