Windsurfing

water sports · wind power · Olympics

Born in California. Windsurfing was invented in the late 1960s by people who mixed surfing culture with aerospace ideas. They wanted to ride waves using a sail instead of just their body.

Sail meets surfboard. A windsurfer rides a board similar to a surfboard, but with a large sail attached by a flexible boom. You hold the boom to steer and catch the wind to zoom across the water.

Spread around the world. By the 1980s, windsurfing became hugely popular in Europe and North America. People loved the thrill of combining the speed of sailing with the freedom of surfing.

Olympic sport since 1984. Windsurfing was so exciting that it became an official Olympic sport in 1984. Now athletes compete in windsurfing events in the Summer Olympics.

Needs wind and waves. The best windsurfing spots have both strong wind and ocean waves. This is why coastal areas with consistent wind and good wave conditions are perfect for the sport.