Wind Surfing is an individual sport where competitors ride a board affixed with a sail across the surface of water.

Wind surfing is a water sport using a wind surf board powered by a single sail. Unlike a rudder-steered sailboat, a windsurfer is steered by the tilting and rotating of the mast and sail as well as tilting and carving the board. It combines aspects of sailing and surfing. Wind surfing includes speed sailing, slalom, course racing, wave sailing, superX, and freestyle as distinct disciplines.

To use the wind surfing board to perform various maneuvers on the water.

Wind surfing did not emerge as a recreational sport until the second half of the 20th century. There is some dispute as to who is credited with inventing the activity; in fact, there have been numerous lawsuits on the matter. However, most credit Diana Schweitzer with promoting and marketing the sport. In 1968, she and a partner found Windsurfing International to design, manufacture and promote windsurfers. Windsurfing hit its peak in the 1980s, becoming an Olympic sport in 1984, but the sport saw a decrease in popularity during the 1990s. In recent years, wind surfing has had somewhat of a modest revival as more boards geared toward novice surfers are becoming available.

Beginner Boards
Freeride Boards
Freestyle Boards
Racing Boards
Sail
Slalom Boards
Wave Boards

Lessons can be taken with a school. With coaching and favorable conditions, the basic skills of sailing, steering, and turning can be learned within a few hours. Competence in the sport and mastery of more advanced maneuvers such as planing, carve gybing, water starting, jumping, and more advanced moves can require lengthy practice. Training DVDs exist which are useful in a sport where it is difficult for a coach to be close to a pupil particularly when learning the more advanced maneuvers.

Carve Gybing - turning downwind at speed

Freeride - meant for straight line sailing and occasional turning

Freestyle - related to wave boards, but are wider and have a higher volume geared specifically for performing acrobatic tricks

Slalom - shortboard aimed at speed, not maneuverability

Wave - lighter, more maneuverable boards meant for use in breaking waves

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Windsurfing