32 windsurfing quiz questions with answers, covering the rig, the board, the disciplines and the moves. Reveal each answer as you go, or read the full key.
Every question has three options and hides the correct one behind a button, so you can keep an honest score. The answer key under the scoring table repeats all 32 windsurfing trivia questions and answers in order for anyone who wants them in one block. The set doubles as a round of windsurfing quiz questions for a club evening, and the early questions about windsurfing cover gear and terms before the windsurfing trivia moves on to freestyle moves and racing.
1. What is the term for the board used in windsurfing?
- A) Surfboard
- B) Sailboard
- C) Windboard
2. Who is considered the inventor of windsurfing?
- A) Laird Hamilton
- B) S. Newman Darby
- C) Robby Naish
3. In which decade was windsurfing invented?
- A) 1950s
- B) 1960s
- C) 1970s
4. Which part of a windsurfing rig does the sailor hold on to while sailing?
- A) The mast
- B) The fin
- C) The boom
5. Which of the following is NOT a windsurfing discipline?
- A) Freestyle
- B) Wave-riding
- C) Scuba-surfing
6. What does ‘footstrap’ refer to in windsurfing?
- A) An attachment for the sail
- B) A holder to fix the foot on the board
- C) A type of windsurfing move
7. What is a ‘planing’ in windsurfing?
- A) A type of windsurfing move
- B) The act of the board gliding over the water
- C) A specific type of sail
8. Which wind force is considered ideal for beginners to start windsurfing?
- A) Force 2-3
- B) Force 4-5
- C) Force 6-7
9. What does ‘upwind’ mean in windsurfing?
- A) Toward the direction the wind is blowing from
- B) Away from the direction the wind is blowing from
- C) Sailing perpendicular to the wind
10. What is ‘waterstarting’ in windsurfing?
- A) A method to turn the board around
- B) A method to come out of the water and onto the board
- C) A type of windsurfing move
11. What is a ‘carve gybe’ in windsurfing?
- A) A carving turn and jibe on the water
- B) A type of sail
- C) A grip on the mast
12. What is a ‘mast track’?
- A) A guide on windsurfing masts
- B) A groove on the sailboard where the mast base is attached
- C) A part of the sail
13. Which windsurfer has won by far the most world titles in the sport?
- A) Antoine Albeau
- B) Björn Dunkerbeck
- C) Robby Naish
14. Which windsurfer set a world speed sailing record of more than 53 knots?
- A) Antoine Albeau
- B) Robby Naish
- C) Anders Bringdal
15. In which Olympic year was windsurfing first introduced?
- A) 1976
- B) 1984
- C) 1996
16. What is the name of the board part that helps to stabilize and steer in windsurfing?
- A) Keel
- B) Daggerboard
- C) Fin
17. Which windsurfing move is also known as ‘helicopter tack’?
- A) Push loop
- B) Spock
- C) Upwind 360
18. Which one-design board was used in Olympic windsurfing from 2008 to 2020?
- A) The Mistral One Design
- B) The RS:X
- C) The iQFoil
19. What is the main material used in modern windsurfing sails?
- A) Polyester
- B) Mylar
- C) Dacron
20. Which discipline focuses on complex airborne tricks in windsurfing?
- A) Slalom
- B) Wave sailing
- C) Freestyle
21. What is the name of the maneuver where the sailor catches air after hitting a wave at high speed?
- A) Forward loop
- B) Backloop
- C) Aerial
22. Which type of board is designed for high speed and agility on flat water?
- A) Wave board
- B) Slalom board
- C) Freestyle board
23. How many battens does a typical windsurfing sail have?
- A) 1-3
- B) 4-8
- C) 10-15
24. What type of windsurfing is mainly performed on a large sailboard with the primary goal of covering distance?
- A) Freeride windsurfing
- B) Racing windsurfing
- C) Longboard windsurfing
25. What is the main purpose of a windsurfing harness?
- A) To take the pull of the sail off the arms
- B) To keep the feet on the board
- C) To keep the sailor afloat
26. Which windsurfing discipline is raced around a course of buoys at high speed on flat water?
- A) Wave sailing
- B) Freestyle
- C) Slalom
27. What type of turn is used in light winds to change direction, while keeping the sail to windward?
- A) Tack
- B) Gybe
- C) Pivot turn
28. Which windsurfing freestyle move is named after a Star Trek character?
- A) Shaka
- B) Spock
- C) Flaka
29. What do you call the lines that attach the harness to the sail?
- A) Downhaul lines
- B) Outhaul lines
- C) Harness lines
31. In which country is the famous windsurfing spot “Jaws” located?
- A) Spain
- B) United States (Hawaii)
- C) Australia
32. What is the name of the rope used to pull the rig out of the water?
- A) The uphaul
- B) The downhaul
- C) The outhaul
33. What is the technique of working the rig back and forth to build speed in light wind called?
- A) Foiling
- B) Edging
- C) Pumping
Results
| # of Correct Answers | Percentage Range | Label | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0- | 0-49% | Wind WatcherArmchair Athlete | You've got some learning to do, but don't worry, there's always the next game! |
| - | 50-64% | Sail StarterRookie Runner | Not bad! Keep practicing, and you'll be a sports trivia champ in no time. |
| - | 65-79% | Wave WalkerMidfield Maestro | Impressive! You're getting closer to the top, keep up the good work. |
| - | 80-94% | Surf SpecialistAll-Star Striker | Wow, you really know your sports trivia! You're a force to be reckoned with. |
| -32 | 95-100% | Windsurfing WizardLegendary Champion | Unbelievable! You're a true sports trivia master. Your knowledge knows no bounds! |
Windsurfing Quiz Answers: The Full Answer Key
Every question in this windsurfing quiz with its correct answer, in the order the questions appear above. Check your score against the table, or use the list as a set of windsurfing trivia questions and answers for a quiz night of your own.
| # | Question | Answer |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | What is the term for the board used in windsurfing? | B) Sailboard |
| 2 | Who is considered the inventor of windsurfing? | B) S. Newman Darby |
| 3 | In which decade was windsurfing invented? | B) 1960s |
| 4 | Which part of a windsurfing rig does the sailor hold on to while sailing? | C) The boom |
| 5 | Which of the following is NOT a windsurfing discipline? | C) Scuba-surfing |
| 6 | What does 'footstrap' refer to in windsurfing? | B) A holder to fix the foot on the board |
| 7 | What is a 'planing' in windsurfing? | B) The act of the board gliding over the water |
| 8 | Which wind force is considered ideal for beginners to start windsurfing? | A) Force 2-3 |
| 9 | What does 'upwind' mean in windsurfing? | A) Toward the direction the wind is blowing from |
| 10 | What is 'waterstarting' in windsurfing? | B) A method to come out of the water and onto the board |
| 11 | What is a 'carve gybe' in windsurfing? | A) A carving turn and jibe on the water |
| 12 | What is a 'mast track'? | B) A groove on the sailboard where the mast base is attached |
| 13 | Which windsurfer has won by far the most world titles in the sport? | B) Björn Dunkerbeck |
| 14 | Which windsurfer set a world speed sailing record of more than 53 knots? | A) Antoine Albeau |
| 15 | In which Olympic year was windsurfing first introduced? | B) 1984 |
| 16 | What is the name of the board part that helps to stabilize and steer in windsurfing? | C) Fin |
| 17 | Which windsurfing move is also known as 'helicopter tack'? | C) Upwind 360 |
| 18 | Which one-design board was used in Olympic windsurfing from 2008 to 2020? | B) The RS:X |
| 19 | What is the main material used in modern windsurfing sails? | B) Mylar |
| 20 | Which discipline focuses on complex airborne tricks in windsurfing? | C) Freestyle |
| 21 | What is the name of the maneuver where the sailor catches air after hitting a wave at high speed? | C) Aerial |
| 22 | Which type of board is designed for high speed and agility on flat water? | B) Slalom board |
| 23 | How many battens does a typical windsurfing sail have? | B) 4-8 |
| 24 | What type of windsurfing is mainly performed on a large sailboard with the primary goal of covering distance? | C) Longboard windsurfing |
| 25 | What is the main purpose of a windsurfing harness? | A) To take the pull of the sail off the arms |
| 26 | Which windsurfing discipline is raced around a course of buoys at high speed on flat water? | C) Slalom |
| 27 | What type of turn is used in light winds to change direction, while keeping the sail to windward? | A) Tack |
| 28 | Which windsurfing freestyle move is named after a Star Trek character? | B) Spock |
| 29 | What do you call the lines that attach the harness to the sail? | C) Harness lines |
| 30 | In which country is the famous windsurfing spot "Jaws" located? | B) United States (Hawaii) |
| 31 | What is the name of the rope used to pull the rig out of the water? | A) The uphaul |
| 32 | What is the technique of working the rig back and forth to build speed in light wind called? | C) Pumping |
Hungry for More? Check out these Resources!
- Our posts about Windsurfing
- Wikipedia
- Professional Windsurfers Association (PWA)
- PWA YouTube Channel
FAQ
How many questions are in this windsurfing quiz?
There are 32. Each one gives three options, and the correct answer is hidden behind the reveal button below the question.
Where are the windsurfing trivia questions and answers listed together?
In the answer key under the scoring table, which repeats all 32 questions in order with the correct answer next to each.
Are these windsurfing quiz questions hard?
The gear and terminology questions are fair for anyone who has taken a course. The freestyle moves, the racing disciplines and the record holders are aimed at people who follow the sport.
Can I use this quiz for a club night or a group?
Yes. Read the question and the three options out loud, let everyone write down a letter, then read through the answer key and count the correct ones.
Is this windsurfing quiz suitable for beginners?
The first third is. It covers the board, the sail, the fin, the footstraps and what planing means, which is roughly the vocabulary of a first week on the water.
What is a good score on this windsurfing quiz?
More than half is a good result. The scoring table turns your total into a rank, from Wind Watcher at the bottom to Windsurfing Wizard at the top.
What are some good questions to ask about windsurfing?
Questions with one clear answer: what a waterstart is, what the fin does, which discipline is judged on tricks. All three appear in the quiz above.
When did windsurfing become an Olympic sport?
At the 1984 Games in Los Angeles for men, with a women’s event added in 1992. The equipment has changed several times since, most recently to a foiling class.
What is the difference between a wave board and a slalom board?
A wave board is short, narrow and heavily rockered so it turns quickly in surf. A slalom board is wider and flatter for top speed and early planing on flat water.
