Learn to Windsurf - Camp Levels

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CAMP LEVELS PROGRAM

Sail the Rainbow is a camp/club program that was developed for Windsurfing Canada. Sail the Rainbow was designed to provide a core curriculum with the following:

A set of standardized skill development levels, starting from beginners (never been on a board) that was easy to use and kid friendly.
An easy to use instruction manual that could be used by staff who often were just learning to sall themselves.
Inexpensive online access to all materials and awards for camps and clubs
Flexible training of coaches based on needs of camps/clubs
Skills that could be accomplished in low wind conditions and with variable equipment that happens to be available to camps/clubs without any requirement for immediate additional investment
Awards and certificates for kids (and adults) - stickers and certificates that camps can print themselves.
On water activities for no wind days
Off water activities related to windsurfing skill development
Easy and inexpensive simulator design that camps/clubs could build.

This material is copyrighted by Windsurfing Canada and available for review, but not for distribution.

Please contact Reet or Bryan for more information about how to implement this program at your camp this summer.

Program Overiew

Sample Program: Sail the Rainbow, Level 1

SAMPLE OF ADDITIONAL RESOURCES

Racing Drills

Off Water Games

No Wind Activities

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The Sail the Rainbow program was developed in 2006, after WC conducted a survey with camps to see what help WC could provide to begin to rebuild a broader interest in windsurfing. Camps were having difficulty finding staff to instruct windsurfing, were working with older equipment and consequently losing interest in the sport of windsurfing. In 2006, the Basic Rainbow (6 levels) was developed and piloted at YMCA Geneva Park Family Camp, where over 400 people aged 6 to 60 plus enjoyed the thrill of getting out on the water successfully with the program. YMCA Geneva Park continues to be a front runner in the Rainbow Program.

In 2007, a Sail the Rainbow Coaching clinic was held at YMCA Wanakita Family Camp and we visited several camps to train their staff on site in the Rainbow Program. In 2007, Race the Rainbow as added as well as a camp determined award called Speedster. For 2008, a new set of skills modules has been added as well as Freestyle Rainbow. We are very excited at how much has happened in our three years of curriculum development for camps and clubs. While the curriculum has been designed specifically with youth in mind, it has been used successfully with adult lessons as well.

In 2008, WC was invited by the Township of Scugog to provide an outreach program to bring windsurfing to their community. We are delighted at this opportunity. WC was also invited to Rondeau Yacht Club, where we will be piloting our Freestyle Rainbow Program.

We will also be running the first ever WC Rainbow Regatta in association with OSA race #2 at Scugog (July 26th). For notice of race, please go to

Freestyle Rainbow is our most exciting venture to date, as it will be providing both a manual and a DVD of onland instruction and on water demonstration with this. We trust this will make co-learning easier at camps where campers and instructors may often be at the same level. Freestyle Rainbow was developed and filmed on location in Cape Hatteras with Mathieu Gautier, who is chef du bord du mer (waterfront director) on the Magdalen Islands. We are delighted at having the opportunity to pilot this at Rondeau Yacht Club and are providing a training clinic there on July 4, 5 & 6th.

Training Possiblities still exist. In 2008, WC trainers are once again going out to individual camps to provide training for their staff. We still have some openings in the last week in June for camps who would like us to come to their location for a day or half day, to help in whatever way is needed - rig and review their equipment and train their staff.

WC Rainbow Levels
Basic Rainbow (6 levels)
Skills modules (turns, harness use, footstrap use)
Speedster
Racing (Bronze, Silver, Gold)
Freestyle (Bronze, Silver, Gold)