It's awesome to see so many kids getting into windsurfing here in NSW! The NSW South coast seems to be experiencing a boom in beginner kids.

It's terrific to see windsurfers teaching their kids (some as young as 6yo) and families having fun together.

There are also a fair few kids who don't have windsurfing parents getting into the sport (all those featured below)- and some of them are even thinking about teaching their mums and dads!



A 12 yo having his first go





13 yo with 3.0m/88 l board planing on his 3rd day:




13 yo planing on his second day. Doesn't weigh enough to warrant using such a big board (144l Go) but I wanted to go easy on him because he has a heart condition and had 3 heart operations by the age of 5. He loved it so much, he didn't want to stop after 2.5 hours even though it became much too windy for a beginner:



12 yo on his 6h day





15 yo started last summer, but due to recovering from an operation couldn't sail during the Christmas Holidays- first day back on the water:




15 yo on his 12th day of windsurfing:




The following day,these 2 15yo, Alex and myself were escorted by Forrest Ladkin and Guy Cribb out to the bombora at Gerroa and we all rode logo to mast high sets .The kids even got a free swimming lesson.


13 yo who started last summer at age 12, cracked the carve gybe, jumping and waterstart after only 8 weeks:








and last month the duck gybe:



and last weekend went wavesailing






13 yo on his 4th day cracked 24 knots using 115 l board and a 2.5m sail.
Said to his dad "I think I've found my sport":



11 yo on 7th day

Yes, starting earlier it is much easier to progress quickly. You have created a great environment there at Sanctuary Point, it's amazing seeing you arrive with a van full of boards and help these kids to develop, you are a great role model.
..hmmm... could be better if you were into speed sailing...

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15 yo on his 12th day of windsurfing:

Wish I could have done that after 12 days!!

you're a legend KA360,

the work you do is exceptional!

KA360 gets my vote for Australian of the year. My only misgiving is they are all already better than me!

Great to see these pics Arkim!!

The importance of what you are doing cannot be underestimated. Without a sustainable market, the sport will simply die. Just look at the junior cricket and football programs that are out there. This is for a reason - so we can keep on developing first class sporting teams etc. With your efforts, the sport will continue its resurgence and develop into something beyond a mechanism that enables mid-life crisis tragedies (like me) to relive their youth. Better still, we may see the next Jaeger Stone come from Sanctuary Point (or Gerroa!).

Akim, It's people like you that help this sport grown and will ensure that it lives on. I personally have you to thank for my progression in the sport as you were always the go to man for information when I started sailing back in the ACT. The kids are doing absolutely amazing, To see them ripping around Gerroa on the weekend was inspirational. Thanks to you and all your work for protecting our sport for the future.

Well done mate, it's such a pleasure to have you and your family as friends. Keep up the awesome work.

Cheers, Jase.