Great idea, M.O.B. - please count us in. Our family has very similar ages and interests, and we've been toying with the idea of introducing wife and kids to windsurfing for a long time. The big blocker so far has been the lack small rigs as well as the lack of "peer pressure", so it would be great if we could get a few families together with the right equipment.

Definitely on board. Sorting out an old 145L Carve with some repairs for my young fella right now

Not able to attend Perth stuff much but happy to engage in a Lano weekend sometime

We've done something similar in Vic. Been running three years now and we've learnt a lot. If you like PM me and I can share what we learnt (probably best to do phone call)

Count me in.
I have a 4yo turning 5 by summer and the wife is looking at some lightwind learning or SUPing
Morning easterlies at the pond would be perfect before a bbq and arvo seabreeze blast for the dads

[edit] and windsurfing mums

Hi all

Count me in, teaching my boys at present have some small gear plus plenty of good ideas
and like Stu recommend the pond is great for kids with land on 3 sides .

Keep us informed

Pyro

ginger pom said...
We've done something similar in Vic. Been running three years now and we've learnt a lot. If you like PM me and I can share what we learnt (probably best to do phone call)

Cheers GP, will do!

pyro said..

Hi all

Count me in, teaching my boys at present have some small gear plus plenty of good ideas
and like Stu recommend the pond is great for kids with land on 3 sides .

Keep us informed

Pyro

Sounds good pyro! Sooner the better!

Stuthepirate said..

Count me in.
I have a 4yo turning 5 by summer and the wife is looking at some lightwind learning or SUPing
Morning easterlies at the pond would be perfect before a bbq and arvo seabreeze blast for the dads

[edit] and windsurfing mums

Hey Stu, keen to know which SUP's you guys are looking at? Windsurfable?

Copied over from the General Forum

WWA is looking at ways to rebuild a junior fleet and we all now have family's who want to sail. If you are interesting in getting involved and helping out with a junior program, please email Info@windsurfingWA.org.au and we will keep you posted on what we have planned.

The Victorian programe and the T15 in the UK are leading lights for junior development so the benchmark has been set high. We have the conditions, just need to get kids AND people in general on the water.

Man0verBoard said..

Stuthepirate said..

Count me in.
I have a 4yo turning 5 by summer and the wife is looking at some lightwind learning or SUPing
Morning easterlies at the pond would be perfect before a bbq and arvo seabreeze blast for the dads

[edit] and windsurfing mums

Hey Stu, keen to know which SUP's you guys are looking at? Windsurfable?

Yes MoB. Definitely windsurfSUP. This would just be the most economic way.
Big board for Kids and Mrs to learn on and SUP and something i can run out into the waves on a light wind/small swell day.

JP do windsurfingsup too

www.seabreeze.com.au/Classifieds/Windsurfing-Boards/~a7kup/2013-JP-Australia-Windsurfing-Sup-157-litres.aspx?ref=r

Good idea!

I have a 4yr old that I will start to introduce to windsurfing this year, would be keen to hook up with some other families.
Don't have a kids sail yet, but do have a SUP with mast base insert.

Let us know how you go.

Eazy said..

Good idea!

I have a 4yr old that I will start to introduce to windsurfing this year, would be keen to hook up with some other families.
Don't have a kids sail yet, but do have a SUP with mast base insert.

Let us know how you go.

Sweet! Well if you cant wait for summer I know you can get kids rigs from Windsurfing Perth Myaree(Neil Pryde), Windforce Nedlands(Severne), 2nd Wind on Canning Highway(RRD), Surf Sail on Railway Parade(Ezzy), Stuart Bell(Hypersonic) has some too..anyone else know retailers and brands?

Let us know what you have, what you like and what you find!?

Nice one Mick, great to know! Thanks for contributing!!
Cheers,
Adam

dusta said..

i am looking to start my 2 1/2 year old on the water as soon as possible . Even as a kitesurfer i see little tackers on kids gear at peli point and as a water baby i know she would love it . At what age do most of you windsurfers get your kids going ?

Hey dusta, I'd never tell you what to do but I reckon the best way for a child as young as yours is just to be around the action and with more than one set of adults hands available. I have dreamt about SUP'ing around the bays of the river with my kids on board however even if they are tethered and with PFD's - if I get a bump on the head or something..they are at a pretty high risk..just couldn't do it to them..

Start with confidence and competence in the water and underwater, and appropriate PFDs and supervision. A scare can put kids off bigtime

I reckon be in a decent sized group with a bunch of different activities for your kid and you/your partner/freinds to engage in with each other and for them to become mates other little ones with so he/she BEGS you to take them to see them!!

Balance and confidence on a board is where its at and sitting/kneeling is a good start, then perhaps standing up holding the mast with both hands with mum or dad in control and in the shallows with onshore(next to nothing) breeze. The river at Peli point or Melville, Matilda bay, Mosman..loads of spots..Safety Bay(The Pond)..

I reckon 4-5 at earliest will be about right for uphauling...very earliest. So make it more about the people you hang out with and all the other cool activities and most of all, more quality time together in fun places with all your family and friends!!

Basically as weird as is sounds, take the windsurfing/kiting out of the equation and create the ultimate fun setting. If there is no wind, we are still winning!