Windsurfing instructors agree that it takes more than a good sailor to be a good teacher. Certainly training, certification, and experience are vital, as we've explained above. But personality and appearance are just as important in the hiring process.

As a sailing company owner in California explains:

"As an instructor you are an ambassador of the sport. You are responsible for a student's first impression of sailing. Because of that, we are looking for instructors to be enthusiastic, energetic, and patient. They need to be able to perform repetitive tasks and not get burned out."

Teachers of any subject matter must have good communication skills and be able to express enthusiasm for what it is they are teaching. Especially as a windsurfing instructor, you'll need to stay "up" and energetic so that each client gets the same treatment and the same level of enthusiasm.

Another longtime instructor who owns a windsurfing business says a good instructor must be a people person and not overwhelm his or her students:

"You must not have a big ego because that gets in the way of what you're trying to teach, no matter how good of an instructor you are."

One thing to keep in mind when applying for a job as a windsurfing instructor is that you must look and act professionally. As one instructor trainer says:

"Prospective instructors should take a good look at themselves in the mirror at how professional they look. In this day and age we cannot have beach bums anymore. No matter how much of a beach atmosphere the resort has, instructors still need to look and act professionally."

Someone else who hires windsurfing instructors put it a bit more bluntly:

"I don't mean they can't have dreadlocks, because I think dreadlocks are cool. But I make people wear T-shirts. If they have a pierced nipple I don't want guests to see that. I know if people care about their appearance they are more likely to care about what they're doing."

Like SCUBA diving, some resorts contract out windsurfing services to an independent company in the area.

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