Abbreviations and acronyms in world of windsurfing
PWA, EFPT, IWA, T293, etc. are abbreviations and acronyms that usually don't need to be explained to many people who are a bit more involved in windsurfing. But there are many of you who just shrug your shoulders at them. Now you have already guessed that the abbreviations are related to windsurfing… .what does it mean, who does it represent and everything else that interests you will be explained in the following chapters….
There are too many abbreviations and acronyms to present them all to you and can motivate you to read the post to the end. Below we will explain just some of the most important and most frequently used ones…
PWA is probably the most famous acronym associated with windsurfing. Means Professional Windsurfers Association. The Professional Windsurfers Association (PWA) represents excellence in windsurfing. It's current and past members constitute the very best windsurfers in the World. At the PWA are the sailors who represent the sport at the highest level of competition that strive to improve everyday and make windsurfing better for us, the public.
The PWA organize and sanction professional events, make new rules for the sport, help promote grass roots growth, strengthen the bonds of friendship between existing associations, classes and disciplines of windsurfing and to provide support and services for all windsurfers.
They are best known for their PWA racing tour, which usually includes 10-15 races at the highest rank in the slalom and wave disciplines.
The following competitions are planned for 2022:
You can read more about PWA here: https://www.pwaworldtour.com/
In addition to all the information about competitions, members, etc., you can also read interesting interviews, watch various videos and other tips that will help you improve your windsurfing skills a little more.
The European Freestyle Pro Tour was founded in 2003 with the aim to set up an European windsurfing tour, that enables European riders to close the gap between the level of Europe and riders from overseas. The discipline they are running is, for the moment, only freestyle. This can be done on every windy lake and beach you can find in Europe.
The EFPT is sanctioned by the IFCA which means that the winner of the tour represents the official European Freestyle Windsurfing Champion. In the meantime the EFPT community consists of more than 500 registered riders, and events that took place in 11 european countries so far.
In 2022, 8 matches in Europe and one in Brazil are announced in the freestyle category.
All information, events and what you are interested in in connection with the EFPT can be viewed here: https://efpt.net/
This abbreviation was mentioned in the previous chapter and represents the International Funboard Class Association (IFCA). The International Funboard Class Association (IFCA) is a Class Member of World Sailing with the rights to award World and Continental Championship titles. IFCA has been involved in the development of all the funboard disciplines – racing, expression and speed; and organised championships all over the world.
IFCA was formed in 1985 and provided the opportunity for windsurfers to compete on affordable, durable, and “like for like”, Production Boards.
IFCA focuses on:
You can read more about IFCA here: https://www.ifcaclass.com/
International Windsurfing Association (IWA) is an association whose main tasks are:
In short, we could say that the role of IWA is to connect, help and serve the development and strengthening of windsurfing at all levels.
You can read more about IWA here: https://internationalwindsurfing.com/
International Sailing Federation (ISAF) is the world's leading body of sailing, officially recognized by the International Olympic Committee (IOC). ISAF is responsible for the following:
Techno 293 is a competition class designed for younger competitors and is recognized by the International Sailing Federation. The design was chosen for windsurfing for the Youth Olympics. It is usually used as a preliminary step to the Olympic class RS: X. In this class, competitors compete with a One Design Techno 293 board and a sail squaring set for each age group.
RS:X is the windsurfing class chosen by ISAF to replace the Mistral One Design class for the 2008 Summer Olympics. The discipline is similar to the formula windsurfing - mainly in that the equipment is designed to allow windsurfing in poor and moderate wind conditions.
RS:X was created as a result of NeilPryde's successful offer to supply uniform windsurfing equipment for the 2008 Olympic Games in China. RS:X was designed in 2004 and went into production in 2005.
RS:X equipment includes a board with a central daggerboard and a sail of a certain size. The board measures 286 cm in length and 93 cm in width.
Since the 2024 Summer Olympics, the IQFoil class has been selected to replace the RS:X.
iQFoil is a windsurfing class chosen by ISAF to replace the RS:X for the 2024 Summer Olympics. The discipline is similar to the formula, but the difference is noticeable that sailors use only one sail. Equipment - board, sail, foil and the rest are thus fully defined and defined. The size of the sail is 9m2 for men and 8m2 for women. A special feature of the iQFoil class, as the name suggests, is the use of hydrofoil, which allows the board to rise above the water and thus reduce friction. Especially with weaker winds, it enables faster and more attractive driving or "Flying" over the water.
The abbreviations and names listed above are just the ones that are most commonly used in the world of windsurfing. Of course, that's not all. Have we forgotten which one we really should add to the list?
There are too many abbreviations and acronyms to present them all to you and can motivate you to read the post to the end. Below we will explain just some of the most important and most frequently used ones…
PWA
PWA is probably the most famous acronym associated with windsurfing. Means Professional Windsurfers Association. The Professional Windsurfers Association (PWA) represents excellence in windsurfing. It's current and past members constitute the very best windsurfers in the World. At the PWA are the sailors who represent the sport at the highest level of competition that strive to improve everyday and make windsurfing better for us, the public.
The PWA organize and sanction professional events, make new rules for the sport, help promote grass roots growth, strengthen the bonds of friendship between existing associations, classes and disciplines of windsurfing and to provide support and services for all windsurfers.
They are best known for their PWA racing tour, which usually includes 10-15 races at the highest rank in the slalom and wave disciplines.
The following competitions are planned for 2022:
- Israel (Slalom 5 *) - Late June
- Croatia (Slalom 3 *) - 4th-9th July
- Gran Canaria (Wave 5 *) - 9th-17th July
- Fuerteventura (Slalom 5 *) - 28th July - 6th August
- Tenerife (Wave 5 *) - August TBC
- Klitmøller (Youth World Cup) - 11th-17th September
- Sylt (Grand Slam 7 *) - 23rd September - 3rd October
- Lake Garda (Slalom 5 *) - October TBC
- Japan (Slalom 5 *) - 11th-16th November
You can read more about PWA here: https://www.pwaworldtour.com/
In addition to all the information about competitions, members, etc., you can also read interesting interviews, watch various videos and other tips that will help you improve your windsurfing skills a little more.
EFPT
The European Freestyle Pro Tour was founded in 2003 with the aim to set up an European windsurfing tour, that enables European riders to close the gap between the level of Europe and riders from overseas. The discipline they are running is, for the moment, only freestyle. This can be done on every windy lake and beach you can find in Europe.
The EFPT is sanctioned by the IFCA which means that the winner of the tour represents the official European Freestyle Windsurfing Champion. In the meantime the EFPT community consists of more than 500 registered riders, and events that took place in 11 european countries so far.
In 2022, 8 matches in Europe and one in Brazil are announced in the freestyle category.
All information, events and what you are interested in in connection with the EFPT can be viewed here: https://efpt.net/
IFCA
This abbreviation was mentioned in the previous chapter and represents the International Funboard Class Association (IFCA). The International Funboard Class Association (IFCA) is a Class Member of World Sailing with the rights to award World and Continental Championship titles. IFCA has been involved in the development of all the funboard disciplines – racing, expression and speed; and organised championships all over the world.
IFCA was formed in 1985 and provided the opportunity for windsurfers to compete on affordable, durable, and “like for like”, Production Boards.
IFCA focuses on:
- provide event experience for windsurfers who wish to start in competition, and develop as competitors;
- organize throughout the year events where windsurfers of all ages can join, learn, compete and experience the sport;
- keep its members informed of matters that concern the class;
- and provide event management guidelines to support their organisers.
You can read more about IFCA here: https://www.ifcaclass.com/
IWA
International Windsurfing Association (IWA) is an association whose main tasks are:
- Grow the sport of windsurfing worldwide
- Represent member's interests
- Provide leadership
- Market & promote
- Establish global competition structures
- Act as a communications hub
- Administer
- Establish global competitive structures
- Establishing high standards at international regattas
- Building a world-wide corporate identity for the sport
- Establishing "holistic” development policies (education)
- Acting to strengthen bonds between classes
- Resolving conflicts of interest
- Putting surplus class funds into a development trust
- Establishing a reputation for prudent financial management
In short, we could say that the role of IWA is to connect, help and serve the development and strengthening of windsurfing at all levels.
You can read more about IWA here: https://internationalwindsurfing.com/
ISAF
International Sailing Federation (ISAF) is the world's leading body of sailing, officially recognized by the International Olympic Committee (IOC). ISAF is responsible for the following:
- Promotion of sport at the international level;
- conducting sailing at the Olympic and Paralympic Games;
- developing regatta sailing rules and rules for all sailing competitions;
- training of judges, judges and other administrators;
- development of sport worldwide;
- representing sailors in all matters relating to sport.
T293
Techno 293 is a competition class designed for younger competitors and is recognized by the International Sailing Federation. The design was chosen for windsurfing for the Youth Olympics. It is usually used as a preliminary step to the Olympic class RS: X. In this class, competitors compete with a One Design Techno 293 board and a sail squaring set for each age group.
RS:X
RS:X is the windsurfing class chosen by ISAF to replace the Mistral One Design class for the 2008 Summer Olympics. The discipline is similar to the formula windsurfing - mainly in that the equipment is designed to allow windsurfing in poor and moderate wind conditions.
RS:X was created as a result of NeilPryde's successful offer to supply uniform windsurfing equipment for the 2008 Olympic Games in China. RS:X was designed in 2004 and went into production in 2005.
RS:X equipment includes a board with a central daggerboard and a sail of a certain size. The board measures 286 cm in length and 93 cm in width.
Since the 2024 Summer Olympics, the IQFoil class has been selected to replace the RS:X.
iQFoil
iQFoil is a windsurfing class chosen by ISAF to replace the RS:X for the 2024 Summer Olympics. The discipline is similar to the formula, but the difference is noticeable that sailors use only one sail. Equipment - board, sail, foil and the rest are thus fully defined and defined. The size of the sail is 9m2 for men and 8m2 for women. A special feature of the iQFoil class, as the name suggests, is the use of hydrofoil, which allows the board to rise above the water and thus reduce friction. Especially with weaker winds, it enables faster and more attractive driving or "Flying" over the water.
The abbreviations and names listed above are just the ones that are most commonly used in the world of windsurfing. Of course, that's not all. Have we forgotten which one we really should add to the list?