How Aquavela Came to Be
From First Sail to lifelong passion
I started windsurfing at twelve. I still remember two things vividly.
The first was the ride itself. It was the 80s, and my godfather brought his Mistral windsurfer out to a beach in Puerto Rico and gave my cousin and me a few rides. Two thoughts hit me at once: how cool it was that the wind was moving us, that it had the strength to push my godfather, my cousin, and me across the water, and how fast we were going, the water splashing past. I wasn't on a boat. I was on something far more fun.
The second was the failure. After the rides, my friend and I tried to lift that giant sail ourselves, with no instruction, so we could go again. No luck. A few weeks later my dad found an instructor and signed us up for lessons, and my first lesson became one of the coolest moments of my life: the early morning, the tropical sun, a safe, fun-looking lagoon, an instructor with a few boards who walked us through the land drills, and then we were on the water. The rest was history. Learning to sail on my own, with my dad there, sharing those mornings in the sun: that will stay with me forever.
From that moment on I welcomed every new sport that came my way. As a waterman I dive, boat, fish, surf, kitesurf, paddleboard, windsurf, wakeboard, wind foil, and wing foil. I skateboard, which is on land but honors the flow of water, and I snowboard, which is still water. Just as much, I cherish the camaraderie of fellow watermen and women, the travel, and the simple act of being outdoors, chasing adventure.
But not every place is safe or welcoming for someone just starting out, and every one of these sports carries real risk. That is why Aquavela exists: a place where students get proper instruction and supervision while they learn the ropes and the safe practices. Aquavela is not about showing off. It is about sharing the stoke, sharing the adventure, and making it fun and safe for everyone.
I opened my first windsurfing school at the Condado Plaza hotel when I was sixteen. My mom was my first business partner. She loved the sea, her favorite color was teal, and she gave me the loan that bought my first fleet of equipment. A couple of decades later, we relaunched that vision as Aquavela. Aqua honors the ocean: her favorite place, her favorite color, the color of her eyes. Vela is the sail, the lifelong passion that shaped our lives. Aquavela honors my first business partner, the one who believed in me, who pushed me to chase adventure in life and in business, and it celebrates every friendship made along the way.
Aquavela is for friends and adventurers. Welcome.
Jorge S.
Founder & Head Instructor, Aquavela
Lake Fairview Marina, Orlando
The Four Values Aquavela Is Built On
Health
Pushing personal discipline in the pursuit of fitness, health, and wellness.
Adventure
Encouraging the courage to try new things and enjoy the journey.
Community
Creating connections on and off the water.
Legacy
Honoring the past while inspiring future generations.
Why Lake Fairview
Calm, flat water with wind through every season: the lake gives beginners easy, friendly conditions and gives progressing riders real wind to grow into.
Fourteen minutes from downtown Orlando, on a lake you can sail year-round. The same water, every session.
Lake Fairview Marina — 4503 N Orange Blossom Trail, Orlando, FL 32804
Learning should feel exciting, not intimidating.
At Aquavela, we create a supportive environment where beginners progress with confidence through clear instruction, steady encouragement, and consistent supervision.
We teach on calm, flat water with steady breezes: ideal conditions for learning at your own pace. Our approach is simple: step-by-step guidance that builds real skills and genuine confidence.
But our goal goes deeper than technique. We're introducing you to a lifestyle that opens doors to adventure, independence, and lifelong growth as a waterman or woman.
