Windsurfing

Windsurfing is a wind propelled water sport that is a combination of sailing and surfing.^[1] It is also referred to as "sailboarding" and "boardsailing", and emerged in the late 1960s from the Californian aerospace and surf culture.^[2] Windsurfing gained a popular following across Europe and North America by the late 1970s^[3]^[4]^[5] and had achieved significant global popularity by the 1980s.^[6] Windsurfing became an Olympic sport in 1984.^[7]

Newer variants include windfoiling, kiteboarding and wingfoiling. Hydrofoil fins under the board allow the boards to safely lift out of the water and fly silently and smoothly above the surface even in lighter winds.

Windsurfing is a recreational, family friendly sport, most popular at flat water locations around the world that offer safety and accessibility for beginner and intermediate participants.^[8] Technique and equipment have evolved over the years.

Major competitive disciplines include slalom, wave and freestyle.^[9] Increasingly, "foiling" is replacing traditional events and the IQfoil class^[10] is the new Olympic windsurfing racing class for France in 2024.

^ Windsurfing, Starboard (July 18, 2011). "Windsurfing Basics". Starboard Windsurfing Online. Retrieved 2022-04-14.
^ "Origins of Windsurfing: Jim Drake". American Windsurfer. 2015-12-06. Retrieved 2022-04-14.
^ Fishman, Joanne A. (June 12, 1978). "Windsurfing: Sailing's New Tack". The New York Times.
^ Fishman, Joanne A. (July 13, 1981). "Boardsailing Is in the Race for Attention". The New York Times.
^ Brenner, Elsa (September 12, 1982). "Windsurfing Gaining Popularity". The New York Times.
^ Greenhouse, Steven; Times, Special To the New York (August 17, 1987). "Europe Gaining in U.S. Sailboard Battle". The New York Times.
^ "How the First Woman Windsurfer Helped Design the First Sailboard". ThoughtCo. Retrieved 2024-02-05.
^ "The best luxury family windsurf destinations in Europe for 2019 – Planet Windsurf Holidays choice picks – Windsurfing UK Magazine". Archived from the original on 2020-01-29. Retrieved 2020-01-29.
^ "PWA WORLD WINDSURFING TOUR: Home".
^ "HOME". iQFOIL Class. Retrieved 2022-04-14.

[1] Windsurfing, Starboard (July 18, 2011). "Windsurfing Basics". Starboard Windsurfing Online. Retrieved 2022-04-14.

[2] "Origins of Windsurfing: Jim Drake". American Windsurfer. 2015-12-06. Retrieved 2022-04-14.

[auto6-3] Fishman, Joanne A. (June 12, 1978). "Windsurfing: Sailing's New Tack". The New York Times.

[4] Fishman, Joanne A. (July 13, 1981). "Boardsailing Is in the Race for Attention". The New York Times.

[5] Brenner, Elsa (September 12, 1982). "Windsurfing Gaining Popularity". The New York Times.

[auto5-6] Greenhouse, Steven; Times, Special To the New York (August 17, 1987). "Europe Gaining in U.S. Sailboard Battle". The New York Times.

[7] "How the First Woman Windsurfer Helped Design the First Sailboard". ThoughtCo. Retrieved 2024-02-05.

[8] "The best luxury family windsurf destinations in Europe for 2019 – Planet Windsurf Holidays choice picks – Windsurfing UK Magazine". Archived from the original on 2020-01-29. Retrieved 2020-01-29.

[9] "PWA WORLD WINDSURFING TOUR: Home".

[10] "HOME". iQFOIL Class. Retrieved 2022-04-14.

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