Ride the waves on the board. Water sports: what are they and how are they useful? Surf spots

If surfing begins with curiosity, with the desire to conquer the elements, to become one of Them - almost Poseidon, cutting through the waves, then the surfer definitely begins with the board.

"A surfboard is just a board"- think those who have never stood on this very board (forbid them to flash this thought before).

However, after the first attempt to fight the ocean one on one, even the uninitiated understand: and each of them obeys only a certain board.

Let's see what types of "weapons" are wielded by Big Water today.

Varieties of surfboards as many as the surfers themselves - eyes run wide. But, of course, there are also the most popular ones. They are also the most comfortable, reliable and modestly legendary.

Speaking of legend, this is he, the great-great-grandfather of modern boards and, as such, the longboard. Read more about “how the first surfboard was tempered”, read on, but for now let’s move on to the features of longs.

Design

(long board) is an elongated, massive surfboard with a smooth profile.

At the beginning of the last century, such a unit, with a length of 4.9 m and a thickness of almost 10 cm, weighed up to 70 kg.

In the mid 30s average longboard weight fell to 25-30 kg, length - up to 4.6 m. At the same time, the famous Tom Blake first supplied the board with fins (fins).

Thanks to them, there was no need to “steer” the feet on the water during maneuvers.

Today's longs only appeared in the early 1970s. Now their average length- 2.6-2.9 m (in general, it can exceed 3.7 m), thickness- 5-8 cm.

The width indicator for a longboard is not important and is 50-65 cm. Most often, the maximum width is located closer to the bow, less often it is distributed throughout the board.

Number of fins also varies: 1 large, 2 and 1 or 3 fins in a row. However, only a professional will feel this difference in configuration.

Professional Longs made of fiberglass(fiberglass), they are too fragile for beginners to learn.

For beginners, plastic or soft longboards are preferred.

Why longboard?

He has only one minus.- long is heavy and clumsy, which does not allow you to dive through large waves, such as, and perform tricks.

Little concern? That's right - the advantages of a longboard are undeniable:

Opportunity to learn. A small wave loves a big board. Stability and buoyancy due to the dimensions of this surfboard allow you to take small and gentle waves without much effort, easily sit, lie down, row and ride. Ideal qualities for the first steps in surfing. And for the next, of course, too.
Liberty. Longboard is the board with the most relaxed riding style. Advanced surfers can move from nose to tail, ride on their heads or even two in the process.
Many, many waves. Experienced surfers and so can leave almost every wave, but for beginners it will be a real gift. A longboard allows you to ride literally in a circle, through cross-steps and turns, rowing out to the line-up and onto the next wave.
many, many days. Longboard forbids thinking that "a little bit of good": he rides the surfer 300 days a year, even on the smallest and not so hot waves.
Whole art– riding on the stern of a longboard – nose riding. Did you only use the nose of the board for stickers like "I love ocean"? On the nose, you can ride up to half a wave segment; Don't deny yourself the pleasure of trying something new. Longboarding is the perfect field for this.

The evolution of the boards is most clearly visible precisely on the example of a shortboard: from a 150-kilogram colossus to an ultra-compact, daring piece of art.

Name "for show-offs"(“show-off”) he received not in vain: coming to replace the longboard, the short makes skating dynamic, outrageous and even aggressive. And of course, it is not suitable for beginners.

Design

(short board) - a small, light trick board, to conquer which is the blue dream of every surfer.

This surfboard differs in length- only 1.5-2.2 m.

Shortboard Width not fundamental and fluctuates between 35-65 cm, reaches a maximum in the center of the board.

Nose done at an acute angle, and tail, vice versa, softly rounded, often "swallow".

A shortboard is the bare minimum of fiberglass, foam and resin for incredible agility.

Rocker short especially smooth, the tail is almost always equipped with 1, 3 or 7 fins.

Why shortboard?

Due to the flat rocker and length, it is almost impossible to paddle on a shortboard: training will take place in endless floundering and waiting for the right wave. But it's worth it: check it out on .

Element at all. The shortboard is ideal for fast, sharp, trumpeting waves. One of the most spectacular tricks is the passage through the “pipe” under a water curtain.
All sections are at your feet. Due to the maneuverability and speed, on a shortboard you can cut waves both on the shoulder, and in the tail, and inside the pipe. The surfer on the short has enough time to return to the closing section and pick up speed for the next maneuver.
Unreal stunts. All the incredible things you saw on TV can be done on a shortboard: shoot into the air, ride powerfully, railing deep under water, destroy vertical sections with snaps, leave curly footprints, dive through the wave and raise a whole wall of spray. Paradise for the professional.
Dimensions. Perhaps long in the hands of a surfer looks more courageous, but a shortboard is much easier. You no longer need to remember such and such a mother, puzzling over the storage and transportation of the board.

The name speaks for itself: funboard - a board for fun, light skating. The benefits of fun, as well as the fun itself, are undeniable.

Design

Fanboard(fun board) - quite long and thick, but, nevertheless, a maneuverable board for relaxed riding.

Fanboard length varies from 1.8 to 2.6 m.

This surfboard is rich in varieties in shape and size: from longboard mini longboards with 1 fin, to shorter pointed boards with 3 fins, like a shortboard, only thicker and wider.

Fan coverage, like their fins, are stiff.

Why fanboard?

This board is most adapted for beginners in surfing, but the variability allows everyone to find their “own” surfboard in it.

Anyone in the teeth. It is convenient to learn on the minimalib: it is considered a transitional board from long to short.
As is usually the case, the former rookie outgrows the longboard, but on the shortboard feels like a fish on a bike.
In other words, fan perfect option for intermediate surfers.
Experienced riders will not bypass the funboard if they don’t care about tricks, but they want to ride easily and beautifully.
On "you" with waves. A fanboard is like this: it allows you to feel the wave as quickly as possible in minimal conditions. The most comfortable fun passes on medium - not too sharp and not quite gentle waves. However, a special ease in control is felt at the beginning of each wave.

You will recognize him from a thousand - goldfish in the world of surfboards. - the third most popular board after shorts and longs, and "the most designer" - there are almost 200 variations.

Design

- This is a modification of the shortboard, short, with a pointed or round nose and a characteristic tail, aimed at non-professionals.

In other words, if you do not yet shine with skills, and water tricks glimmer with a distant dream, it is wiser to entrust your ambitions to a fish.

"Rybka" is even shorter than a short- 1.5-1.8 m, and the width is as much as 50-65 cm, which is why the fish looks more massive than its "forefather".

The maximum width is either in the center or closer to the nose of the board.

Fish rocker smooth, flat, without bends. The tail can be equipped with 2-5 fins.

The fishboard has three basic tail types:

« swallow tail"(swallowtail) - a wide, forked tail with a deep incision. Accelerates on small waves, facilitates rowing and getting to the starting position. One of the best for beginner fishboarders.
« Lesser-tailed swallow"(baby swallowtail) - the tail section, similar in design to the first, classic type, but reduced by 1.5-2 times. Designed for maneuvers in large and medium waves, such as in.
« Bat tail» (bat tail) is an example of avant-garde surfboard fashion. By design, the tail is convex, not concave, which is why the board is stable on different waves. Properly equipping the battail with fins, you can perform any tricks on the water.

The cut of the tail into the body of the board itself can be from 0.7 to 15 cm, this is rather due to the design. The “bat” has no cut at all, since this board is convex along the contour.

Why a fishboard?

Not every beginner can master a fishboard, and you won’t be able to control it lying down, so what? Fish has a lot of advantages.

Fish, or among surfers "bun" very successfully combines the "professionalism" of shorts and the submissive nature of longboards.
This board is perfect step from long to short. Beginning fishboarders practice maneuvers on it, develop, and then perform tricks with pleasure, being already experienced surfers.
Fishboard will do for small, ragged waves, even in difficult conditions. It is easier to rake with it and keep the speed on gentle sections when the wave sags.
Fish are sharpened under most tricks. Particularly successful, for example, are sharp turns and rotation on the board. Every enthusiastic surfer has a couple of such "fish" in stock.

Surfer with a paddle is a sapsurfer. In fact, the SUP board combined surfing and rowing.

Design

(SUP, Stand Up Paddle) - the average length of the board is 3-3.3 m, width - 70-80 cm, thickness is similar to a longboard.

By design, saps are:

whole(classic assembly - fiberglass, epoxy, wood and carbon mass);
inflatable(really an inflatable board, competing in quality with the usual one).

Supboards are divided into many types, but they can be combined into 3 categories:

To ride the ocean waves. The characteristics are similar to ordinary boards.
To compete. Elongated (up to 5 m) racing boards with a V-shaped bottom.
For unusual places. Supboards suitable for lake water, mountain rafting or yoga. Designs can be the most bizarre.

You can meditate, fish, just sunbathe on the SUPBOARD. This board is used by photojournalists, lifeguards and sports instructors.

Why SUPBOARD?

Not all surfers consider SUP to be surfing per se. But what do you care when there are so many advantages to riding this board?

Anywhere, even in . You do not need to look for a spot, wait for waves and the right wind, as in, - a sapboard is suitable for any body of water.
For everyone. This skating can be mastered even by a child in a few days intensive classes. Sup instruction is not required.
Without "plugs". Surfing in the ocean means not waiting hours for your entry to the line-up, and aggressive surfers do not distract.
Equipment. You can do various useful things with a SUP: install a sail (for windsurfing), a kite (for kitesurfing) or additional loops and bindings (for feet when towing by a boat).

Wind(wind) - on the edges in the tail of the board there are a couple of protrusions that look like wings - this is for tricks.
Gan(big-wave gun) - a real weapon in front of huge (2-3 growth and more) waves. Long, wide and thick board, with pointed tail and nose. This allows you to easily accelerate in steep waves while maintaining maneuverability. Often, a gun has 3-4 fins and the owner with steel you know what.
Hybrid(hybrid) - is a mix of different types of boards. For example, shortboard and fishboard: the hybrid will be maneuverable like a short board and stable due to the width.
Softtop(soft-top) - will probably be your first board. "Soft" boards with a rubber coating, they begin their surf journey. Can be a modification of longs or shorts.
Tau-in(tow-in board) - a small (1.2-1.5 m) board with looped leg mounts. He enters the line-up with a boat or scooter, rides like a regular shortboard, only he can perform much more tricks.

There are so many varieties of boards now that everyone will definitely find their own, unique, understanding perfectly.

Video

Watch the video from the surfer on the longboard:

Surfing is one of the most popular species sport, which annually gathers more and more adherents around the world. Every year in many world countries special competitions are held, the main goal of which is to find the most outstanding masters of riding on the crests of waves.

Hawaii is considered the birthplace of surfing - it was the inhabitants of these Pacific islands who first stood on boards in order to conquer the Pacific waves. Another famous navigator James Cook in his books described an amazing entertainment for Europeans - riding on the waves on a wooden board.

At present, surfing has managed to give life to many identical water sports - we are talking about wakesurfing, windsurfing, skysurfing, kitesurfing and many other types, which are based on the use of a board as a tool for gliding through the waves. The SportBus portal will introduce you to the most popular types of surfing and tell you in detail about their differences from each other.

Windsurfing

Windsurfing is surfing with a sail, a combination sailing with classic surf. In this case, the board plays the role of a miniature yacht. One of the differences lies in the increased size of the board used by windsurfers. Windsurfboards can easily reach a length of four or more meters. A mast is installed in the center of the board, to which a sail of various designs is attached. Often, a special hook is attached to the mast - a cross rail, which is a lever used to control.

Wakeboarding

Wakeboarding is an extreme sport that combines elements from classic surfing, acrobatics and water skiing slalom. The main difference from classical surfing is that the athlete does not use water currents for movement, but some kind of tractor, often a helicopter or a boat. Sometimes, in order to tow a wakeboarder, a special type of towing installation is used that performs movements in a circle. The surfer holds on to a special device and slides on the board along the waves in accordance with the trajectory given to him by the tug. In the process of moving behind the tugboat, the athlete overcomes different types artificial obstacles placed in its path. This is how tunnel surfing was born. In addition, the athlete in the process of sliding uses the waves left by the hull of the tug for jumps and tricks.

kitesurfing

Another interesting view surfing is kitesurfing or, the so-called "parachute surfing". In this case, the surfer uses a large kite with a special design as a tugboat that will carry him through the waves.

skimboarding

skimboarding- this is a sport that is skiing in shallow water or even on wet sand on a board specially designed for this - a “skimboard”. The skimboarding technique is based on the principle of gliding (using a water wedge for skiing). The main difference between skim boarding and classic surfing is that instead of swimming into the water with a board and drifting in anticipation of the right wave, the athlete runs up on land, throws the board under his feet and, jumping on it, slides on wet sand or water like glider on the surface of the water surface. Due to the fact that skimboarders often use sand rather than waves to ride, skimboarding is often referred to as artificial surfing.

In the course of its history, it has managed to undergo certain revolutionary formations and classic surfing. Each change led to the selection of a new subspecies of classic surfing, including: shortboarding, longboarding, tau surfing and other varieties.

Video: surfing - pig

It is no coincidence that surfing is called the sport of kings: it began on the islands of Polynesia (Hawaii, Tahiti, Samoa, etc.) centuries ago, where it was originally available only to the nobility: commoners were not allowed on the best "spots" and could not afford 6-8-meter boards on which the waves then conquered. Moreover, the king has always been the best rider and no one had the right to surpass him in this art. Only at the beginning of the 20th century. Hawaiian surfers George Frith and Duke Kahanamoku introduced surfing to the inhabitants of America and Australia, from that moment surfing as a sport began to "grow" around the world. He became really popular in the 1960s, when films and magazines appeared about him: surfing ceased to be an underground trend, everyone started talking about it. Thus, a whole surf culture was born, in which its own organizations and competitions naturally appeared. In this article, we will tell you about how the world of surfing works as a sport.

Surfing as a sport: disciplines

Surfing as a sport consists of two main disciplines: shortboard and longboard. This is due to the fact that different waves require different types of boards, which, in turn, determine different techniques skating. Shortboard is a light and small board (from 1.5 to 1.8 m) designed for sharp, fast, often twisting waves. Due to its dimensions, it is very maneuverable, which allows the surfer to make a huge variety of different things from sharp turns to airs. On a longboard - a large and wider board with a rounded nose (from 2.4 to 3 m) - it will no longer be possible to make such pirouettes on the water, but on it you can take more gentle and small waves, as well as perform a completely different kind of maneuvers. Most tricks on the long are based on the transfer of the center of gravity and the movement of the surfer relative to the board, such as, for example, nose riding. However, because of the spectacle, complexity and variety of tricks, it is the shortboard that has become the most popular discipline of surfing, in which competitions are held everywhere among men, women and youth at all levels - from urban to international.

Competitions

From the moment surfing as a sport gathered a sufficient audience from both riders and spectators, they began to be held, which, like everywhere else, take place in several stages. All participants are divided into groups of 2-5 people (hits) and each group is given 20-30 minutes in the ocean to show their best. During this time, you need to catch at least two good waves and perform the maximum number of tricks on them, because points are assigned for each of them. Of course, it is better to catch more waves, but only the two best rides will be judged. Points are given based on the following criteria: wave size, speed, variety, relevance, difficulty of tricks, etc. Absolutely everything is taken into account here, including how the surfer got on the board and started moving, rode in the back or front side, etc. The maximum score for a trick is 2 points: in order to get it, all other factors must be equally highly rated: for example, the same maneuver on a large wave and a smaller wave will be evaluated differently. Of course, points can also be removed: for example, for violation of the priority rules. A limit of 10 points is imposed on the assessment of the passage: no matter how ideally the athlete passes and no matter how many tricks he performs, the highest score for the passage will always be 10. And since 2 waves are taken into account in the race, the highest mark for the performance is 20 points. Thus, at the end of the race, the leaders are identified, who will go to the next round, where new hits will be formed, and so on until the final, in which only two athletes will remain.

As a rule, competitions are evaluated by 5 judges. When calculating points, the lowest and highest marks of the judges are not taken into account, the arithmetic mean is calculated from the remaining three. By taking places in various competitions, athletes receive points that make up their personal ranking. The higher the rating, the higher the level of competition in which the athlete can participate. So, by winning the contests of his city, region and country, a surfer opens his way to world-class competitions organized by ISA and WSL.

ISA (International Surfing Association)

In 1964 was established International Association Surfing ISA (until 1976 it was called the Surfing Federation - ISF), which in the same year held the world's first international competition, held in Australia on Manly beach. Since 1976, the world championships in surfing have become annual. They were conducted among both men and women, and in 1980 they added to the main program junior championship who brought up more than one generation of surfers. Later, championships began to be held in the disciplines of longboarding, SUP surfing, bodyboarding, as well as competitions for athletes over 35 years old.

Today ISA is a union of 86 participating countries represented by their national surf federations, among which there is the Russian Surfing Federation. In 1995, the Olympic Committee officially recognized ISA as an international institution responsible for all types of wave riding sports in the world: surfing, SUP surfing, bodyboarding, skimboarding, wakeboarding, etc. ISA promotes their development in the participating countries, and also strengthens the position of these sports in other countries. ISA positions itself as " Olympic Games» in surfing: not individual athletes participate in its World Championships, but teams representing their country. The team with the most points overall wins. Last year, a team from Russia also competed at the World Championships in Peru for the first time. ISA also advocates for the inclusion of surfing in the Olympic Games.

WSL (World Surf League)

In 1976, in order to collect top athletes from all over the world, Hawaiian surfers Fred Hemmings and Randy Rerick founded the organization "International Surfing Professionals" - ISP (Since 1983 - the Surfing Association (ASP), and since 2015 - International League surfing (WSL). The main event of the organization was the annual World Tour, which in the mid-1990s became the most prestigious surf competition in the world, embodying the concept of "better surfers, better waves". It is also called the "dream tour": fame, big cash prizes, the most spectacular competitions at the best spots in the world - all this makes it the most important and prestigious event in the world of surfing. The tour has 11 stages for men and 9 stages for women. Each stage is a huge 10-14 day competition that bears the name of the spot where it is held, and often also the name of the main sponsor. The world tour concludes in December with the Billabong Pipe Masters for men and Maui Women's Pro for women held at the Banzai Pipeline and Maui spots in Hawaii. At these competitions, the name of the best surfer in the world is revealed.

In addition to the Men's and Women's World Tour, the WSL also hosts:
— Qualifying series;
- World Championship in the discipline of longboard;
- Championship among juniors;
- Big Wave Tour - competitions on waves over 6 m;
- The XXL Big Wave Awards - awarding prizes in the nominations "Travel of the Year", "Biggest Wave of the Year", "Tube of the Year", etc.

Surfing as a sport in Russia – Russian Surfing Federation

Surfing as a sport is not yet taken as seriously as, for example, in Australia. The first Russian surfing championship was held in 2009 in several stages: in the Dominican Republic, Bali and Portugal. In 2010, the competitions were organized for the first time on the territory of Russia: the third stage was held in Vladivostok. But, nevertheless, the winner could not be considered the champion of Russia, since the championship must be held entirely on the territory of the country. It was decided to call the visiting tours the Cups of Russia. The real championship of Russia was first held in 2014: it had 4 stages, which took place in Vladivostok, St. Petersburg, Zelenogradsk (Kaliningrad region) and Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky. The activities of the Russian Surfing Federation are focused on the development and organization of city championships, the Russian Cup and the most important event - the Russian Championship. As for the Russian Cups, they continue to be held all over the world, in particular, in 2013 SurfJam in Bali officially received the status of the Russian Cup in surfing.

Thus, surfing as a sport is a whole world with its own magazines, TV channels, events, celebrities and an audience of millions. But this is not only an industry with large cash flows. Surf competitions educate entire generations of young surfers, improving the quality of surfing in each of them, and also develop surfing, setting new records and discovering new elements in it. The level of world surfing is growing every year, which can only say that there is no limit to perfection even among super-professionals. We can only follow them and admire them, as well as develop our skills in order to someday, perhaps, take part in the Cup of Russia or the Championship of our country.

I can't imagine life without sports. I really like extreme views. Especially surfing. I live far from the sea waves, but surfing is in my blood, because I wakesurf on our lake. Tell me, dear editors of the women's magazine Lady's Giornale, what other types of surfing are there? Thank you in advance. (Valera Syrykh, Orenburg region)

Surfing on this moment is one of the most spectacular and popular sports. Sliding on the waves with the help of a special board delights millions of people on all continents of the world. The art of a surfer lies in the ability to maneuver on the board among large waves or to quickly climb to the top of the wave and roll down the wave at great speed from there, and repeat this extreme path with the next wave.

At the moment, several types of boarding on the water surface have become established, which have become independent sports.

Classic surfing remains the most spectacular dangerous view. The main process here is that the athlete independently catches the wave, and having caught it, slides along the wave, while standing on the board.
Classic Hawaiian surfing differs from the previous type in that the athlete does not stand here, but lies on the board.
Bodysurfing is also an independent sport and it consists in the ability to glide along the wave without using a board, but using only your own body, fins and a special glove in the form of a soft short board, which makes it possible to lean on the water.
Windsurfing- this is riding on a water surface on a board that is equipped with a sail attached to it. This type sports is attractive in that the pirouettes that athletes perform on their sports equipment, quite spectacular and amazing. In addition, this type of surfing has an advantage over the rest in that it is available for any wind strength.
kitesurfing- this is the movement of an athlete on the water due to the board and a huge kite. This is a very bright and dynamic sport, which, as a rule, gathers crowds of thousands of spectators during the competition.
wakesurfing- This is a type of surfing, which is very popular in those countries where there are no ocean waves. Here the desired wave is created by a boat that passes and forms waves 1 meter high, quite suitable for skiing and surfing. The whole process goes something like this: the surfer is attached to the boat with a rope, which after a while he throws and then only follows the boat, maneuvering in the waves left by the boat.

Any kind of surfing is considered one of the most extreme and dangerous. sports activities. But, despite this, millions of people seek to communicate with the water element in this way.

☞ Video stories

There are several versions of the origin of windsurfing, as well as the names that are credited with inventing the sport. But, the official story says that the first boards with a sail appeared in the mid-sixties of the last century.

The creators of windsurfing were two ordinary surfers who did not even claim to be professionals. Drake and Schweitzer were just catching the waves for fun, until they came up with the idea to combine boarding and yachting, which was at the peak of its popularity in the 65th year. Already in 1968, the first working prototype of a windsurfer appeared, which was given the name "Windsurfer". Actually, from this board the name passed to the whole sport. Another 10 years later Olympic Committee included boarding with a sail in the list of the main program. In 1984, windsurfers took part in the Olympic Games for the first time.

If we talk about the history of Russian windsurfing, then it appeared in the USSR in 1974. It was classified as a yachting sport. This was actively promoted by the famous yachtsman Arbuzov, who opened the first competition of Soviet windsurfers on the Pirogovskoe reservoir (today it is the Pirogovskoe reservoir in St. Petersburg). The popularity of windsurfing as a way to have a great time in the USSR grew quite quickly. New clubs began to appear in major cities of the country, and a year after the first trial competitions, the All-Union Championship among amateur athletes was held.

Since then, Soviet, and after Russian athletes actively participate in all international competitions for all types of windsurfing, which are now on the list of Olympic disciplines. Major championship Russia takes place in Moscow and Yeysk, where the country's largest and most prestigious sports clubs are located.

All types of skiing

Competitions are divided into classes that differ from each other in many ways, from the size of the board and sail, to the level of riding and the complexity of the tricks performed by the athlete.

Formula- the most famous type of windsurfing. For competitions in this class, small boards with a fin are used, no more than one hundred and one centimeters long. The length of the fin should not exceed seventy centimeters. The sail is large - up to 12.5 meters in area. The main feature of the Formula is the type of track. Athletes compete on a special section of water reserved for racing, which is marked in the form of a triangle. Each top of the route is crowned with special buoys. Windsurfers must go around them at high speeds, after which their task is to return to the very first buoy and finish faster than the rest. When grading, everything is taken into account, from the cleanliness of the route, to the speed of the athlete and his ability to control the windsurf.

Speed or Speed. Competitions are held in the form of single high-speed races. Each athlete is on the track alone, while developing the maximum possible speed and adhering to the intended course. Before entering the start, all riders participate in a draw phase to determine which of them will start the race first. The main evaluation criterion is the speed of the route.

Slalom differs from other classes by a short track and high speeds. In short, the winner is the athlete who completes the course faster than the others. Usually the boundaries of the route look like a figure eight or a kind of "snake". Depending on where the competition is held and how strong the wind is, the track may lengthen or change shape. Judges evaluate only speed and compliance with the basic sports rules.

Wave. As you already understood from the name, we are talking about windsurfing, which is considered one of the most spectacular and interesting. Athletes ride the waves, performing various complex tricks. Each windsurfer has the right not only to independently draw up his own program for execution, but also to choose the waves on which he will show his skills. Judging in the Wave is quite strict - everyone evaluates, up to what speed and what wave the windsurfer came out on.

Super X – mixed view windsurfing, combining elements of slalom and wave. Each athlete must clear a set course (as in slalom, it is usually in the form of a "snake"), after which it is time to show the judges and spectators a few tricks on the waves.

Freestyle- the most spectacular and popular class of sailing on the waves. In fact, it is the youngest type of windsurfing, recognized as a sport only fifteen years ago. The main task of the athletes is to surprise everyone with the most difficult tricks and jumps. The judges evaluate a lot, but they especially pay attention to the complexity and purity of the tricks that the windsurfer has chosen for his program. The case when the more complex and more, the better.

Places of study

Given the popularity of windsurfing around the world, there are plenty of places to learn how to ride the waves and sail. Top Schools can be found in the Hawaiian Islands, Bali, Egypt and Greece. Australia is also famous for its athletes. If you want to try your hand at board management for the first time, you can learn it in Russia as well - many good instructors offer courses in Moscow, St. Petersburg, Anapa and Kaliningrad. In any case, finding a school will not be difficult, since all you need to practice windsurfing is wind and water.

Where is the best place to ride?

There are many resorts with beautiful nature, waves and excellent wind. Among the most popular places for boarding with a sail, where there are good stations and hotels, are:

Egypt - an inexpensive flight, excellent conditions for skiing and many Russian schools;
Greece - Russian schools, inexpensive holidays, a wide variety of spots for windsurfing;
Bali and Hawaii are a real paradise for windsurfers;
Australia is the place professional athletes. High waves and strong wind all year round secured;
Dominican Republic - an expensive flight, but an unforgettable vacation;
Mainland Spain and the Canary Islands are relatively cheap holidays and plenty of places to ride. Suitable for both beginners and professionals, especially if you go to the islands.