Windsurfer somatotypes.

On the basis of data gathered during a series of Pre-Olympic Trials and the World Championships, both held at Cagliari (Italy) in 1983 and 1986, respectively, the somatotypes of athletes practicing windsurfing were studied. The sample is composed of 79 male athletes: 22 Sardinians, 31 mainland Italians, and 26 Europeans. The Heath-Carter anthropometric method (1967) was used to somatotype the individuals under study. Both the total sample as well as the three subsamples are characterized by almost identical average values of the three components. A subsample of athletes was formed, who had obtained important performances in their carriers (victories in World, European and Italian championships, participation in the Olympic Games etc.). In this group of top athletes it was seen that the best results in windsurfing are obtained when there is an even development of the three components (2.57-2.68-2.97) or a slight ectomorphic predominance.