Andrew French 11yrs old is a passionate windsurfer from Canada who hopes one day to share the Hawaiian waves with the stars of our sport, we caught up with him to get his personal experience of windsurfing.

"My name is Andrew French (Frenchfry) and I am almost 12 years old. I have been windsurfing since I was six years old. My spot for windsurfing is Rondeau Bay in Ontario, Canada. There is a lot of windsurfers there. Its flat water which I like.

Andrew with his MicroFreak, ready for action! 

I would really like to learn to windsurf in the big waves in Maui with the professionals. My dad started windsurfing when he was 13 (in 1984). Ever since I was little my dad has encouraged me to start windsurfing. Me and my family went to Cape Hatteras (a great place to windsurf) when I was 6 years old and that's where I got my first board and sail (a 1.2m). My board was the best, it had a red wheel on the back of the board (great for transportation)! I still use this board. Early this past summer I got two new Hot Sails Maui Canadian flag sails (MicroFreaks) plus a carbon fiber mast. They are a 2.8 & a 3.8. I love them both but most of the time I would use my 2.8.

I just got in my harness this year and am just starting to get into my foot straps. It was so much fun this year. This fall my dad got me an 85 litre Mistral bump & jump board for $20!! It just has a few small cracks in the nose but my dad is going to fix it with epoxy. My favorite wind direction at Rondeau is west or south west. When it's west me and my dad like to go on long distance runs. When it's southwest I like to go back and forth. Every day in the summer I take windsurfing Lessons at RYC (Rondeau Yacht Club). On light wind days I practice freestyle on one of the big RYC boards which is fun. On windy days I use my own stuff.

I love windsurfing and hope to become a Hot Sails Maui team rider someday. My dad says if I practice hard enough that my hopes and dreams will come true!" Andrew French

"It is great to see young people enjoying the water and I am confident that with Andrew's determination and his Dad's guidance that we will see him here in Hawaii and ripping up Ho'okipa alongside Dax, Wiley and the next generation of windsurfing stars!" Chris Freeman, Sales & Marketing Manager, Hot Sails Maui

More to follow...

Labels: Andrew French, MicroFreak, Rondeau Bay, Rondeau-Yacht-Club, team