Windsurfing Equipment Buying Guide

 

If you've been to the beach, you've probably seen a windsurfer. They're the people standing on miniature sailboats,  pulling and pushing the frame of the boat to catch the wind, do tricks, and sail around. Looks like fun, doesn't it? Though windsurfing  is a wildly popular ocean sport, it should't be attempted without some kind of instruction. If you've never windsurfed before, consider taking a lesson.  In just a few hours, you can learn enough to stay afloat and control your movement. 

At its core, windsurfing is a combination of surfing  and sailing : two means of riding the surface of the water with a boost from the elements. It requires technique, a whole lot of patience, and killer equipment,  which is where this guide comes in. If you want to take advantage of the mobility of surfing and the control of sailing, of this portable, flexible, and fast sport, you'll want the right stuff. The two major components of the windsurfer's vehicle are the board  and the rig, which comprises a sail  and some other stuff you won't need to worry about so much (they'll be matched with the sail and board you buy) but we'll list anyway: mast,  harness,  joint,  and boom. 

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How to Buy a Board

Choose a style based on the sort of windsurfing you'd like to do, and a volume based on your size and the wind conditions where you'll surf. The style will determine the width and length of the board, with wider and longer boards generally providing more stability and flotation but less maneuverability. Smaller boards are more suitable for windsurfing aerobatics, trickery, and wave riding. Larger boards master flat water.

Style

 		 Beginner 
  • Wide and heavy to aid stability, with a daggerboard to control the lift. If you're a newbie, look into renting a board, rather than buying a beginner model that you'll quickly outgrow.
  • Take some time to develop the basics and experiment with the sport until you are sure you are ready to make the investment in the equipment. Then you can get a good setup for what type of riding you decide you want to do.
  • Some examples of beginner boards include: Mistral Windglider,  HiFly Mambo,  Bic Techno 293 -D,  headerGray Tiga X Game,  and Mistral N.Trance.  You might also want to consider buying a beginner package that includes a longboard and a rig.
  • Longboards  -- These are 10 feet long or more, very stable and wide with a volume of 150 t0 200 liters.
 
Intermediate 
  • Cross-over  -- It combines the functions of wave and freestyle boards but it can also come in other variations.
  • Freeride  -- Long recreational board for traveling on flat water. Ideal for the tubing crowd.
  • Wave  -- Small and easily maneuvered for riding waves and catching air.

 

 
 
Advanced 
  • Freestyle  -- Slightly larger than wave board; for doing tricks on flat water.
  • Racing  -- Built for speed and not for turning or jumping.
  • Formula  -- Wide with stabilizing fin (skeg) for flat water competition.

 

Volume

  • Volume, which is the measure of a board's size, ranges from 65 to 90 liters for a wave board to 120 to 170 for a freeride board.
    • Beginner boards can have volumes in the 200s.
  • Heavy sailor=higher volume; lighter sailor=lighter volume.
    • Heavy sailor + heavy winds or light sailor + light winds = moderate volume.

How to Buy a Sail

The type and size of your windsurfing sail  is also related to the style of your sailing, your sailing conditions, and your body weight. The same logic used for boards (above) applies here -- the bigger the sails, the more stability and speed and the smaller the sails, the better maneuverability you will have. Here are the two types of sails, each geared towards one extreme or the other.

  • Style
    • For freeride and racing styles -- Cambered Windsurfing Sails  (or camber induced sails).
      • Rigidly arched sails engineered for speed and stability.
    • For wave riding and freestyle -- RAF  (Rotating Asymmetric Foil) sails.
      • Battens flip to the other side of the mast when needed, allowing for flexibility.
      • Handling and rigging are much easier with RAFs.
  • Size
    • Consult this very helpful size guide.
    • Larger sails (6-12 square meters) pick up all the wind in the vicinity, no matter how light, and turn it into speed.
    • Smaller sails (3-5 square meters) offer the sort of maximum control you'll need for tricks and strong winds.
      • Beginners are best with a sail that's not too large but not so small. Go for one between 5 and 6.5 square meters, with high rig tension for added stability.
      • Dedicated windsurfers keep several sizes of sails in order to adapt to wind conditions or switch styles.

Accessories

  • Gear and Apparel
    • Protect your hands with neoprene gloves. 
    • For footwear, you'll need booties  or sport aquasocks.  The difference between booties and aquasocks is in the ankles: booties go higher up, like boots.
    • A Lycra or nylon rashguard  (a shirt that protects from sunburn) is all you'll need by way of a top. A wetsuit  is recommended if you plan to windsurf in cooler waters.
    • A life vest  is a must for novices.
  • Roof racks 
    • For traveling with your board, unless you car has a jumbo trunk.
  • Harnesses  and harness lines 
    • Advanced windsurfers will need harnesses to sail in strong winds.

 

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