Behaviour at the spot: Unsolicited advice for other surfers - what do you think?

Have you ever been in this situation? You've just put a lot of effort into setting up your equipment or had a great session on the water - and suddenly there's someone standing next to you who wants to give you tips without asking. It's not uncommon for them to explain what you supposedly did wrong on the water or when setting up your equipment.

In principle, advice and sharing within the community is a positive thing. However, it is often less the content and more the way in which these tips are communicated that causes frustration. The impression of not being respected as an independent or competent windsurfer quickly arises - especially if the tone is patronising or arrogant or even looks down on older equipment, for example.

We would like to find out from the community how common such experiences are. That's why we're interested in your personal experiences: Have you ever found yourself in a similar situation?

The impetus for this survey came from a young reader who reported exactly this kind of experience at the spot. "There was always an older man there, apparently a pensioner. He always gave me unsolicited tips and wanted to coach me. I found that increasingly stressful." This made her feel constantly under observation and she has not travelled to this spot since. Other windsurfers even made fun of her older equipment.

Especially in a male-dominated sport like windsurfing, it is of course important to raise the awareness of the community on such a topic, regardless of age and gender.

Share your experiences with us in our short survey - together we want to better understand how we can make our interactions at the spot more respectful.