Windsurfing classes for almost everybody!

Anybody from 7 up to 70 years can get acquainted with windsurfing. Through and easy step by step lesson method by one of our qualified instructors the door to learn wind surfing is for everybody open.

Windsurfing for kids!

Generally, the age of onset is between 7 and 10. Be careful: a comparison between different children of that age leads quickly to the conclusion of an obvious difference in physical and mental development. An in-depth conversation with parents and child concerning age, weight (from experience not less than 30 kilos) experiences in other disciplines and the child’s autonomy can give first impressions. In case of doubt, little games or exercises on land or on water are indicated. What helps me to know if my child is old enough to learn windsurfing?

• Is your child capable of ducking without neither difficulty nor fear for a few seconds and is he/she able to dive under a board/rig?
• Is your child able to carry a kiddy-rig, without any part touching the ground?
• Is he/she able to pull up a sail and to right it without a tremendous effort?
• Does he/she easily succeed in carrying a teaching-board about 30 to 40 meters à deux?

Kid Basic Windsurfing License

We recommend kids to start windsurfing at the age of 6 or 7. Therefore the VDWS school offer a special workbook for kids, which are used in the courses. The Kid Basic Windsurfing License is valid until the age of 13. Then the adult license can be required after passing the theoretical exam..

Equipment is provided

Beginners or occasional windsurfers do not need their own equipment. Sun Water Sport places all required equipment at your disposal.

Thanks to beginner-friendly equipment, the first results won’t be long in coming. Large, slip-proof boards of about 180l provide for enough stability and buoyancy to get going. Very light kiddy, youth and adult teaching rigs (mast, sail and boom ensemble) in graduated sizes as from 2.5 m² make windsurfing a snap.

Once the beginner-course completed, the right thing to do is to rent a board, or even better: to take an advanced course. Like this, the freshly acquainted windsurfing skills will consolidated and perfected.

Contents of a beginner-course

Besides the practical and theoretical basics of windsurfing (wind recognition, basic equipment as clothing, board & rig, rigging and de-rigging, getting on the board, pulling up the sail and getting going, stopping, steering and the corresponding forces, courses, getting windward, tacking and jibing at low-wind conditions), topics related to free-time leisure (equipment tips), protection of nature and waters as well as safety (rules of way, traffic regulations, transport of boards and rig on the roof of a car, what to do in emergency situations, knots) on water and on land are part of every modern windsurfing-course.

How much time does a windsurfing-course take?

Generally, a complete beginner-course takes 12 to 14 hours. At good weather conditions, beginners only need one hour to learn how to get going. Easy conditions, e.g. low wind, little waves and flat water, are enough for the start.

At the end of the course

As a rule, the beginner-course should be completed by the VDWS basic-license. This license is required for windsurfing on certain waters and its holders are allowed to rent windsurfing equipment at all VDWS-school in the world. This is very important for those countries where you won’t be able to bring your own equipment.

Catamaran sailing

Dear cat-sailors, welcome to the VDWS world of cat sailing. On this occasion, we would like to come to a few questions that reached us via mail. Besides, you will find: general information concerning the catamaran basic-license, the instructor apprenticeships, VDWS teaching aids and a list of all water sport schools home and abroad. Enjoy your hunt!

An increasing number of hobby-sportsmen and windsurfers are fascinated by catamaran sailing. Learning catamaran sailing has never been that easy. Even kids and teenagers can turn their dream into reality. How come? You can learn the basics of this type of sport in a few hours. Visiting a good school is the key to a quick success: modern catamarans are used there, guaranteeing a secure and fast way to learn sailing. By using the latest training methods, professional instructors teach you to handle the catamaran in a few hours. The basic course is focused on traffic rules, safety tips and environmental consciousness. It´s important to complete a course with the exam for the basic license as it is a proof for the practical and theoretical training and makes it easier to hire a catamaran.

Some tips for catamaran-beginners

• Beginners should look for professional and trained instructors to show them the first steps and to ensure security.
• To start catamaran-sailing the wind shouldn´t be too strong, there should be only light waves and enough space on the water.
• While practicing the students shouldn´t be obstructed by swimmers or other boats.
• A catamaran course should be completed with the exam leading to the basic license, which enables you to hire a catamaran from all schools.
• A good catamaran school offers all the necessary material, only surf-shoes or sneakers should be brought along because of hygienic reasons.
• After the basic course it´s advisable to hire a catamaran in the same school or to take part in the advanced training, this will improve your sailing abilities and makes them safe and perfect quickly.

What are the contents of the catamaran basic-license examination?

The basic-license is composed of the following parts:

Practice: setting sails and taking them down, casting-off and landing, steering different courses with adequate sail position, up-wind beating of at least 300 m., tack, jibe, orders, stopping by sailing into the wind and into the waiting-position, capsizing and righting, man-overboard maneuver, what to do in special situations.

Theory: Equipment, physics of sailing – specially the position of sails and the wind’s and sail force’s mode of action, general law, relevant maritime rules, local particularities, meteorology, nature and environment, relevant knots and their different applications, attitudes in emergencies and bad weather conditions, safety.

I would like to rent a catamaran – do water sport schools recognize the basic license?

Yes, they do. Schools which also propose official licenses generally recognize the complete practice part, meaning that after a short introduction the exam for an official paper can be passed. As to the catamaran basic license: it constitutes a proof of your basic training and the corresponding examination, illustrating by this that you acquired catamaran-specific knowledge and skills. Moreover, the catamaran basic-license facilitates the renting of a cat and is recognized by every VDWS-school, home or abroad.