Hi,
Looking for any tips on starting my oldest, an 8 yr old on windsurfing.
I have a kids rig 1, 1.5, 2 and 2.5 m sails.
Hoping to get a 160 ltr Naish soft board, otherwise have a Naish 130 that we can use.
Wondering best way to start him off and progression so as not to discourage him with it being to difficult.
I have 3 boys, if I can get them into windsurfing we will have sway over the missus and can demand windsurfing destinations for our family holidays 
If kids are going to learn they have to enjoy it. criticism doesn't help, plenty of encouragement does. You know your kids personalities, your approach needs to be tailored to that . Some may get bored/frustrated if they don't progress fast enough, and need to stay close to their limit. Others may be overly concerned about image, and don't want to look stupid/silly/ awkward. So you probably have to take them slowly, so they are always well within their abilities.
Any way good luck with that, I love to see families out windsurfing together, you may even get mum involved.
Thanks decrepit, sounds good, I am a teacher so should be ok with positive reinforcement etc.
Was hoping for advice more on wind strength to go in, first steps for kids to get going etc
Select to expand quoteBluefusionman said..
Thanks decrepit, sounds good, I am a teacher so should be ok with positive reinforcement etc.
Was hoping for advice more on wind strength to go in, first steps for kids to get going etc
I'm always keen to see someone wanting to get their kids into windsurfing, great to see.
Decrepit's advice was really good, it's got to be fun. If you can find somewhere shallow that helps, if not then the flattest water you can find to start them off, so they'll get the feel of the wind without having to battle waves as well, inshore inlets are pretty good. I'd personally avoid low(er) wind days (e.g. only 6-8 knots), what they need to be able to do is "feel" what happens when they get the sail up. Lighter rigs are good these days, we used NP Dragonfly Rigs 2, 3, 3.5 and 115L JP Board with a Soft Top for a start, lots of Windsurf Holidays later ...
My littly at 3 years old; and at 16.
This was aged 12 and half.
I taught a few adults and kids back in the day. Demonstrating what to do doesn't help much. Neither does laying on the back of the board, it just has the rider pulled over the front. Instead gently push the board once they have everything in position. Find some where shallow so they can learn both directions. When it comes to water starts, get them in position and lift them on by the armpits.
There's also the dirt windsurfing route. Way more sessions, easy to understand wind direction and feel sail power.
I've taught my kids by getting on the board with them. A big 260L with a 1.5. it's a bit confusing at first, how to rotate the gear and all so great to be both on the same board.
Make sure the mast base is as close as possible to the centreboard, otherwise it's very difficult to turn with these tiny sails.
Select to expand quoteBluefusionman said..>>> .Was hoping for advice more on wind strength to go in, first steps for kids to get going etc
That's where I was going, with tailoring lessons to kids personalities/abilities. and always keeping it fun. But yes very first lessons, flat shallow water, and windstrength, so they can comfortably uphaul, and get going. I wouldn't go under 6kts, or much over 10 at the very start. After that, ideal conditions will vary with the kid. Nobody can advice you on that unless they know the kid their natural abilities and their progress.
Listen to the kid, let them have a bit of control on how fast they want to learn.
Select to expand quotejksmurf said..Bluefusionman said..
Thanks decrepit, sounds good, I am a teacher so should be ok with positive reinforcement etc.
Was hoping for advice more on wind strength to go in, first steps for kids to get going etc
I'm always keen to see someone wanting to get their kids into windsurfing, great to see.
Decrepit's advice was really good, it's got to be fun. If you can find somewhere shallow that helps, if not then the flattest water you can find to start them off, so they'll get the feel of the wind without having to battle waves as well, inshore inlets are pretty good. I'd personally avoid low(er) wind days (e.g. only 6-8 knots), what they need to be able to do is "feel" what happens when they get the sail up. Lighter rigs are good these days, we used NP Dragonfly Rigs 2, 3, 3.5 and 115L JP Board with a Soft Top for a start, lots of Windsurf Holidays later ...
My littly at 3 years old; and at 16.
This was aged 12 and half.
There's a lot of posts on the forum, so I won't try repeat too much of it, but I hope you'll forgive me if I post the links.
www.seabreeze.com.au/forums/Windsurfing/General/Board-for-learning-children?page=1
www.seabreeze.com.au/forums/Windsurfing/General/Youngest-age-to-teach-Kids-to-windsurf?page=1
www.seabreeze.com.au/forums/Windsurfing/General/Reaching-the-next-generation?page=1
www.seabreeze.com.au/forums/Windsurfing/General/Looking-for-lightkids-beginner-rig?page=1
www.seabreeze.com.au/forums/Windsurfing/General/looking-for-small-sails-for-kids?page=1
www.seabreeze.com.au/forums/Windsurfing/General/Kid-teaching-his-friends-to-windsurf?page=1
www.seabreeze.com.au/forums/Windsurfing/Review/Kids-Rigs?page=1
www.seabreeze.com.au/forums/Windsurfing/General/Any-tips-for-teaching-10-13-year-old-kids-to-sail?page=1
www.seabreeze.com.au/forums/Windsurfing/General/which-board-should-i-buy?page=1
www.seabreeze.com.au/forums/Windsurfing/General/Kids-windsurfing?page=1
www.seabreeze.com.au/forums/Windsurfing/General/what-age-can-i-start-the-kids?page=1
www.seabreeze.com.au/forums/Windsurfing/General/Can-you-get-your-kids-onto-the-water?page=1
www.seabreeze.com.au/forums/Windsurfing/General/Teaching-Family?page=1
www.seabreeze.com.au/forums/Windsurfing/General/Best-vintage-board-to-teach-my-kids-?page=1
www.seabreeze.com.au/forums/Windsurfing/Review/Sail-size-for-10-yar-old?page=1
www.seabreeze.com.au/forums/Windsurfing/Queensland/Windsurfing-Learning-Curve?page=1
www.seabreeze.com.au/forums/Windsurfing/General/what-age-can-my-boys-learn-to-windsurf?page=1
www.seabreeze.com.au/forums/Windsurfing/General/Kid-s-Rig-Beware?page=1
www.seabreeze.com.au/forums/Windsurfing/Review/-transition-kid--board?page=1
www.seabreeze.com.au/forums/Windsurfing/Review/Weight-of-Ezzy-kids-rig-?page=1
www.seabreeze.com.au/forums/Windsurfing/Western-Australia/Advice-for-beginner-in-Perth?page=1
www.seabreeze.com.au/forums/Windsurfing/General/Kinda-stuck--what-should-i-do-?page=1
www.seabreeze.com.au/forums/Windsurfing/General/Teaching-small-kids-to-sail?page=1
www.seabreeze.com.au/forums/Windsurfing/General/Father-and-Sons-board-quiver-add-yours?page=1
www.seabreeze.com.au/forums/Windsurfing/General/Videos-to-help-beginners?page=1
Cheers
k.
Great vid of your son, he must be ripping by now :)
Great advice thank you I will definitely have a look at think links
Cheers
Select to expand quotedecrepit said..Bluefusionman said..>>> .Was hoping for advice more on wind strength to go in, first steps for kids to get going etc
That's where I was going, with tailoring lessons to kids personalities/abilities. and always keeping it fun. But yes very first lessons, flat shallow water, and windstrength, so they can comfortably uphaul, and get going. I wouldn't go under 6kts, or much over 10 at the very start. After that, ideal conditions will vary with the kid. Nobody can advice you on that unless they know the kid their natural abilities and their progress.
Listen to the kid, let them have a bit of control on how fast they want to learn.
Thanks heaps, will definitely try and make it as fun as possible great advice cheers
get someone else to teach him ! and if possible get one of his buddies to tag along
less frustration for both of you and faster results !
Select to expand quoteseanhogan said..
get someone else to teach him ! and if possible get one of his buddies to tag along
less frustration for both of you and faster results !
I know that you after more about conditions and such. But if it all goes to poop then I think seahogan's advice is very good. I tried teaching my daughter and failed miserably. By chance I found a local windsurfing school were my daughter made friends the same age, had fantastic experienced teaching, and had more fun than I could ever provide.
The worst part is that I'm a teacher and I couldn't even teach my daughter. :(
Sounds like you've got the right rigs. But 160L is too big for a 25-30kg kid with a tiny sail. A 115 - 120 L board with a removable daggerboard fin would be ideal. The fin acting as a daggerboard will help them a lot when they first start and you can take it out as they progress and want to plane. Several of the well known brands make kids specific beginners boards like this. They don't last long on seabreeze so you have to keep a keen eye out.
Select to expand quoteHenners said..
By chance I found a local windsurfing school were my daughter made friends the same age, had fantastic experienced teaching, and had more fun than I could ever provide.
The worst part is that I'm a teacher and I couldn't even teach my daughter. :(
This is an important point. especially with girls. They like doing things with friends. 
My own daughter got really motivated and had a lot more fun when she had friends her own age to 'play' with.
Smaller boards are good. Tried to teach my son on an inflatable SUP with a centre fin at a similar age. Found the sails the size you mentioned would not allow him any influence over the board. Bought an 120 litre Kode that has full eva deck and centre fin.
Light wind and shallow water. He was able to steer and turn the board around and sail back to me him self easily.
Also, if yours are tech mad like mine. Put your GPS watch on them. Great motivation to get them on the water.
Another bonus is the board is a good higher wind option for me. Less gear to pack.
Best feeling in the world was the first time we went for a cruise together.
Hope they enjoy it. You will for sure.
Yo BFM .....
Haven't seen all the other threads , but my 2cents
Get them down onto a large freestyle board as quick as poss .... easy turning and THE window to see the 'fast exciting' side of the sport .... With my lads I was battling 'easy' adrenalin access of skateparks with scooters and bmx ... With a few comments here and there how water is less severe than concrete , and a few Paul van Bellan vids - gets them seeing the future possiblities ... Never pushed it ... got them confident in the water also surfing and sup surfing ....
Best to make it AS FUN AS POSS with as little work for them .... so I grabbed a huge long rope .... would let him sail out , and pull him back in when small .... Then when they're getting around , letting him gain speed downwind and HAVE FUN and get those ADRENALIN moments , with me doing 500 million upwind walks with the kit - was worth the trade ... Freestyle board doesn't help initially - BUT - they have a few 'moments' that actually get them hooked (vs the big board NON fun excitement lacking factor ) .... Once they get good at staying upwind etc with a freestyle board and say 20cm fin , they become super accomplished technically , and translates well to the ocean / waves etc .... I did think , buy an old freestyle board , and get a slot box thrown in by local repairer , in the middle ,,,, then stick a 12 / 14 cm small fin inn would help a lot initially - might do this with my next lad coming through (7 at mo )
Get the lightest rigs you can ... once I got my lad onto a Severne xs3 that twists properly , and so light (1.8kgs for a 3.6m) , things really progressed .... Also , would say there's a magic weight for the kids - around hitting 32 kgs , where their bodywieght can offset a bit of power , and balance the rig better , and then the magic happens .... prior to that , its a bit of wobbling with very small sails not a lot happening excitement wise ....
My lad went ---- old 340 / 325 dunger longboard (really good as narrow / fast with a gust )
RODEO freestyle 109 ltr x 67 cm
Fanatic skate 93 x 62cm
Now with his upwind skills , he is venturing into waves etc , threw him on a 74 ltr skinny wakeboard the other day with 17/9's , and he stayed upwind sailed like a champ ....
AND .... hang in there .... its hard work getting them through the stages until they are relatively self sufficient (ie staying upwind , no more walking kit upwind , gnarly rescues etc ) ..... but now blasting with my son back and forth , seeing launch a big chop hop .... is GOLD ..... and have the joy of my younger son coming through in next few years on repeat ....
good luck ...... getting the new generation enjoying nature and these sports and all your efforts is a smack in the face to mobile phones / Facebook / Twitter / insta / online future crap , and good for their future souls .... AND windsurfing IS radical ... My kid doesnt blink an eye dropping into 14 ft skatepark ramps / bmx moves etc ..... but flying into a gybe full speed with lots of moving parts I can see the fear and adrenalin in his eyes ....
Just made a vid my lad ..... won't load with link paste ... error play / link ... ??? any ideas ?
you can search though .... search 'Liam ' windsurf ' 2022 ' YouTube '
just went to seaside few days ago. it was too cold for me and saw few windsufers......
all I figured out is that windsurfing got shadowed because only few actually know how to do it.
learned that after 15 years of windsurfing.
flat water sup is a good way to get the kid some good board water skills
regular fins can over power small kids sails eg 1.5m so I cut down some fins so the kid could sail upwind with very small sail
Initially I would follow the kid on my sup and tow them back up wind
Experiment with different boards eg regular long board with small back fin (easier tracking), modern wide learning board eg starboard go (important if very choppy),
Kids seem to be capable of progressing to freestyle board without center fin much quicker than adults
