The rising popularity of windsurfing  

by Jakob Jelling

As with any extreme sport or sport in general, there is only so much one can do on a surfboard. Enter windsurfing, a popular way to gain speed and air by using a sail attached to the surfboard itself. A windsurf setup consists of a bi-directional surfboard with a sail attached in the middle. Windsurfing is not for just the ocean, this sport can be done on a lake should their be a proper wind to propel the surfer.

As with any sport there has to be two factors present when learning how to windsurf. Wind is the key ingredient to take flight. In order to power up your sail you need to know what the wind conditions are going to be. On an optimal day, depending on the wind conditions the wind can be gusting from 3N to 6N. The wind speed greatly enhances the experience.

There are conditions above 15N when windsurfing can be considered dangerous to the surfer. Should these conditions be too violent for the surfer, they should wait until they can properly handle the board. With the right amount of wind and waves, windsurfers can take flight over waves at a high rate of speed. Depending on your experience level, you may crave to hit the waves at higher conditions to maximize speed and adrenaline.

Often a windsurfer will attack a wave head on depending on the conditions and propel themselves 15 feet or more straight in the air. If you enjoy the thrill of hang-time and flight this sport is for you! Windsurfing ranks high in the world of extreme sports because of its high flying action.

There are professional competitions that rank the windsurfer by style and being able to handle monster waves with ease and grace. These competitions take surfers around the world to tame the toughest waters with only a board and sail to display their style.

A windsurfing setup can cost from $ 500 - $ 2000 depending on what you are looking to purchase. The quality of the sail as well as the fabric used to create it will definitely change the price quickly.

About the Author

Jakob Jelling is the founder of http://www.kitesurfingnow.com. Visit his kitesite for the latest on kitesurfing equipment, kiteboarding lessons, places to surf and much more!