Windsurf originated as the combination of two sports (surfing and sailing), and it consists of navigating the surface of the water on a board, which has a sail impelled by the wind. Depending on your skill and the kind of equipment you have, more extreme windsurfing can be practiced, which can include pirouettes, jumps and speeding.

A windsurf board consists of two main parts: the board and the rig. The board, in turn, is formed by foot straps, mast base, keel, and the fin (used only on longer boards.)

The equipment or rig, consists of the sail, which can be made of Mylar or monofilm (transparent materials), the mast and the boom, which is set horizontal to the mast, and where the windsurfer holds the sail rig.

History

Windsurfing is a very recent sport, which originated in California, United States, in the garage of two friends: Jim Drake, a sailor, and Hoyle Schweitzer, a surfer. Towards 1968, these friends combined the disciplines that they loved, sailing and surfing, in a hybrid sport that they patented under the name of windsurf. By 1970, their invention was already mass-produced.

By the end of the ' 70s, Europeans - who especially like individual sports - had made windsurfing one of their most popular sports. This drove the development of new and better equipment. Into the '80s, the sport continued its development when at the '84 Los Angeles Olympic Games it was recognized as an Olympic sport. Since then the sport and its equipment has continued to evolve, allowing its practitioners to reach not only greater speeds, but also to perform pirouettes and jumps.

Windsurfing in Chile

In Chile you can go windsurfing in the sea and in our numerous lakes. In the Northern Area and the Central Region, windsurfing is mainly practiced on coastal beaches, whereas in the Southern areas of the country it is mostly practised in lakes and lagoons, especially in the Araucania and the Lakes District.

Región de Atacama and Altiplano

Iquique: Cavancha and Blanca beaches.
Antofagasta: Beaches: Punta Atala, Punta Blanca, Hornillo, Chacaya, Mejillones, Juan Lopez, La Rinconada, Automovil Club, El Huascar y Amarilla.
Caldera: Ramada, Brava and Mansa beaches.
Bahía Inglesa: La Piscina and Las Machas beaches.
Bahía Salada: Located 134 km (84 mi) south of Caldera.
Huasco: Beaches: Los Toyos, Tres Playitas and Carrizal Bajo.
La Serena: Beaches: El Faro, Los Fuertes, La Barca, Mansa, Blanca, Cuatro Esquinas, La Marina, El Pescador, El Corsario, La Sirena, Las Gaviotas and Canto del Agua.
Coquimbo: Peñuelas, Changa, La Herradura, Totoralillo, Lagunillas, Morrillos, Guanaqueros, Blanca, Grande and Socos, Principal, Conchali and Pichidangui.
Elqui Valley: Puclaro Dam (Gualliguaica shore)

Central Area

Los Molles beach: located 145 kms North of Viña del Mar.
Pichicuy: 137 km (86 MI) north of Viña del Mar.
Papudo: 82 km (51 MI) north of Viña del Mar.
Zapallar: 72 km (45 MI) north of Viña del Mar.
Maitencillo: 61 km (38 MI) north of Viña del Mar.
Horcón: 44 km (27 MI) north of Viña del Mar.
Quintero: 42 km (26 MI) north of Viña del Mar.
Concón: 20 km (12 MI) north of Viña del Mar.
Reñaca: 6 km (4 MI) north of Viña del Mar.
Laguna Verde: 18 km (11 MI) south of Valparaiso.
Las Docas: 28 km (17 MI) south of Valparaiso.
Quintay: 45 km (28 MI) south of Valparaiso.
Algarrobo: 63 km (39 MI) south of Valparaiso.
El Quisco: 67 km (42 MI) south of Valparaiso.
Isla Negra: 90 km (56 MI) south of Valparaiso.
El Tabo: 75 km (47 MI) south of Valparaiso.
San Sebastián: 87 km (54 MI) south of Valparaiso.
Cartagena: 90 km (56 MI) south of Valparaiso.
Santo Domingo: 108 km (67 MI) south of Valparaiso.
Aculeo Lagoon: at 65 km (40 MI) southwest of Santiago
Matanzas: at 105 km (65 MI) northwest of Pichilemu.
Pichilemu: at 126 km (79 MI) southwest of San Fernando.
Bucalemu: at 37 km. (23 MI) south of Pichilemu.
Lake Vichuquén: 15 km (9 MI) from Vichuquen.
Lake Colbún: 50 km (31 MI) southeast of Talca.
Iloca: 29 km (18 MI) from Licanten.
Constitución: 113 km (71 MI) from Talca.
Chanco: 47 km (29 MI) from Cauquenes.
Pelluhue: 40 km (25 MI) from Cauquenes.
Curanipe: 49 km (31 MI) from Cauquenes.
Lake Rapel: 101 km (63 MI) west of Rancagua.

Araucania and Lakes District

Lebu: 128 km (80 MI) southwest of Concepcion. Playa Grande.
Lake Lanalhue: 145 km (91 MI) south of Concepcion.
Lake Lleu Lleu: 14 km (9 MI) southwest of Contulmo.
Icalma Lagoon: 75 km (47 MI) south of Lonquimay.
Lake Villarrica: 87 km (54 MI) southeast of Temuco.
Lake Caburga: 23 km (14 MI) east of Pucon.
Lake Calafquén: 121 km (75 MI) northeast of Valdivia.
Lake Panguipulli: 114 km (71 MI) northeast of Valdivia.
Lake Riñihue: 123 km (77 MI) east of Valdivia.
Lake Ranco: 128 km (80 MI) southeast of Valdivia.
Lake Puyehue: 50 km (31 MI) east of Osorno.
Lake Rupanco: 37 km (23 MI) northeast of Puerto Octay.
Lake Llanquihue: 20 km (12 MI) north of Puerto Montt.
Lake Todos Los Santos: 16 km (10 MI) northeast of Ensenada.

Recommendations

Learning

Windsurfing is a sport that requires a lot of patience and practice. Taking lessons is fundamental, because the risks posed by this activity do not only depend on the weather conditions, but also on your level of expertise. Because of this, being in good physical shape is also very important.

Windsurfing lessons usually take place in beaches where the wind has a speed of up to 10 knots. After around six lessons you should be able to go alone. To move from a long board to a smaller one can take about four months.

To sail skillfully on a small board, you need to go to places wind enough wind where you can learn downwind, reaching and upwind maneuvers. You will also learn how to use the wind to lift the sail ("water start").

After mastering these basic techniques, you can move on to riding waves and jumping. In order to to this we recommend:

You must be a good swimmer.
Don't ever go alone or without letting other people know where you are going to be.
Check all the equipment before leaving.
Respect the swimmers zones.
Be aware of the weather forecast.
Never leave the board.
Be aware of the wind conditions and the tides.
Do not attempt tricks beyond your skills.
Always keep a signaling device with you.