Mobydisc said..
The biggest potential for new windsurfers in Australia are the former windsurfers who gave it up in the eighties, nineties or naughties for whatever reason they did. Most of them know how to windsurf and most would be pleasantly surprised to find out how nice it is to consistently plane on modern equipment.
Other than that, to get new people to try it out, that is pretty hard. There are lots of different activities out there and most people nowdays seem to enjoy sticking stuff up on Facebook and getting liked. If people post their windsurfing stuff on Facebook then that would be positive encouragement. However if a New Idea celebrity type who said they lost 20 kgs and met the man/woman of their dreams through windsurfing, then we might get a few new faces into the sport.
I disagree with those who say the big fat learner boards make windsurfing less appealing. Anything that makes the first hours of windsurfing as fun as it can be is a good thing. Its fun sailing along. Its not fun falling off all the time, grazing your shins against a non slip finished deck and getting frustrated.
Hey moby,
I fully agree, originally I windsurfed back in the 80, 90s back in Holland. I picked it up a few years ago and still on the learning curve but loving it. Many guys ( seems to mainly guys unfortunately) I mention to I windsurf say, yeah I used to do that 20 years ago. This is the group we need to get involved and relight their passion. I often say to this group that the same revolution that has happened in skiing has happened in windsurfing. Boards are now short and fat, given you much more control and stability and quick access to planing. All in all you can be windsurfing in no time.
Besides cost, I think time and unpredictability is also a problem. However many people get away om the family for a round of golf, so this should be possible. But unlike golf where you can coordinate with your spouse in advance, windsuRfing is much less predictable. (Plus don't you hate when you go out and there is no wind, you come back home slightly frustrated, but in the mind of the family you have had you go at windsurfing for that weekend)
Now I think the other challenge we have is suitable locations. And in particular for beginners. I think in Perth you might have the river, here in melbourne we have the bay. The bay is great if you are an experienced surfer, but if you are learning or intermediate, a 15+ knot seabreeeze plus some "lovely" chop is quite a challenge. This perceived difficult environment doesn't give confidence to a newbie to go outthere. It can be quite frightening for them with all the waves and the big sail. SUPping probably gives them the feeling of more control.
Does anyone have any suggestion for great beginner/ intermediate windsurf spots 20 -40 km from melbourne CBd? Inverloch and point Henry are great but quite a drive for a 2 hour session from where I live.
Oh yah, if you see a newbie, go and say g 'day. We are a rare species, so we need to look after each other.
To Crowded 
..Good for windsurfing though!
