Olympic windsurfing is considered to be one of the most exciting, fast and physically demanding disciplines of sailing. Windsurfing is a diverse sport and offers participants many different aspects to enjoy. Windsurfers can compete in the form of freestyle, wave sailing and racing or they can simply enjoy one of the purest forms of sailing, gliding over the water enjoying the sensation that only a windsurfing board can provide. it is common for windsurfers to reach speeds of over 30 mph, which makes for some incredibly exciting racing.      

Olympic windsurfing equipment has gone through a dramatic overhaul since the sport’s inception into the 1984 Olympic Games.  The current equipment, the RS:X class, is a fusion of the popular formula windsurfing boards and the older “long-boards.”  The RS:X board can track upwind in less then 2 knots of wind, with the centerboard down.  However, in higher winds the board planes upwind at speeds of 10-15 mph with centerboard retracted. The board is sailed with one 9.5 m2 sail (Laser full rig is 7.2m2), which gives the rig the maximum wind range of 3-30 knots.  The board is dynamic, challenging and extremely taxing on the body. 

In a standard RS:X regatta, there are 4-7 days of racing with 2-3 races a day.  Each race typically last about 25-45 minutes, producing large amounts of stress on the body. Due to the constant pumping (moving of the sail in and out to create artificial wind) of the sail, it is common for competitor’s heart rates to reach 200 bpm for short periods of time during the race.

The Equipment:

Neil Pryde RS:X
Length: 286 cm (9 ft 3 in)
Width: 93 cm (3 ft)
Weight: 19 kg (42 lbs)
Volume: 220 L
Fin: 65 cm
Sail: 9.5 m2

Training Program:

Full Time Training Program (8-10 Months a Year)

Part Time Training Program (2-4 Months a Year)