Windsure Adventure Watersports

What Windsure Adventure Watersports does

Windsure Adventure Watersports is a second-generation, family-owned watersports school and rental operator founded in 1977 by Bernard Labrosse at Jericho Beach in Vancouver, British Columbia. The company provides equipment rentals, group and private lessons, and youth summer camps across four board-sport disciplines: stand-up paddleboarding (SUP), windsurfing, wing surfing and wing foiling, and skimboarding. Windsure holds the position of Western Canada's first and currently only dedicated windsurfing school and operates from the Jericho Sailing Centre Association, leveraging a protected, motor-boat-free bay that is purpose-suited for beginner and intermediate instruction.

The product portfolio is anchored by hourly equipment rentals (e.g., $32/hour for SUP) supplemented by multi-tier pricing instruments including a Midweek Special (50% off rentals of two hours or more on Mondays through Wednesdays), a Rental Pass (5 hours for the price of 4), and Season Passes (unlimited 2-hour daily sessions). Lesson revenue comes from discovery-level group sessions, private lessons, and a structured youth development pathway that includes week-long summer camps for ages 7–15, a Windsurfing Development Program, and a Learn to Foil intensive. Specialty programming — Silver SUPers (a 4-week program for adults 50+) and Adaptive Paddleboarding (for paddlers with disabilities) — extends reach into underserved demographic segments. Group bookings for corporate teams, bachelor/bachelorette events, and schools can accommodate up to 20 windsurfers, 60 paddleboarders, and 50 skimboarders per session.

The technology stack is intentionally lean: operations run on the third-party FareHarbor booking platform, payments are processed via Moneris E-select with SSL encryption, and digital waivers and seasonal email/Instagram/Facebook marketing channels handle customer acquisition. The fleet is sourced from tier-one suppliers including Red Paddle Co (inflatable SUPs) and North Action Sports (wing and foiling equipment), with reciprocal referral relationships with InFlow Adventures (Squamish) and Launch Pad Windsurf and Foil Academy. The business is a direct-to-consumer, weather-dependent seasonal operator (May through September) with 30+ seasonal staff, no external institutional capital, and a single physical footprint at Jericho Beach.

Name

Windsure Adventure Watersports

Legal name

Windsure Adventure Watersports

Website

https://windsure.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1977

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Windsure Adventure Watersports is a family-owned, second-generation watersports school and rental operator founded in 1977 at Vancouver's Jericho Beach, offering lessons, equipment rentals, and youth camps across windsurfing, paddleboarding, wing foiling, and skimboarding.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Watersports Recreation Services

NAICS

Recreational Goods Rental (532284)

SIC

Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)

akta.pro primary industry

Surf Schools & Surf Camps (THAAAKAC)

akta.pro secondary industry

Water & Marine Guiding Services (Kayak, Canoe, Raft, SUP, Sailing) (THAAALAB)

Keywords

• Windsurfing school
• Stand-up paddleboarding
• Skimboarding lessons
• Wing foiling rentals
• Youth summer camps

Headquarters

HQ city

Vancouver

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Watersports Equipment Rentals: Hourly rental of paddleboards, windsurfing, wing surfing/foiling, and skimboards with all necessary gear (boards, paddles, sails, lifejackets, wetsuits). Core revenue driver with walk-in and pre-booked customers. Rental Pass provides 5 hours for price of 4; Season Pass provides unlimited 2-hour daily sessions.
2. Lessons and Programs: Discovery-level group lessons and private lessons for paddleboarding, windsurfing, wing surfing/foiling, and skimboarding. Beginner-friendly curriculum designed for first-timers and skill progression. Programs include youth camps (ages 7–15), Silver SUPers (adults 50+), Adaptive Paddleboarding, and Learn to Foil intensive programs.
3. Summer Camps: Week-long full-day and half-day youth camps covering windsurfing, paddleboarding, skimboarding, and foil programs. Includes all equipment. Targets ages 7–15.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Windsure Adventure Watersports operates a watersports school and rental facility at Jericho Beach in Vancouver, offering instruction and equipment rentals across four board sports: paddleboarding, windsurfing, wing surfing/foiling, and skimboarding. The company delivers group and private lessons, youth summer camps, and hourly equipment rentals supplemented by Rental Passes and Season Passes for frequent visitors.

Product overview

Windsure Adventure Watersports is a second-generation family-owned watersports school and rental business operating at Jericho Beach in Vancouver since 1977. The company offers a portfolio of four core board sports: paddleboarding (SUP), windsurfing, wing surfing/foiling, and skimboarding. The product ecosystem includes lessons (group and private), equipment rentals (hourly, rental passes, and season passes), and youth summer camps (ages 7-15). Specialty programs include Silver SUPers for adults 50+ and Adaptive Paddleboarding for paddlers with disabilities. The company positions itself as Western Canada's first windsurfing school, now serving as a comprehensive watersports hub.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Paddleboarding (SUP) Stand-up paddleboarding rentals, lessons, and programs at Jericho Beach. Includes beginner-friendly discovery sessions, private lessons, Silver SUPers program for adults 50+, and Adaptive Paddleboarding options. Uses Red Paddle Co. inflatable paddleboards.
• Windsurfing Windsurfing school and rentals, originally established in 1977 as Western Canada's first windsurfing school. Offers Discover Windsurfing I & II lessons, private lessons, windsurfing development programs, and foil programs with Paddle Canada certified instructors.
• Wing Surfing & Wing Foiling Wing surfing and wing foiling lessons and rentals using North Action Sports equipment. Includes Discover Wing Surfing lessons and private windsport lessons. Requires instructor approval or lesson completion before independent rental.
• Skimboarding Skimboarding lessons, rentals, and programs. Flatland skimboarding at Spanish Banks beach during low tide conditions. Includes private skimboarding lessons and group bookings for up to 50 participants with beginner-friendly minimal gear requirements.
• Summer Camps Week-long watersports camps for kids aged 7-15 at Jericho Beach. Programs include Windsurfing & Skimboarding/SUP Youth Camp (Full Day), Windsurfing & SUP Youth Camp, Skimboarding & SUP camps (Full Day and Half Day), SUP Youth Camp, Fun & SUP Youth Camp, Windsurfing Youth Camp, Advanced Windsurfing Youth Camp, and Learn to Foil Program. All equipment included.
• Lessons & Group Bookings Group and private lessons for paddleboarding, windsurfing, wing surfing, and skimboarding delivered by Paddle Canada certified instructors. Group bookings available for schools, corporate events, bachelorettes, and teams.
• Equipment Rentals Hourly and multi-hour rentals of paddleboards, windsurfing equipment, wing surfing gear, and skimboards. Includes regular and advanced equipment options with all gear provided. Rental Pass (5 hours for price of 4) and Season Pass (unlimited 2-hour rentals) available.
• Silver SUPers Program Paddleboarding program for older adults (50+) focused on skill-building, water safety, and social connection. Four-week structured program with annual cohorts.
• Adaptive Paddleboarding Specialized paddleboarding program for paddlers with disabilities or mobility needs. Offers specialized gear, one-on-one support from trained instructors, and tailored experiences.

Quantifiable outcome

• Small group ratios: 7:1 student-to-instructor for SUP and skimboarding; 5:1 for windsurfing. First aid responder on site at all times.
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers8 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Jericho Sailing Centre AssociationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWindsure is located within and operates as part of the Jericho Sailing Centre Association at Jericho Park West. The facility provides Windsure with waterfront infrastructure including changerooms, hot showers, washrooms, parking, a waterfront restaurant, and a dedicated safety and rescue team. Windsure acknowledges operating on the unceded territory of the Coast Salish Peoples.
• Launch Pad Windsurf and Foil AcademyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLaunch Pad Windsurf and Foil Academy (founded by Karl Spiess) is based in Georgian Bay, Ontario. The two schools share mutual professional connections, with Karl visiting Windsure in Vancouver. Both schools attended the 2024 AWSI (Association of Wind and Water Sports Industries) event in Hood River, Oregon. Windsure and Launch Pad are among the few windsurfing schools in Canada.
• KayoticsminorGTM or Marketing PartnerKayotics is a Vancouver-based skimboard company. Windsure recommends Kayotics as a preferred skimboard purchase option for customers looking to buy their own equipment. Kayotics boards are priced under $200.
• Red Paddle CocoreTechnology or IntegrationRed Paddle Co is the manufacturer of Windsure's inflatable paddleboard rental and teaching fleet (specifically the Red Paddle Co. Ride with ATB Transformer Board Bag). Windsure also periodically sells retired rental fleet boards from this manufacturer. Windsure recommends Red Paddle Co to customers seeking quality inflatable boards.
• North Action SportscoreTechnology or IntegrationNorth Action Sports supplies Windsure's wing and wing foiling fleet. Their gear is available for direct-to-consumer purchase. North Action Sports is among the major brands in the watersports industry alongside Duotone, F-One, Slingshot, and Starboard.
• InFlow AdventuresminorGTM or Marketing PartnerInFlow Adventures is a Squamish-based wing foiling operation. Windsure recommends InFlow Adventures to customers seeking consistent high-wind wing foiling conditions near Vancouver and for advanced wing foiling lessons, upwind drops, or group/private lessons in Squamish.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• InFlow Adventures: Squamish-based wing foiling school and watersports operator; listed by Windsure as a referral partner for advanced wing foiling and high-wind conditions. Competes for the same Vancouver-area wing foiling learner cohort.
• Launch Pad Windsurf and Foil Academy: Georgian Bay, Ontario windsurfing and foiling school founded by Karl Spiess. One of the only other dedicated windsurfing schools in Canada, sharing AWSI industry connections and a similar small-school operating model.
• Ecomarine Ocean Kayak Centre: Vancouver-based paddlesports school and rental operation offering kayaking and stand-up paddleboarding lessons and tours. Closest in-city competitor for beginner paddlers and tourists seeking guided water experiences.
• Deep Cove Kayak Centre: North Vancouver paddlesports outfitter renting kayaks and paddleboards with lessons and tours. Competes with Windsure for Greater Vancouver recreational paddlers, particularly visitors staying east of the city.

Regional players

• Real Watersports: Outer Banks, North Carolina watersports school and retail operation offering windsurfing, kiteboarding, SUP, and foiling lessons and rentals. Comparable multi-sport watersports school model operating in a different geographic market.

Others

• Jericho Sailing Centre Association: Host facility at Jericho Beach providing waterfront infrastructure, sailing programs, and amenities that Windsure operates within. Functions as an enabler/landlord ecosystem participant rather than a direct competitor, though it also runs sailing instruction.
• Paddle Canada: National paddlesports certification body whose instructors certify Windsure's SUP staff. Functions as an industry enabling/credentialing partner rather than a competitor, but anchors the regulatory and training ecosystem Windsure operates in.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/windsureadv
• Instagraminstagram.com/windsure
• Xx.com/windsureadv

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Windsure Adventure Watersports