Youth Windsurfing
Windsurfing is suitable for children as young as 5, with several board and sail brands producing "Kids Rigs" to accommodate these short and light weight windsurfers. In some countries, organisations exist to provide entry into the sport in a semi-formal or club-style environment (i.e. The RYA's Team 15 scheme). If children want to get more involved in racing, they can go to trials for the RYA 'zone squad'.
Indeed, several teenagers have enjoyed success at professional level in both wave and freestyle disciplines. Marcilio "Brawzinho" Browne and Jose "Gollito" Estredo are two windsurfers which both won PWA Champions before reaching the age of 18. Whereas most recently, Philip Köster has become one of the dominant sailors at the annual PWA Pozo "wave" event. He is widely regarded as one of the sport's leading exponents of the double forward loop.
In Maui, there is a growing band of young wave sailors, led by Kai Lenny Gustav Häggström (Sweden), who are beginning to gain access into the most extreme wave sailing spots, including the legendary Jaws break on the Island's North Shore.
Some more established riders, including Nik Baker and Levi Siver believe "this new generation is set to push windsurfing to levels never before seen."
Historically, it should be noted that Robert (Robby) Naish, at the age of 11, took up the fledgling new sport of windsurfing. Shortly thereafter, in 1976, he won his first overall World Championship title, at the age of 13.
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