I really like teaching windsurfing.
My Sunday windsurfing school student was Matt, who had actually windsurfed a bit before and is also a sailor. But he wasn't sure he'd be able go out and get back as it has been quite a while since he has windsurfed.
So I gave him a refresher on land and then sent him out with the 4.2 on my 35 year old YPSI Wayler which is still a classic beginner board. Matt quickly realized it is only unstable until you put the centreboard down!
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Perfect form from my student for going back and forth.
I find it works best keeping the front hand on the mast for beginners. |
To me, the front hand on the mast is the most crucial part of teaching someone to windsurf. It means that the mast stays vertical above the centreline of the board, and as such the board just naturally wants to go across the wind or even slightly upwind. Then the beginner (in German they are called Aufsteiger - stepper upper) can get back easily to where they started. I usually keep the beginner using the front hand on the mast for their entire first lesson (or lessons as required). But Matt was such a pro I gave him permission to use his front hand on the boom after several runs. He did start going downwind a bit too much right after he began having both hands on the boom, but easily made it back upwind when he was done.
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Coming right back to where he started!
(Didn't need a SeaDoo rescue after all) |
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| Congratulations Matt! |
I'm hoping to build a windsurfing simulator soon, those always help with teaching too.
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