Any advice for a beginner?

[thatimp]

Hey all,

I'm Celeste and I've got a budding interest in windsurfing.

The bad thing is, I don't know anyone who does it, neither do I know anything about it (other than being able to identify windsurfers on the water). In other words, I'm completely clueless! My friend and I are looking to sign up for the level 1 proficiency course offered by Water Venture (once again, don't know much) -- does anyone know how much this costs?

Also, just some general question that popped in mind while I was typing this (in no particular order):
1. What's windsurfing like in Singapore?
2. Where can I windsurf (if I ever learn how to, lol)?
3. How much does it cost to maintain it as a hobby?
4. What are the various costs involved?
5. And, the most impt question of all, how do I go about developing this interest (besides taking up a course)?
6. Anything else I should know?

I genuinely appreciate any advice offered -- it doesn't have to answer to the questions above, really, I'm pretty sure I missed out some impt stuff. Thanks guys!!

[11onze]

Hi,

Being a beginner, I can answer to some of the questions.

1. beginner course
option 1: The level one course costs $60, and it lasts 6 hours (in one day, starts at 10AM).
You have to take it so that you are allowed to rent the equipments in PA.
option 2: There is beginner course in MANA MANA (the private club next to the cable boarding pool), priced at $120, also 6 hours (but you may choose to do it for 2 days on weekends, which is less tiring).
The equipments are better - you use Starboard START L, more stable than the old boards for beginners in PA. And there are less students in the class - my friend and I were the only 2 in the class. This may be because of the higher price.
I did not know about PA at that time, but I think it is worth the money. More stable and therefore easier gears and more dedicated instruction helped me build the confidence which kept me going despite the difficulties I encountered in the very early stage.

2. windsurfing in Singapore
I don't know about the exact number of windsurfers in Singapore, but there are quite a number of them. Just go to PA water-venture (east coast) on weekend afternoons to see it by yourself.
You can windsurf in PA and MANA MANA. But there is almost no people windsurfing in MANA MANA because of the high rental fee and member fee.

3. costs
At the beginning, you may consider renting the equipments in PA, it costs $20 for 2 hours (minimum) and  $10 for every consecutive hour.
Once you know how to surf basically, and you feel constrained by the equipments in PA, you may consider buying second hand gears - board, rig (sail, mast, boom, mast extension). The cost varies. In my case, I bought a set of gears at 1K+ recently. And it is much better than the PA rented gears.
Once you own your gears, you probably need to store them in PA. The storage fees are $35 for board/month, $5 for rig (without boom), $5 for locker (optional). You have to pay the fee for one quarter in one time with a deposit of $100. In a long run, it is cheaper to have your own gears stored in PA than to rent the gears from PA if you go there frequently.

4.developing your skills
Go to practice as often as you can, and mock others.


Check out this video 'learn how to windsurf' by starboard on youtube http://fr.youtube.com/watch?v=8GbSXn37f5k


Hope it helps and see you around some day.

[P.J.]

Thanks 11onze for giving a very detail reply to our new member.

PA are in a process to upgrade their windsurf boards. So you will see some latest gear at same rate. To improve you need more TOW ( Time on water ). So get a bigger volume board or one with a center board to start with.

To progress more after the basic class. you can contact : windsurfing-factor.os3.sg
They offer intermediate classes at PA run by a team of delicate instructors.
 
Just drop by at PA-Water Venture. Is a good place to hang out during the weekends.

Cheers !

[m3l]

& if you are really into racing, NSC welcomes you with open arms..

At the end of the day its all bout spending more time on water..

[thatimp]

Thanks for the replies and advice, guys!

Sorry I haven't been checking into the forum regularly, have been busy with school and CCAs.

11onze, thanks! Mock others? More like the other way around! (:

PJSU, will consider taking up more courses after the basic course! Thanks!

m3l, racing sounds great! First things first though, I gotta learn to stay on top of the water, rather than in it... Thanks!

[Windward]

Hi Imp,

Good to know you have the keen interest to take up windsurfing.
With the feedbacks, the next step is to sign-up for the basic course
either with PA or Mana Mana. The course will offer you a first-hand
experience into this wonderful sport.

Following the basic course, you can do a normal rental and practice
on your own. There are many experience sailors around and they
will be happy to help beginners like yourself. Alternatively, there are
also clinics for beginners looking to progress after the basic course.

With a bit of determination and practice, you might find yourself wanting
to compete in races. With the official announcement of windsurfing in
YOG 2010, our local youth team are all geared up and training hard for it.
For all you know, you might even be part of it if you start early! 

Good winds,
::Windsurfing Factor::
http://www.windsurfing-factor.os3.sg/

[m3l]

Just a question.. Are you in secondary sch, poly/jc or uni? If you are in Uni you can hook up wit the Uni windsurfing clubs.. From what i know all the uni in sg has an active club.. The rest of the group however you might need to sign up wit PA..

[Prokid]

Hello my nickname is prokid but I am not a pro at all.I am a beginner just like u . I am in primary school only though. I love the sport with my dad we sail together and coaches me on a cool board which can have 2 sailors.I want to warn you that the sea is not as easy as you think because I was stung by a jellyfish. do not give up! 

[m3l]

Keep it up! Keep training and im sure YOG you will have a chance in it!

[Prokid]

Thanks very much!

[Prokid]

Oh yeah? What is YOG?

[m3l]

Youth Olympic Games

[thye]

Class in YOG - BIC Techno 293

[Prokid]

Cool now its a better reason to focus more

[thatimp]

Right now, I'm in Ngee Ann Poly, Year 2. There isn't a windsurfing club in NP, cos it closed down about 2 years ago. CCA dept not willing to revive it, already spoke with them (cos I was trying to claim points for taking the licensing).