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Zane: My first board was a Starboard Evo 66. I liked it a lot, and still use it in really light winds. I let my sister Shelby sail it now too.

Ashley: My first board was a Starboard Start board. We still have it and teach other friends to learn to windsurf on it.

Graham: My first board was my father’s old Gem slalom board shaped by Richard Greene in the mid 90’s. I could not waterstart so I uphauled the relatively narrow board. The board was perfect for me; I learned the basics of sailing in addition to good balance. The board, along with many other old boards dating back to the eighties, is probably under my Dad’s sail loft.

Jaeger: I am lucky enough that my Dad, Mark, shapes surf and sailboards in Geraldton so I have had a lot of boards in my short time. He has a knack of scaling things down perfectly and my first board was great for jumps and was real fast. We gave it to a kid down south to help him get off the big pig he was riding.

» I have seen Connor grow in stature over the past 2 years. He and Zane were an inspiration this summer during my Pozo trip. Always first on the water these two kids used to Hawaiian perfection were totally thrilled to be sailing in windblown chop. The Baxters have a rather strong family connection with the water: his mother Karen was a world champion windsurfer and his father Keith won a world Hobie Cat title, he was also the brains behind Hawaiian Proline Booms. Connor started early, he was just 8 ½ years old. By the age of 10 he had won his first racing world title!

“I want to own my own business. I will need education, but I might take a few years off to compete on the Pro tour. I don’t know for sure though, I am only in 7th grade.”
- Zane Schweitzer

Ashley: In this sport everyone is willing to do something for the kids. In windsurfing even the pros are willing to help out by doing clinics. In other sports usually kids don’t know their heroes, they just know about them. But here in Maui we even compete for the same waves as them!

» Now in her 3rd year of sailing Paulina is taking her windsurfing very seriously. She recently left St Anthony’s School in Maui to attend an online school so that she can spend more time at the beach. Her local beach just happens to be Ho’okipa!

Graham: When there is no wind I mainly surf and skateboard, but only for fun. I also like horseback riding, springboard diving, swimming, skiing, snowboarding, and running. However, my schedule does not offer me much time for other activities.

Jaeger: l used to do swimming club, l was champion boy at that for each year I did it. Played footy locally, but gave up after dislocating my shoulder. I surf heaps too, it really helps my sailing.

Connor: I would make the gear cheaper so kids can buy it.

Zane: I am going to own a windsurfing company some day so I already know. I would have boards and sails rigged on the beach so kids can always try it. I would have fun races every weekend and make more videos with kids in it. I would ask sponsors to come and check out the kids too, so they would get more stoked on us. Here on Maui they do a lot of that stuff and Pros are always helping us which is really cool.

Ashley: My school is one of the hardest high schools on Maui . I am a junior this year but I get two hours of homework a night. It’s hard to fit in a bunch of things with school. I do get to miss school, but my school is really strict, so I have to tell them that I’m sick or else I’ll get an unexcused absence!

Jaeger: I’m in High School, currently doing year 11. I get lots of homework which gets harder when I go away. I miss a lot of school, but travelling is good for my education. My Dad reckons anyone can go to school, but not many people get the chance to sail in some of the best environments on the planet. The things I learn from people l meet and from the cultures l experience. You don’t have to be in a classroom to learn. However l do pass all my courses and l do get a lot of help from all those involved.

Graham: I attend a college prep school in Olinda , Maui . I like school and I finished eleventh grade with a 4.1 grade point average (that’s pretty good!). I start school at 7:45 and I end at 3:00 . I go directly to the beach after school if it’s windy, so I can sail by 3:30 . I will go on to college after I finish high school. My first choice is Stanford University on the mainland.

Connor: Yes, I am in 7th grade this year. It is a small private school called Carden Academy . There are a lot of windsurfing parents and kids at this school! It’s a hard school, but I like it. I have missed some school when I have gone to compete. My teacher gets a bit mad but is still very supportive. My mom always makes sure we plan with the teacher and school and I bring all my homework with me. Sometimes I have to do a special report on my trip.

» Yet another windsurfing pedigree. Graham is an extremely intelligent, motivated and professional young man. How many young windsurfers would consider a move to the US mainland to attend university? Graham has his heart set on finishing High School in Hawaii and attending Stanford University - I wouldn’t bet against him.

Every one of these young sailors is mature beyond their years. I was surprised that they were all so keen to continue their education; this is encouraging as the sport needs business brains as well as superstars. What I did find interesting is that there seemed to be a general consensus that the marketing of windsurfing to youngsters was missing the mark somewhat and that those in charge of this should focus more on the hardcore image to make windsurfing look cool and radical. They want lots of glossy images of big carves and sick air and not a lesson on how to carve gybe, and I tend to agree.

With better gear now ever more accessible there is no reason why kids of all ages shouldn’t give windsurfing a go and have plenty of fun doing so.