| urfing is an exciting adventure sport and has become | | | | Fast Tacks & Flare Gybes: Once you learn |
| a rage among adventure lovers. To master the sport, | | | | tacking, the next step is to do those turns faster and |
| a surfer must systematically move from the basic | | | | more swiftly. For this you must be precise with your |
| level to the more advanced levels. Only when you are | | | | footwork and have great control of the sail. Flare |
| thorough with the first level can you graduate to the | | | | gybes refer to spinning the board swiftly in moderate |
| next level of windsurfing. | | | | wind conditions. |
| Windsurfing Learning Curve | | | | Surfing with Harness: Windsurfing with the help of |
| Before beginning to surf, ensure that you have the right | | | | harnesses is essential for learning more advanced |
| equipment and a qualified or experienced windsurfing | | | | surfing techniques. Only when you reach the |
| professional to guide you. Before beginning to surf, | | | | semi-professional level of windsurfing can you start |
| make sure that you have top quality wetsuit, helmet | | | | practicing surfing with harnesses. |
| and life jacket. These are the bare essentials in | | | | 3. Advanced Level: This is the final level of windsurfing |
| windsurfing and venturing without them can cause | | | | and is mainly meant for professionals. In this level you |
| serious trouble for you. | | | | can learn advanced windsurfing techniques like |
| Then you proceed to learn the basic lessons of | | | | footstrap sailing, the carved gybe, deep waterstart, |
| windsurfing. | | | | chop hopping and wave sailing. |
| 1. Basic Level: This is the beginners’ level and | | | | Deep Waterstart: With the deep waterstart, you do |
| you are taught basic techniques of windsurfing. These | | | | not have to lift the sail from the water. Instead it is the |
| include balance, uphauling & powering the sail | | | | wind that lifts it. Learning deep waterstart allows you |
| & steering the board. You are also taught tacks | | | | to surf without getting very exhausted. |
| and gybes. Tacks refer to turning the board upwind | | | | Carve Gybe: The carve gybe is one of the most |
| while gybes refer to turning the board downwind. In this | | | | difficult maneuvers in windsurfing. It involves turning of |
| stage, you also learn to control the sail upwind & | | | | the surfboard on its edge in a 180 degree arc with a |
| downwind. In the basic level, you would surf during light | | | | change in direction. The key in carve gybe is |
| winds. | | | | maintaining high speed of the board till you make the |
| 2. Transitional Level: In this level, you will learn the | | | | turn. To become an expert in carve gybing; you must |
| following skills: | | | | practice it consistently over a period of time and in |
| Windsurfing in Strong Winds: Surfing during strong | | | | difficult wind conditions. |
| winds requires skill, strong technique and great control | | | | Wave Sailing: Wave sailing refers to the high jumps on |
| over the surf board. For this, you must have a very | | | | waves, which is possible only for windsurfing masters. |
| good stance with your arms stretched out and feet | | | | A windsurfing enthusiast must follow these levels |
| positioned behind the mast. It also includes balancing | | | | systematically in order to master the sport and its |
| your weight against that of the sail rig. | | | | inherent techniques completely. |