Hi, just hoping to gather a few tips for teaching kids how to windsurf. I was going to set them up with kids rig and a stable board to start with.
Is it best to just let them loose on the water or try to rig up a land based simulator.
I'd appreciate any tips to getting them up and going.
Thanks
Hi mattn
We use a simulator to start them off. Its good value to teach them how to uphaul correctly with feet in the correct position and bent knee's etc. The other useful thing we teach them on the simulator is how to spin the board through 360 degrees in both directions by rig and feet pressure, ie holding the uphaul rope and leaning the sail forward and aft and scissoring feet. That helps them get used to the board moving under their feet whilst their position (back) to the wind stays constant. It basically teaches them to tack and gybe and demonstrates how they can always make the board face in the direction they want to go.
In saying all that, they use the simulator for about half an hour then move to the water. Its good for us as we have new kids every week so we get the use out of it. I don't think its worth building one for half an hour's use, all of the above can be taught on the water.
My biggest tip is use a kids rig on a stable board with a centreboard, being able to sail back from where you left is a real confidence booster.
Make it fun.
Patience.
Do not give long explanations, attention spans are short and they just want to give it a go. Kids experiment and pick up things very fast.
Patience.
If they are struggling give tips to help them achieve.
Patience.
Make it fun.
Boards like the Starboard Start are great for tandem sailing and showing them.
Just having had a little success with my wife, 13yo daughter and 10 yo son. This after a few attempts to get the kids started over the last few years.
Things that made a difference - whole family involved. Big, stable kid friendly gear.
For us this was and old starboard start and a kids rig.
Have the kids friends involved - a major issue for my iGeneration daughter.
Generate photos that can be posted on Instagram :-) again anything to keep the daughter happy 
My son seemed to be inspired by the challenge to race his dad.
Cheers Jeff
Here at Inverloch, we've had great success in having kids teach kids. A few of our younger members have taken on the role of junior coaches. Last year, we did a Windsurf Instructors course, and once we went through the basics with our Junior Coaches..we let them loose to have fun!!
It's great to watch- there's things that young people learn from their peers that they'll never take on when listening to a crusty old sea dog (no offence intended)...
Good luck and enjoy!
Drift that makes SOOOO much sense!!!
I think no pressure from above is vital, the kids have got to be having fun.
Learning at their own pace is also important, trying to go too fast will frustrate and disappoint them, going too slow will bore them.
Select to expand quoteseanhogan said..
get someone else to teach them !!!!
less frustration for both kids and parents
i'm not sure about that
, the idea of having kids is to put the time in with them and have fun , get your 13 year old to have a look at Alex's video
sanactury point is 2hrs from where you live and one of the best venues to learn on the east coast, during the summer school holidays you will see Alex and 1/2 doz of his friends on the water as well as a few other kids that have been inspired with the kids windsurfing environment
We have been teaching our 12 year old to sail for the last 8 years,
We have done a few trips to Maui and had her enrolled in windsurfing summer camps that have been invaluable, so I agree that learning to sail with people your own age is a definite plus!
We have also never forced her to sail, always offered to rig her sail and get her board ready, its totally up to her. Usually if there are other kids are around she will get in the water, she is keen for other kids to have a crack with her gear,
Make sure the rig they learn with is light and easy to chuck around, Phoebe started out with a Ezzy kids rig, then we hoped her up with an S-1 Severne 3.0 rig, both rigs are super light and pretty tough (especially the Severne)
Phoebes first board was an RRD 160ltr Orange thing, aircraft carrier in width, but great to learn on, she is now on her own 115 lt. young gun, learning to water start, but loves cruising around on her SUP
I think correct gear is half the challenge,
As was previously said, make it fun, make it safe and get involved with them,
Get a big board with a light comfy sail for the kids. In my case a 150lt SUP with 3.5mt sail. Girls aged 13 and 18 now, a bit younger when they first tried.
Find a nice big shallow sandy area and let them go. They have to feel safe. And safety builds confidence.
Give them some tips but don't be forceful otherwise everyone will be frustrated. Having chased kids around the local sailing club for a few years it's amazing to see how much they don't listen to their parents. Sometimes its best to get somebody else to give some tips. But you will be amazed what they can sort out by themselves.
Unfortunately you will have to sacrifice a bit of TOW. But when your kids have a great day out so do you. And it is still OK to go for a sail with their rig and appreciate just cruising.
Bringing my son's friends along makes all the difference. Sometimes they are learning to sail, sometimes they are just mucking about in the water. All good fun.
