Hi all, l am an Australian with German qualifications (VDWS) as a windsurf instructor and also speak German. These quals are well recognized if one wants to work in Europe as an instructor. I have been visiting and working in the watersports stations in Greece, Spain and Germany, first hand seeing whats works and what does not at each station, presently on a station in Mallorca, Spain.
l was considering opening a school to learn windsurfing (beginner/intermediate courses) and also hire windsurf gear, SUP's and Kayak sports.
Do you think there is still a market for this in Australia?
Or kiting has a bigger grip?
Naturally a calm no wave location with onshore winds preferred. Also where the sun shines and easy proximity to watersport station location. Season length 3 to 4 months would suffice.
I know a big ask, but good to get opinion from fellow sailors if this is viable proposition before investing. Any ideas of a good spot where you feel this would be well received.
Regards.

my gut feeling is the time has passed, there is the odd enquiry here about learning, but I wouldn't think you'd get enough at any one location to make any money. That's from a Perth WA perspective, it may be different elsewhere.

I'd agree with decrepit. There are a few location that would work well for a windsurf centre perhaps even in combination with a hotel / apartments. But I think getting enough people through the door is going to be the problem.For the Euro market it's too far and too expensive. Those that will venture all the way to Australia will most likely do it for 2 or 3 months and in a van with their own gear mostly likely not being beginners. South Africa is more reliable when it comes to wind, quite a bit cheaper then OZ and it's closer.Forget the US. They don't travel outside their own country.I think there is a big opportunity with China. But it seems the majority of inbound Chinese tourists at the moment are more interested in shopping and cuddling a koala bear then venture out into the ocean. Anecdotally I have read figures that suggest the majority of Chinese either can only swim poorly or not at all. This could have something to do with it.All that said from time to time there seem to be people running kiteboarding safaris up the WA coast.I think for it to work you'd have to rely on inbound tourists. A kiteboard / windsurf / surf / sup trip up North or down South type scenario that would combine both generally touristy stuff with water activities will probably have more chance of success then an outright windsurf / kite / sup centre. I might be wrong of course.

Sorry 20 years too late for Perth

Thanks to both responses to my post. Actually gut feeling was also bordering on "not feasible" the limited clientel when other sports are somehow are more appealing on holidays such as Jet-skis, parasailing and being towed on a banana boat at speed.
Maybe as an addon addition to a Whitsunday Islands resort.
Well, better to be wise and save my money to update my own windsurf gear.
Cheers

We have a learn to windsurf (ltw) program running at our Sailing Club, the club is large with good marketing and infrastructure, membership base and prime location so lots going in our favour but the take up or interest in windsurfing has been very strong.

The club now runs ltw courses all year round. Basically 5 x 3 hour sessions runs over 5 Saturday mornings or 5 straight days on school holidays. The courses are generally always booked out especially in summer, Saturday morning courses are more popular than 5 days straight.

The boards used are Windsups so they get used often as sups as well plus the centre runs heaps of sailing courses, tackers etc.

So to make a living off being a windsurf instructors exclusively is probably difficult but if you partnered with a sailing club that already has all the infrastructure ie location, booking systems, rescue boats etc etc its possible to get a program off the ground

see the below link to our program

http://www.rqys.com.au/sailing-academy/keelboat-trimaran-courses/windsurfing/

Is anyone taking over the Pelican Point hire/lessons after windforce closed down?

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stehsegler said..
...I think there is a big opportunity with China. But it seems the majority of inbound Chinese tourists at the moment are more interested in shopping and cuddling a koala bear then venture out into the ocean. Anecdotally I have read figures that suggest the majority of Chinese either can only swim poorly or not at all...

FWIW, I heard Taiwan is very windy, and they do have hire centres.