You’ve finally made the decision:I want to start windsurfing! Now what? How do I learn to windsurf? How long will it take me to be able to say “I can windsurf?”.

The top 5 windsurfing tips for beginners:

1.Take a lesson - although it might be tempting to use your friends’ wide board and just spend an hour with him on water, what you should do is find a good windsurfing school - it can either be somewhere you can drive or a place you plan to take your next vacation to. The basics,like any other sports, are so important that it will worth the extra money you’ll spend.

2.Start on a wide board - whether you decide to take a windsurfing course or with a friends’ help,try to start with the widest board with the most volume you can find. The board should be at least 80CM wide and have at least 160L of volume. It will make learning windsurfing faster and more fun.

3.Take your time - learning to windsurf takes time. The progress really depends on how many hours you spend on the water learning the basics - uphauling, proper stance, understanding the wind and your board. You will need at least 10X2 hours sessions to be able to control the rig. However, you will have lots of fun from the first moment your step on the board!

4.Surf only in light winds and flat water - it’s really tempting to go out whenever the wind is blowing but days with strong,gusty wind or lots of chops will cause frustration and might put you in danger. Be patient!.

5.Never windsurf alone!! That is the most important tip I can give you. As a beginner, never windsurf without having someone around.Make sure someone knows you went out - get to know the local shop owner and some of the spot veterans.

Just remember that windsurfing is all about having fun on the water. You’ll have some unforgettable moments on the water, but you have to play it safe!

Feel free to add your own tips for beginner windsurfers!