AWIA Windsurfing Skill Levels

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.

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.

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.