Windsurfing isn’t an easy sport that much is true. Yet it’s definitely fulfilling – if you commit! Whatever your level, be that beginner, intermediate, advanced or pro, commitment is key. Learning windsurfing’s fundamentals, progressing your skills, stomping a new move, scoring regular sessions, scoring a new spot and so on, commitment is required at every level and in everything you do windsurfing wise.

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If you’ve aspirations of shredding perfectly peeling waves, but haven’t quite got the necessary skills (yet), then there a few drills you can practice on flat water that’ll help no end. As any proficient rider knows muscle memory is everything so being able to repeat movements is key. Read on for how to ready yourself for surf sailing and spice up those flat water sessions in the process.

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Yannick Anton is no stranger to full on windsurfing conditions. A former PWA competitor, who’s abundant finesse and skill on the water always gets nods of approval, he’s stylish yet humble. We caught up with Yannick in between teaching sessions at his windsurf school and personal windsurfing time to get some more info.

Tell us when and where windsurfing began for you.

I began windsurfing at 9 years old in France, at the AGASC nautical centre of St Laurent du Vars.

It is a place close to Nice, the city where I grew up.

At what point did you think ‘this is the sport for me’?

I originally had a strong connection with the sea and the wind since my family had always sailed boats.  As a 6 week old baby I was already onboard of my grandfather. When my mom proposed I try windsurfing I said: “Ok, why not”, without real enthusiasm. But I discovered that I was really comfortable with this sport.

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We’re all different and windsurf in our own way. Read the following and see which mould fits you and your riding.

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As windsurfers we’re taught to be comfortable in both right and left mode from the off – if this wasn’t the case then we’d have no way of getting back to the beach, or in fact leaving it. It’s probable one of the few sports in the world where there’s necessity to be able to ride both ways. Yet over time, as we improve, we start to gravitate towards one type of wind direction bias. Whether this be dictated by frequenting the same spot, with similar conditions, or it simply being a head thing that suggests we only try certain moves on one particular tack.

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What do windsurfers want? It’s a never ending list as you can see from the below. Here are some of what we want.

All I want is 30 knots side shore.

All I want is 20 knots side offshore.

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There was once a little boy who was bored at the beach. He went for a walk along the shore and eventually came across a funny sail and board contraption. The lady whose windsurfing kit it was came over and explained to the little boy how it worked. She offered to teach him how to sail. Having nothing else to do the boy readily accepted.

After a few goes the boy was managing to uphaul the sail and glide back and forth. Turning was still a tad tricky but the lady explained practice makes perfect. Within a week the boy had gained much more confidence and his windsurfing skills were progressing rapidly.

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Witchcraft has been existence for a considerable amount of time with the brand’s helm – Bouke Becker – being a part of windsurfing for longer still. As such his knowledge and understanding of the industry, product manufacturing and all things windsurfing is unsurpassed. What follows are a bunch of key quotes from the man himself which sums up the sport and the Witchcraft brand (it also makes for interesting reading).

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As newbie windsurfers we’ve all had our fair share of faux pars when it comes to mishaps, either on land or on the water. Even us long in the tooth sailors can have some of the following occur still to this day – if we’re not paying attention. Here’s a tongue in cheek look at some of the many windsurfing fails that’ll be familiar to a good number of us.

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As most sailors will know there are a whole host of key moments through windsurfing’s colourful history that make it unique. This heritage and legacy is constantly being updated, after all time never stands still. Here are a few key events to refresh memories or give insight to those ne wto windsurfing. We’re sure there are plenty more – what would you add?

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