If you have never seen a windsurfing competition you are missing out, even if you have no desire to take up the sport at all like most of us. Competitions take place all over the world and remind a lot of people of watching hot air balloons launching into the sky. Windsurfing competitions give fans and non fans alike a chance to lie back on the beach and watch sails of many colors dot the coastline. Aruba is a very cool place to watch some of the best in the world as they hold their version of the event every year called the Hi Winds Windsurfing Competition.
This summer was the 23rd anniversary of this annual event which also happens to be the largest amateur competition for windsurfers in the entire Caribbean. It all went down at the Fisherman’s Huts and Boca Grandi on Aruba and had some of the best competitors from windsurfing and kite boarding from around the world. The fact that Aruba is known for trade winds that never die down but also calm seas is a winning combination for this sport. There were events in freestyle, long distance and course racing for both pros and amateurs alike.
This event began back in 1987 as a truly professional race but the island realized that fun is more important than winning so in 1997 they made a change that really boosted the race’s appeal. They turned the event into a fun version which began to attract amateurs along with the professionals. After all fun is what Aruba is all about. Freestyle was added recently and everyone competes now for the King of the Huts competition. Kite boarding is the newest addition and has proved to be a huge success. By the way this new sport which is similar to kite surfing involves a person on a surf board being pulled by a kite.
Aruba is known for fun in the sun and this event fits in perfectly. If there was not reason enough to come to this happy island then here is one more. So make some plans, grab your board (or if you are like most, just come to watch) and head on out to Aruba. The colorful sails add to the colorful sunsets and can make for a fantastic vacation for a few days to a week or more. For some, a lifetime of Aruba is still not enough.
