Fun without danger. This is a water sport you can do your whole life. Windsurfing equipment can last for many years and there is a big second hand market when you want to upgrade. We don't burn petrol, take up room on the water, put others in danger or show off excessively, ( although I do try).

It never gets boring, as there is so much to learn. Windsurfing provides a way of connecting with the wilderness again. It forces you to be sensitive to your natural environment as you skim across the surface of the water. When you start worrying about something, you stop paying attention and SPLASH, you crash

In windsurfing it doesn't matter when you make mistakes, you can sit on your board and float, the sail stops moving when you let go of it, when you are ready you pick up your sail and go again. Injuries in windsurfing are almost zero. Windsurfing gear will not drag you through a pine-apple field, across the street or up a building.

Windsurfing equipment has incredible wind range, so you don't have to stay close to shore in case the wind picks up or dies down. When the kites are all on the beach, the windsurfers are still out practicing moves or cruising along. Wnen the sky turns black, the experienced surfers get excited, grab the smallest gear they can find and go play with the elements.

Windsurfers can sail close to each other, helping out or even swapping gear at sea is not a problem. This makes it very social, as you dont have to worry about crossing lines or running each other over. Recently a kite instructor in Pattaya emailed out a warning that a kite-boarding student got killed in Europe when two kites got entangled, rendering the safety systems obsolete, the poor student was dragged to death by the power of two out of control kites!

Travelling with Windsurfing gear.

Windsurfing gear is not easy to travel with, but if you can park near your surf spot it does not take long to rig up and get on the water. You wont need anyone to help you launch or land. Your gear doesn't get eaten by ants, very rarely ends up stuck in a tree and you dont have to untangle 400feet of line everytime a dog rus past. Despite what kite Boarders may tell you, the sport of windsurfing is growing at 13% per year, especially in resorts and prime holiday locations so you do not have to carry anything at all when you go on a windsurfing holiday. Resorts want people to have a great time and be peaceful with out anybody getting hurt - that is why so many of them have windsurfing gear.

Resale Value of Windsurfing Gear

Windsurfing gear lasts a long time, we still have second hand gear being bought and sold that is many years old.

If you are lucky enough to live near a club with racks, you don't even have to rig up. just pull two ropes and your done. No pumping, no fixing leaks, no looking for a safe launch area, or somone to help. If a storm comes past, just lay flat and start again when its gone, away you go. If the wind drops to 2 knots and you are miles out to see, you can still sail back home.

Many Styles of Windsurfing

Light wind cruising, Racing, Wave riding, Freestyle, Blasting, and Speed Runs are the main styles.

Blasting or Freeride Windsurfing is probably the most common type of windsurfing.  Slashing turns, jumping and riding on the swells. Windsurfing is like riding a surfboard that does not need waves. For some surfers, this comprises of sailing at full speed with a big cheesy grin, falling over while trying to turn around, then blasting back to roughly where you started from and it is so much fun you can do it all day and never get bored.

Windsurf Racing, being out on the ocean with these giants of human spirit is exhilarating. Tough and smart, brave and resiliant, Windurfing racers are athletes and strategists, determined, yet tuned to and compliant to the forces of nature.  Jomtien hosts many Windsurfing events each year. The current Windsurfing Association supports children from 10 years up, many of whom come from poor families. Like Amara, windsurfing will open doors for the ones who feel the call of the ocean and train hard.

Freestyle Windsurfing The most spectacular and challanging freestyle moves are done in High wind either in surf or on flat water. Yet some of my best sessions have been fooling around in light wind, just working on some really simple moves for an hour or so, this is the easiest way to access the Zen in the sport.  All your attention is required to be receptive to the suble balance of the board, and the air pressure on the sail.

Wave Windsurfing
I don’t know why, but there is some kind of insane joy in being picked up and sped along by a surging wave. To get the ride without having to paddle on your belly is pretty darn good.  Playing in the storms. Not wave riding, so much as pretending to be a wave rider. You don’t need the amazing skills of Ben Severne (he can do that thing where you turn around without falling over), to have an awesome session. If you can waterstart, fast tack and scream like a skewered seagull you gonna be enjoying your self plenty.  When everyone else is running for shelter, the windsurfers are running to the ocean.

Speed Runs, The World Speed Record for Wind Powered Water Vehicals is held by a Windsurfer.  Antoine Albeau set the new all–category world sailing speed record at 49.09 knots or 90.91 Km/H. That is 25M of water passing under the board every second.

Best of all, windsurfing attracts people from all walks of life. If you are in Thailand, come to Blue Lagoon in Pattaya and meet the people who surf and hang out here. Not just a sport, it's a lifestyle... Not just a fashion... it takes real passion to learn the skills of a windsurfer.