Windsurfing is a water sport that combines characteristics of both sailing and surfing. It emerged in the late 1960s from the aerospace and surf culture of California. The windsurfer uses the wind to propel a board forward under their feet. The sport is also referred to as "sailboarding" and "boardsailing". 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. The technique and equipment have evolved over the years, and major competitive disciplines include slalom, wave, and freestyle. Increasingly, "foiling" is replacing traditional events, and the IQfoil class is the new Olympic windsurfing racing class for France in 2024.
Windsurfing is one of the most popular sea sports, combining sea and wind as tools at the beautiful beaches around the world. It works the big three all at once: cardiovascular performance, endurance, and strength. There are different types of windsurfing, including racing, freestyle, and wavesailing. In racing, participants cross a start line and see who is fastest around the buoys. In freestyle, participants perform tricks, and in wavesailing, it is more like surfing, but the participant is using a sailboard.
