Racing Windsurfing has been an Olympic sport since the 1984 Games held in Los Angeles. The Olympics, like most windsurfing racing is much like a yacht race. We call this longboard racing. When all the competitors are on identical equipment, it is a one-design race. Sailors go around a course, pitting their board handling skills and speed against each other on a variety of headings.
Races are always a combination of tactics, speed and beach party.
World Cup Racing Top pros normally compete on the World Cup. The World Cup has three disciplines of competition. Course racing emphasizes tactics and speed, slalom racing emphasizes speed and board handling, and wavesailing, the most visually spectacular aspects of the sport, emphasizes aerial skills and board handling.