I recently enquired about a begginers lesson for a nine year old and was quoted the above by one of our local schools who banter around this forum.
OK i know the gear is expensive, i know most people have a fair way to travel, i know its not a charity, but how can we expect "kids" or anyone for that matter to get into the sport at that price, no wonder kites seem an easier option.
On a recent trip to Maui it cost $30 US dollars for a group lesson of three for three hours,ok thats my windge for today.
that seems pretty steep - i know my GF and I paid $50 each a couple of years ago for a 1 or 2 hour group lesson with simon and julie from Board Crazy.not sure what the cost is now but it would be worth a call.
The yachting qld was / is kicking along with youth windsurfing thing on the Bic one designs. not sure about the cost but that may be a way forward for your little tacker.
if you can sail, why not teach your nine yr old yourself?
for less than $200 you could easily get a second hand small sail that they could use, and if they are nine, they will probably float easy on your lightwindboard.
Yes i have given him a few lessons, but those who have kids will understand when it comes from an outside party much more goes in, ever spied on your kid at school when hes not watching, so polite and eager to please at home answers back and wants his own way. Anyway i dont want you thinking i hang around schools watching kids, i will teach him myself and i will just take $150 out of his pocket money, and when hes better than me in a week or two hes on his own.
Ah, yeah I don't really know 9 year olds, but I do know that $200 for a lesson is a rip lol. You should show him some windsurfing movies, get him keen, I reckon he would pretty much teach himself. Thats how I was anyway.
Commited Reloaded, The Windsurfing Movie and Andre Paskowski's series of freestyle movies are all pretty good, they make me wanna sail everytime I watch them.
in WA Windforce are offerring school holiday group lessons
2 hours daily for three days - $150 per kid total including gear.
That sounds fair.
We are a professional and fully accredited windsurfing school and the only one in the Brisbane and Gold Coast region. Our team of instructors offer lessons 7 days a week and our programs are run in accordance to Yachting Australia Windsurfing Scheme and each level is assessed and awarded accordingly. http://www.yachting.org.au/db/rte_list.asp?Action=Display
Whilst we charge professional rates for private lessons, we charge a much reduced rate and in some cases our cost price for schools, cadets as well as three local councils (Pine Rivers, Brisbane and Gold Coast) in their windsurfing programs, so to help the sport promote and create opportunity for people to try the sport. Next 3 months we have around 15 council programs where people come for a 2 hour group lesson for $10 each. The Gold Coast program is in fact totally free. Here is one of them - www.seabreeze.com.au/Events/QLD/Windsurfing/Default.aspx
We use the latest gear in the market and teach with hi-tech (Headzone) advanced communication radio helmets, giving you maximum progression and learning efficiency. Our rescue boat and safety procedures ensure a safe and secure learning environment.
Our prices are set very well within the benchmark for professional windsurfing lessons in Australia -
Board Crazy $150 for 2 hours - www.boardcrazy.ashop.com.au/p/335935/windsurf-lesson-1-person-2-hours.html
Balmoral Windsurf School $110 for one hour -
www.sailingschool.com.au/Home/Adult-Lessons/Windsurfing
At the end of the day, you get what you pay for. If you don't care about accreditation, insurance or recognition, and for the cost of a carton of beer you manage to get Joe Blogg to teach you on his old wally board, go for it. If you want professional service, you pay professional fees. Just like some people shop at David Jones, some prefer Crazy Clark!
Our lessons by the way are on season opening specials - all 20% off! Wish everyone a great season ahead!
I reckon a couple of lessons to get the basic stuff out of the way. Then let him learn himself and you can talk after about what he is having trouble with.
You can lead a horse to water but you can't make it drink!
A mate and I learnt with no lessons or anything, dident even know what a windsurfer looked like or what parts went where but we worked it out.
We were surfing crappy NQ waves one day after school as kids and we sore a windsurfer fly past us and was carving throwing buckets doing jumps and duck jibes and we looked at each other and knew, thats what where going to do!!!
From that day on I've loved windsurfing and was so determanded to be as good as the guy we sore that day because he had a smile from ear to ear and was loving every second of it. We discovered a hole new world of posabilities other then just surfing.
There were magazines and movies with jason and the likes shredding waves and now there was no turning back.
It dident take long and we were so obsessed with how easy it is to be radical with a windsurfer. Racing, jumping, carving every sesson we learnt somthing new and often learnt some things the hard way but I won't go there 
After all is said and done having "FUN" is all that matters!!!!! 
^ that old story, again?
I started nearly 3 years ago after graduating from the haircut school of windsurfing. Three or so hours on beginner gear for $100 (2007 $s). I didn't have any access to gear, needed some basic pointers but agreed that you can figure the rest out yourself. Just need (always more) time on the water.
SurfConnect: I was walking around broadwater parklands just this morning thinking it was an excellent spot to be teaching people how to windsurf. Lots of spectators too.
That new jetty lends itself to action photos.
