Windsurfing is a fun and challenging sport that has been around since the 1970s. It involves standing on a board and using the power of the wind in a sail to propel yourself across the water. Windsurfers must have good balance, core strength, and the ability to read the wind and water conditions.
As with any niche sport or hobby, windsurfing has developed its own unique culture and lingo over the years. This can make it a bit perplexing to newcomers or outsiders. Riddles can be a playful way to help demystify some aspects of windsurfing.
In this article, we have gathered 51 riddles about various windsurfing topics, equipment, techniques, environments, and more. Each riddle contains the question itself and the answer explained afterwards. Test your knowledge or learn something new about this fast-paced board sport!
Beginner Windsurfing Riddles
Q: What kind of board should a beginner windsurfer start out on?
Answer:
A wide, stable board with a lot of floatation, such as a Funboard. As opposed to a narrower, faster planing board which would be too tricky for a novice.
Q: Before heading out on the water on a windy day, what’s the first thing a smart windsurfer checks?
Answer:
The wind direction, using something like a flag or wind sock. This ensures you launch and ride in the safest area of the beach.
Q: A beginner keeps getting blown downwind no matter how hard they sheet in. What do they need more of?
Answer:
Power or finesse. This happens when the sail is too big for the wind conditions. The beginner cannot yet control the power of the rig.
Q: What might you hear an instructor remind their student to do every few minutes?
Answer:
Look where you want to go, not right at the front of the board. Looking ahead enables better steering.
Windsurfing Equipment Riddles
Q: I come in shapes like diamonds, squares, and rectangles. Wind fills my “cells” to power the rig. What am I?
Answer:
The sail.
Q: I’m long, skinny, and help attach the rig to the board. Sailors “unroll” me to catch wind. What am I?
Answer:
The mast.
Q: I’m a pole that connects to the bottom of the mast. Sailors can adjust my length or angle to change sail power and handling. What am I?
Answer:
The boom.
Q: I’m the steering mechanism that gets extended out one side of the board. Sailors use me to bear off, head up, or tack the board by pushing or pulling. What am I?
Answer:
The wishbone that connects to the back of the boom.
Q: We come in different types like fin, box, and triplane. By angling us differently, we help the board steer straight and resist sideslip. What are we?
Answer:
Fins.
Q: I’m not needed on wider beginner boards, but performance boards use me for extra stability and speed. Racers may have two or even three of me. What am I?
Answer:
A center fin.
Q: I’m a line that attaches to the mast base or front of the board. Sailors wrap me around their harness hook to stay connected to the rig when the sail lifts them out of the water while planing. What am I?
Answer:
A uphaul.
Q: We’re pieces of grippy foam with straps that your feet push against to control the board. What are we?
Answer:
Footstraps.
Q: I come in weights like 4.5, 6.8, and 8.5, and propel the board to incredible speeds when my sail is full of wind. What am I?
Answer:
A sail’s size in square meters.
Windsurfing Technique Riddles
Q: What’s a common mistake sailors make when first attempting planing?
Answer:
Trying to sheet in too quickly once powered up, causing the sail to luff and lose power. Easy sheet adjustments are key.
Q: I’m that “sweet spot” angle of the sail where it’s just lightly luffing. Trimming here means optimum power and efficient sailing. What am I called?
Answer:
The power zone.
Q: We’re two sailing points angled closest to directly upwind, used for efficient tacking or regaining lost ground. What are we?
Answer:
Pinning up, meaning sailing closed-hauled.
Q: I’m a technique for late planing that involves sliding the back foot well back on the board while pushing the rig away to stabilize it. What am I called?
Answer:
The back foot shuffle.
Q: Sailors do me right before a jibe, unhooking and flipping their sail behind them to switch direction with the wind. What am I?
Answer:
The duck jibe.
Q: I’m that “no fall” zone of super powered-up planing that competitors strive to reach. Sailing here means outrageous speed. What am I?
Answer:
Being fully lit.
Windsurfing Environments & Conditions Riddles
Q: I’m that ideal combo of steady medium strength wind and small chop. Windsurfers can plane consistently and playfully in me. What am I?
Answer:
Buttery conditions.
Q: We’re those fun little bumps in wave trains that windsurfers carve, play with, or jump off of. What are we?
Answer:
Wind swell or wind chop. As opposed to groundswell waves.
Q: I’m that frustrating zone immediately beyond a shore break where there’s little wind and waves. Sailors slog here before planing. What am I?
Answer:
The doldrums.
Q: We can form hazardous offshore gusty clouds near beaches and capes in the afternoon. Sailors watch for us warily when we darken. What are we?
Answer:
Sea breezes.
Q: Windsurfers venture out cautiously when we roll in because we can cause choppy, difficult sailing conditions. What are we?
Answer:
Storm fronts.
Q: Beaches like us form sheltered coves that gently funnel and smooth wind over glassy water – ideal for learning and jumping. What are we?
Answer:
Leeward shorelines or launching points.
Q: Racers strategize carefully around me, tacking upwind while avoiding my slowing swirls caused by land masses or shifts in wind direction. What am I?
Answer:
Dirty air.
Q: What might sailors hear (and dread) when forecast high winds whip up dangerous crash-inducing swell?
Answer:
“It’s going to be full-on this afternoon!”
Competitive Windsurfing Riddles
Q: In Slalom races, sailors have to complete multiple laps around marks while planing at top speed as quickly as possible. How do the best competitors finish first?
Answer:
By catching “running” waves downwind for an extra burst of hydro-assisted speed.
Q: A key snowboard-inspired Slalom and Freestyle move where sailors flip into the air and land backwards. What is it?
Answer:
The Spock. Named after the Vulcan salute.
Q: What might you hear winners announce they had to dig deep into during fierce competition?
Answer:
Their “Suitcase of Courage”. Meaning their reserves of skill, willpower, or fearlessness.
Q: Top Wave sailors can perform this radical rounding turn around steep parts of waves using an abrupt under-the-lip carve and pivot off the top. What is this advanced move called?
Answer:
The Gougn, pioneered by sailing legend Josh Angulo.
Windsurfing Lingo & Slang Riddles
Q: What’s it called when windsurfing addicts go out in any conditions, just desperate for their “fix”?
Answer:
They have the Jones, and need to feed the Jones!
Q: I’m that excited feeling when winds are pumping and spirits (and sails) are flying high. What emotion am I?
Answer:
Stoked!
Q: If someone tells you the wind-blown chop is “munchy” what do they mean?
Answer:
It’s big, bouncy and difficult to traverse – better eat your Wheaties!
Q: What might sailors be trying to get into when they yell “Send it!”?
Answer:
Sending it means going for maximum speed, height, or power.
Q: “Reef it in!” and “Depower, quickly!” are urgent commands to do what when overpowered?
Answer:
Immediately let the sail out by loosening the boom or downhauling to reduce power in dangerously strong gusts.
Q: We’re those exhausted muscles you feel after a full day of sailing when it’s hard to lift your arms. What are we?
Answer:
Noodled or cooked spaghetti arms!
Q: “I buried the rail going full tilt!” describes what common blunder?
Answer:
Catching a fin while planing at top speed and nose-diving into the water in spectacular fashion.
Q: What’s “schlogging”?
Answer:
The slow, exhausting process of lugging around unsuccessfully while trying to get planing.
Q: When a windsurfer regales you with a story that seems greatly exaggerated, what might you say they’re doing?
Answer:
“Pulling your leg!” or “Laying it on thick!” Sailors do love spinning tall tales.
Conclusion
I hope you enjoyed testing your windsurfing knowledge with these 51 riddles. This niche water sport offers endless opportunities for problem-solving, creativity, adventure, and fun with friends around the world. There’s always more to learn as equipment, techniques, and competitions continue advancing each year thanks the passion of sailors.
Now get out on the water and make your own windsurfing tales and memories! But be safe out there and respect Mother Nature – She makes windsurfing such a thrill but demands proper preparation and caution in return.
