Windsurf Week 2026 

Friday, June 26 to Thursday July 2, 2026

If you windsurf and have your own equipment, plan to come to NSC and windsurf with NSC Windsurfing members. Get help with technique or equipment issues. Come for the camaraderie. No charge to join in the fun, although a donation would of course be very much appreciated. Become a NSC member if you like. 

Bring your long or higher volume boards if the winds are light or below 16 mph. Bring your shorter boards for higher winds. Fill out the form below with your info.

Note that camping is not allowed on club grounds, so make sure to book a campsite at Kinbrook Park or other locations close by if you’d like to stay overnight.

If you have equipment to sell or are looking for equipment to buy let us know what you want to buy or wish to sell.

Windsurf Equipment and Participant Info

Windsurfing at NSC, can be split into two categories: low wind and higher wind. Low wind, lets say, equals 16mph or 25 kph or less. Lower wind windsurfing works great on our Alberta lakes. It is very easy to learn. Higher wind windsurfing requires more equipment and skills. Higher wind would be 18mph or 29kph and higher.

Low Wind Windsurfing

Low wind windsurfing works better with higher volume sailboards (180 li up to 250 li and higher) with dagger or centreboards and generally bigger sails (6 sq meter and up). This windsurf set up would be easier for beginners as well as any other experienced windsurfer.

This type of conditions and sailboard sailing would be similar to sailing with a sailboat. Some windsurf/board/sail setups would even plane with higher winds above 15 mph. Other possibilities is competition (using a handicap system for fairness) if there is interest.

If you stick to lower wind windsurfing your equipment quiver will be small and possibly inexpensive to acquire. One board/one sail rig would suffice. Skill level to sail these conditions with this equipment is easily attainable with a bit of diligent practice. Beginners, although not absolutely necessary, would do well with a second smaller sail rig (5.0 to 5.5 sq. meter sail) for easier up hauling of the sail rig from the water. Many older windsurf boards may be suitable provided they have working centreboards or attachable daggerboards(some sup models are sailable). Very old sail rigs may need replacing with newer setups. It is possible to sail this equipment in winds higher than 15 mph but will become gradually more difficult as wind speeds increase well past 16 mph.

Get help or opinions if you are contemplating buying something used. New sailboard examples that are available include “Kona one design”, “Windsurfer LT one design”, “Techno 293 One Design” and there are other suitable higher volume with centreboard, new sailboards.

High Wind Windsurfing

Higher wind windsurfing above 18mph/29kph increases the equipment demands. Generally there are less days of wind, high enough for shorter boards/smaller sail rigs on Lake Newell. You may also travel to areas that have more consistent higher winds. Your skill level has to be proficient enough to sail back to your starting point. Other skills proficiency that help are proficient jibing/tacking, water start ability or up hauling the sail with a lower volume sailboard.

The upside of higher wind windsurfing is the thrill of higher speeds, planing the board, windsurfing in bigger waves, and overcoming the higher wind new skill challenges. It may be possible to get by with one or two short boards of 150li and less. Really high consistent winds above 25mph/40kph may require board volumes of 100 li or less. Of course smaller sail rigs are also required.

Talk to experienced higher wind windsurfers or good windsurf shops about higher wind equipment.