My son who is now 12 years old has started teaching his best friends from school to windsurf.
One of them has been 10 times after school and is now planing, in the harness, straps and has started jumping!
The other one has been 5 times and just planed yesterday for the first time! These kids are doing really well, despite not having windsurfing parents to teach them.
Luckily, we are in a great beginner's location and we have been able to let them use our children's gear. I think the key has been that the gear is light and user friendly and kid-sized. Also having a range of equipment to progress on as needed makes a big difference. Most important of all is that the boys are enjoying the sport together, encouraging each other and having the best time ever. We now have a long queue of other kids down here begging to be taught. Just don't have enough time and people to look after them all at the same time...
despite not having windsurfing parents to teach them.
I think that's the key. Kid's don't want to learn from their parents. It's not cool to do things your parents do. (not when you are 12)
They want to do things their mates do.
Windxtasy there is some truth in that but at 5..kids absolutely want to do what their mums and dads do! Mine still prefers making sandcastles though when it all boils down to it!
Great stuff! Wish I could learn as fast as those kids.Its great that he now has his best mate involved.
Select to expand quoteWindxtasy said..
despite not having windsurfing parents to teach them.
I think that's the key. Kid's don't want to learn from their parents. It's not cool to do things your parents do. (not when you are 12)
They want to do things their mates do.
Actually, I have 2 kids who windsurf and they really wanted to do what the rest of the family does. Happily, mine haven't reached that age yet (when parents stop being cool) - at the moment my son says I'm his hero 
I have always said it's really vital to teach them young. And we CAN now that kid's gear is available. There's no point using cut-down or heavy gear because it is more likely to put them off. I think too many people don't realise that beginners of any age need the best most appropriate gear. It's only really determined people who will persevere if the gear isn't friendly and right for them (or people with nothing better to do than beat their heads against a brick wall).
You often hear about young kids begging their parents to let them have a go but the parents either don't want to give up their windsurfing time or can't afford the extra kid's gear (especially if they're not sure the kids will continue). Some don't realise that there are some great offers available for kids rigs.
And while we're at it, there's another often quoted excuse why we windsurfers can't teach our kids/family - some people have accepted it as gospel that you cannot teach your wife or kids. Sounds "convenient" to me... It's my view (and I have direct evidence having taught my wife AND my kids) that we are the BEST teacher for our own families. Of course there will be issues but since we are going to be their on-going sailing buddies, it is good to start at the beginning. You learn how to teach and you forge a really vital bond that will hold you in good stead through the coming teenage years. You have to give up some of your own windsurfing time for a season but going through the challenge has a lot of rewards - my whole family windsurfs now and I never get in trouble for buying new gear or booking a holiday in a windy place 
Great work and well done.
Given how quickly your son's friends picked it up can I ask if they learnt how to up haul or simply went straight to beach start then water start ?
Very inspiring! I just this week bought an ezzy kids rig with 1.0 and 1.5 to put on my JP SUP.
My 3yo and 6yo cant wait to get on it this weekend. With three sons I am very hopeful that at least one of them gets into the sport!
After a couple of years trying to encourage my family into windsurfing, my 10yo son has just started asking if he can go windsurfing...I have mates my age that have tried, but seeing that it's a decent learning curve - and needing the right conditions, it's gone by the wayside. I'm working on a small rig so that he can sail with me.
Select to expand quoteSailhack said..
After a couple of years trying to encourage my family into windsurfing, my 10yo son has just started asking if he can go windsurfing...I have mates my age that have tried, but seeing that it's a decent learning curve - and needing the right conditions, it's gone by the wayside. I'm working on a small rig so that he can sail with me.
Do youself a favour and buy him a rig. Or at the very least borrow one from WV. There is one at ZU and another at SHQ.
Select to expand quoteSailhack said..
^^^ Except that I live 400kms from Melb. ;-)
Well why the hell did you have to go and do that?! ;)
Inspiring!
Any one had any luck teaching girls? I've got a 7 year old and I'm considering it. Is she too young?
This is a great positive story, who knows, I may be a cool dude after all and not an old phart. No kid wants to look like a dork. Having modern, good looking gear may be the secret. Keep up the good work.
Select to expand quoteKA360 said..
....
One of them has been 10 times after school and is now planing, in the harness, straps and has started jumping!
The miserable little pr!ck.
There's always someone who has to go and ruin it for everyone else. only joking. 
Select to expand quoteYuppy said..
Inspiring!
Any one had any luck teaching girls? I've got a 7 year old and I'm considering it. Is she too young?
As a matter of fact, I have had a good outcome teaching my daughter who is now 8. She started learning at 5. Here is a video of her for you to check out. She is 7 in this video. If you like, I have another of her learning you can check out in youtube. It's called Windy Kindy and was made a couple of years ago.
For those of you who venture to Sandy Point. I have a 2.1m hot sails kids rig for hire at a reasonable rate to cover wear and tear.
It's a wave looking sail with own boom and mast.
We are 20ish mins from SP.
This taught my kids to sail and my daughter at 9yo also started teaching her friends.
I also have a Naish Kailua board for teaching and learning on. So big you fall on it not off it. In fact you can sit on front and instruct.
So wide you think you have jogged a lap of the oval to tack it...........
We have been lucky to have had a nice steady run of after school sessions so I thought I'd put up an update on our progress.
This boy has now been 6 times:
And this one has had 12 sessions so far:
Both are making great progress.
BUT the best news is that their instructor (12 year old Alex) just pulled off his first forward loops!!!!
Really happy to see this post.
Up here in Sydney we are about to get a kids program together based at Georges River Sailing Club.
Essentially we have a bunch of kids that are super keen and they need a pathway to progress + some facilities i.e club rooms, coach boats, instructors etc..
Would do anything to see a similar program started down at Sanctuary Point...fyi, I believe there is a Raceboard regatta there this weekend. Maybe have a chat to them about helping get things started?......
Select to expand quoteBeaglebuddy said..
Dad of the year
Can you adopt me?
You live in Maui don't you? Consider yourself adopted. You have a new brother and sister and they're very excited about coming to visit you so make up the spare room
Select to expand quoteWindxtasy said..
I think that's the key. Kid's don't want to learn from their parents. It's not cool to do things your parents do. (not when you are 12)
I don't think I ever met someone within 10 years of my age who windsurfed until I was 18 and started competing overseas and I started when I was 5! Good to see some young guys getting involved !!
