The Windsurfing
The Windsurfing
What makes Maui so special is that it is a year round windsurfing destination. Different winds blow throughout the seasons; summer brings endless days of wind while the winter brings the most consistent waves. To get a good mix of both then spring is also a great time to travel.
Hawaii is the original sunshine state surrounded by the most amazing lush vegetation and landscapes and of course the mecca for windsurfers. Home to numerous world champions and a seasonal training ground for others, Maui has flat water, reefs, white sandy beaches and of course monster waves – this place has it all!
There is a reason Maui is called the Mecca of windsurfing. People make the pilgrimage daily from all around the world to pay homage to the winds and seas of Hawaii. It is a perfect place for beginners and intermediate sailors to learn and progress their skills in warm waters, year round. Maui is also the home of Ho’okipa, where professionals come to fine tune their windsurfing acrobatics! Most sailing spots around the world have their great days…. and Maui is one of the best that brings the winds and waves to your doorstep almost every day!
 | |
|---|---|
| Beginners | 7/10 |
| Intermediates | 8/10 |
| Advanced | 10/10 |
| Waveriders | 10/10 |
 | |
|---|---|
| Best months: | Jan - Dec |
| Flat water: | Some |
| Choppy water: | Some |
| Shallow water: | Some |
| Waves: | Yes |
| Tidal: | Yes |
Centre, Courses & Kit
The Centre
Kahalui on the North Shore is where you will find the hire centre and the latest Neil Pryde rigs & JP boards. Lessons are taught at Kanaha Beach Park which is a beautiful spot for windsurfing, kitesurfing and picnicking. It is a half mile stretch of sand with two small jetties defining the protected swim area. A full-time team of life guards watches over the park area which has showers, bathrooms and plenty of parking. Light wind is typical for the morning hours, and by noon the wind is strong enough for shortboard sailing.
From Slalom sailing in Kihei to the south, wave sailing on the North Shore and smooth shallow-water at Kanaha Beach Park, Maui has it all!
Below is an outline of the course structure at this centre. We recommend that you pre-book your course to ensure that you have a place and that you can start immediately.
The Courses
Beginner Courses
Level 1: Getting Started
With big boards and small sails you will be sailing out and back on your first lesson. Things start off with a brief orientation on the beach, then in the water your instructor will teach you to steer and turn around and sail in before you sail out. Using stable boards & easy to handle sails, the good instruction ensures immediate progress. All equipment is included during instruction. The school van takes the school boards to Kanaha beach every morning. For entry level and long board sailing all you need is a bathing suit, sun screen, and a towel; we can provide everything else!
Level 2: Advanced Beginner
Once you’ve got the basics covered, the next step is on the long board. This is a great way to learn new manoeuvres, like beach starts, harnessing, tacking, and gybing. Long board sailing lessons are held every morning and afternoon. Get your gybes sorted now and learning to gybe a short board will be significantly easier.
Beginners meet at Kanaha Beach Park at 09:00 to get started on their lessons.
Advanced Lessons
Move on to intermediate techniques & if you are trying to waterstart or need some personal tuition on gybes, tacks or harness work, this will be the course for you.
Level 3: Waterstarting
Cracking the waterstart opens up sailing short boards. With boards too small to uphaul on, this is the way forward. Working with your instructor you will receive help rigging and tuning your gear before your lesson starts on the beach, running through and practicing component parts of the waterstart.
Level 4: Short Board Sailing
Gybing is just a small part of short boarding. Get sailing up wind and fine tune your stance & sail to help you sail with less effort. Learn with an instructor who will sail with you on the water to make all the difference.
Level 5: Gybing and advanced manoeuvres
Get this dialled and you’ll spend more time on the water than in! Completing a gybe takes a lot less effort that dropping one so get your success rate up with some private instruction. 1.5 hours of private instruction to get whichever move you are trying completed on your own kit or rented kit whichever suits you best. Generally taught in the afternoon with stronger winds, the price excludes kit.
Kit Rental
For those windsurfers who are looking for water time and enjoying blasting or free styling in the near perfect conditions kit hire is for you. Each rental comprises two sails, mast, boom, board and soft roof rack for ease of transportation.
7 days kit hire – £275
14 days kit hire – £494
The Kit
Sails
- The latest 2010 Neil Pryde sails rigged with NP hardware for your enjoyment. Cross over with the Firefly, Waves with the Zone or Combat or take a Hellcat for a blast, anything is possible!
Boards
- Whatever your discipline, try the latest JP Australia boards here. Wave, Freestyle wave, Freestyle or Super sport & Excite ride to suit your needs.
