AWIA Windsurfing Skill Levels
Longboard....Shortboard....Shortboard
(Waves)
Longboard
CRUISING
OLYMPICS
DAGGERBOARDS
Level 5: Pro
- Sails in all conditions.
- Excels in one or all: freestyle, course racing or cruising.
- Rarely falls on tacks and jibes.
Level 4: Expert
- Can sail in challenging conditions.
- Use harness, footstraps, mast track and centerboard.
- Proficient at rigging and tuning.
- Completes 75% of tacks and jibes. Waterstarts easily.
Level 3: Advanced
- Sails in limited local conditions.
- Uses harness 75% of time; uses the footstraps occasionally.
- Can complete 50% of tacks and jibes.
Level 2: Intermediate
- On board more than off.
- Occasionally uses harness; starting to move back toward footstraps.
- Initiating jibes and tacks.
Level 1: Novice
- Sails on reach without tether.
- Tacks for most turning.
- Learning how to use body leverage for control.
Beginner: 6-8 Knots
- Sails in controlled environment with supervision.
- Can self-rescue.
Shortboard
GIANT SLALOM
SLALOM
Level 5: Pro
- Sails in all conditions.
- Excels in one or all: downwind slalom, course slalom or cruising.
- Rarely falls on transitions.
- Has repertoire of jibes.
Level 4: Expert
- Sails in challenging conditions.
- Uses harness, footstraps, and multiple fins.
- Proficient at rigging and tuning.
- Completes 75% of tacks and jibes.
Level 3: Advanced
- Sails in limited local conditions.
- Uses harness 75% of time; uses front footstraps.
- Jibes for transitions.
- Waterstarts easily.
Level 2: Intermediate
- Can keep board on a reach.
- Can hook in and out of harness with ease.
- Waterstarts 50% of the time.
- Can move back on board in search of straps.
Level 1: Novice
- Sails short distances.
- Tacks for all turning.
- Waterstarts with feet touching the ground.
Shortboard
WAVES BUMP & JUMP
Level 5: Pro
- Sails in all conditions.
- Excels in one or all: wave performance, bump and jump or shortboard
freestyle.
- Has repertoire of transitions.
Level 4: Expert
- Sails in challenging conditions.
- Uses harness 100%.
- Jumps and rides big surf.
- Has repertoire of transitions.
Level 3: Advanced
- Sails in limited local conditions.
- Uses the harness 75%.
- Uses front footstraps.
- Jumps and surfs faces of small surf.
- Jibes 50% of the time.
Level 2: Intermediate
- Can sail through small surf.
- Clears water on most jumps and lands.
- Hooks in and out of harness with ease.
- Uses waterstart 180s for turning.
- Waterstarts easily.
Level 1: Novice
- Sails through chop.
- Waterstarts with feet touching the ground.