Fun without danger. This is a water sport you can do your whole life. Windsurfing equipment can last for many years and there is a big second hand market when you want to upgrade. We don't burn petrol, take up room on the water, put others in danger or show off excessively, ( although I do try).
It never gets boring, as there is so much to learn. Windsurfing provides a way of connecting with the wilderness again. It forces you to be sensitive to your natural environment as you skim across the surface of the water. When you start worrying about something, you stop paying attention and SPLASH, you crash
In windsurfing it doesn't matter when you make mistakes, you can sit on your board and float, the sail stops moving when you let go of it, when you are ready you pick up your sail and go again. Injuries in windsurfing are almost zero. Windsurfing gear will not drag you through a pine-apple field, across the street or up a building.
Windsurfing equipment has incredible wind range, so you don't have to stay close to shore in case the wind picks up or dies down. When the kites are all on the beach, the windsurfers are still out practicing moves or cruising along. When the sky turns black, the experienced surfers get excited, grab the smallest gear they can find and go play with the elements.
Windsurfers can sail close to each other, helping out or even swapping gear at sea is not a problem. This makes it very social, as you don't have to worry about crossing lines or running each other over.
Windsurfing gear is not easy to travel with, but if you can park near your surf spot it does not take long to rig up and get on the water. You wont need anyone to help you launch or land. Your gear doesn't get eaten by ants, very rarely ends up stuck in a tree and you don't have to untangle 400feet of line every time a dog rushes past.
Windsurfing gear lasts a long time, we still have second hand gear being bought and sold that is many years old.
Fromhttp://www.iwindsurf.asia/index.php/info/whywindsurf.html
I really liked reading this however it can be improved. Why windsurf?
Most of it sounds not like "why windsurf" but much rather like "why you shouldn't kitesurf", which I don't think is healthy for our sport.
In addition:
"When the kites are all on the beach, the windsurfers are still out practicing moves or cruising along."
Really? Yeah, I see that happening loads....
Let's see if we can get some pro-windsurfing reasons on here, rather than "we're better that kitesurfers"...
I windsurf because I'm insane. I love carting massive amounts of expensive gear around in the back of a van that costs a fortune to run. I love to ruin my social life and doom any relationships from the outset. I windsurf because I love spending hours stood on the beach trying to decide what to rig up or waiting for the wind to show up. I windsurf because there is genuinely something seriously wrong with me that prizes the feeling of a huge jump, or the exhilaration of nailing a new trick above everything else, and I will do whatever I can to get that feeling as often as I can, and at the expense of every other aspect of my life.
I think I'm stupid, but I couldn't give it up, even if I wanted to.
(Can you tell it's not windy here? Getting aggro...)
I don't mind sailing in non planing conditions. With a little sail I practice sail tricks, currently practising helicopter tacks. I hope to buy a bigger board that will make this sailing more enjoyable.
Why windsurf? The sense of speed without the need for a motor, gravity or animal power. Having that locked in and driving feeling when really going for it. The feeling of making progress every time you sail. The feeling of doing something exciting but safe. Enjoying and getting out in our beautiful country, travelling and camping by the water. Meeting people you would not normally meet who share a common interest. Knowing you can windsurf as you get older and it will keep you feeling younger.
Nothing wrong with touting the virtues of windsurfing versus its chief competition. Many people do both of course.
I share this enthusiasm. It's got a lot going for it. I love it. But I'm a little nuts so that's not necessarily a recommendation. For me it's therapy.
However, when you say "fun without danger" and "When the sky turns black, experienced surfers ... go play with the elements" you imply that lightening is harmless. I think we can see the fallacy in that 
.
The sailing scene hasn't stagnated either. It's not possible to get bored with it if you exercise your options. Yep, I could easily do nothing else with my life and still feel blessed. (Of course the occasional root would be nice, but you can't have everything).
.
i do it because im addicted to speed big time !
and the enjoyment of waves every now and then
Its great time out from everything else thats happening in the world and/or your life.
Its great solo time
Its great competition against my fiercest rival - me!
Its a great way to make freinds
Its great to be on the water
Its great getting wet
Its great feeling the wind in your face
its just F...ing Great
Probably something to do with the ADD generation, need instant excitement, cant deal with having to work at something
Yep ... Generation Y: Y should I keep trying when I can do something else. Reminds me of video games before there were "cheats". You only got so far through the game because that's where your skill level was at. Ain't that the way with windsurfing ... hard yards are rewarded with better sailing (and less time in the water ... and those mind games where you convince yourself a big noah is coming up from the deep ala Jaws style ready to grab your flailing and kicking waterstart leg).
Great thread although now I'm a little depressed that having just turned 40 I've been sailing only about twice a year (on the old family holiday) for the past 6-7 years. Oh what I could be capable of now .... perhaps.
It's the sounds that always give me the thrill when I've been away for awhile. The hum of the mast foot, the suck of the wake behind you and the chatter of the board as you skip across the surface (and perhaps the panicked panting when you come up after a big spill still under the sail gasping).
And the gear comments are so true (for me anyway). I'm hoping to bring down my 1989/90 AHD Omega and my ebay-purchased "updated" mid to late 90's sails to the Kyeemagh races soon. Please ... no laughing or I'll smash you with my 1988 Tyronsea mast foot!!!
Who said dinosaurs were extinct 
I windsurf because nothing else can scare me shtless, and then cause me to grin uncontrollably in the same minute anywhere near as consistently.
There's plenty of danger there if you want to dance with it...
I also windsurf because during the day I'm stuck inside behind a desk, and that is a waste of what remains of my youth. (30's not that far away..[}:)])
I used to own a Tornado cat, it took up lots of space, went really fast, needed a crew. And a trailer..
Now I have windsurf gear, I can fit 3 sets in my car (and more on the roof), it goes faster than I ever dared on the cat, and doesn't need a crew or a trailer..
It's best therapy around for the mundaneness of life.
I can spend 8 hours at the office grafting away. An hour on the water and I forget that I've even been to work...every day I windsurf feels like the weekend. 
And what 555 said. Goin hell fast, sailing on the edge of control, and busting out a 35 peak on the GPS is an insane rush. Nothing else I've done comes close.
I do it to eat new people.
Enough zany banter. I like the way it can be both relaxing and peaceful on a summer's day 15 knots, and then exciting and/or scary when you are out of your depth in harsher elements. And of course eating new people.
I`m gonna try windsurfing this season, because it does look like good fun. Not because it`s better (or safer) than kitboarding. Judging by the speeds I see some of the poleys doing down my way you can get injured quite easily. I kiteboard and I`m totally addicted to it. But I don`t think anything less of windsurfing. I`m sure it`s a different ball game to kiting, that`s why I want to take it up as well. I just like being out on the water.
