Just a quick question.
I am at the very early stages of considering at least trying windsurfing. I have surfed shortboards my whole life, paddle, Downwind and surf SUP and have done a bit of the hire of Windsurfboards etc. So I guess I know the ocean a bit and have tried windsurfing enough to know it's harder than it looks.
As a general Kook on the Gold Coast mainly for North East season (Spring) what kind of old, crusty and user friendly kit would I look out for? This is with a view to riding in the surf, eventually at least.
Thinking used for sure and have looked through the classifieds but it's all Greek to me as I don't have a clue what to look for.
Any tips?
There is a Starboard Go for sale in QLD section, Which would probably do the trick as an ambitious beginers board. But its maybe not Crusty enough.
There is also a Starboard Start which would be better for the first 5 or 6 times out but maybe a bit more boring after that compared to the GO.
What are you thinking of spending and how much do you weigh?
As a starting point I weigh 95kg and used a Bic Techno 148 Litre board to start with.
If I was looking to start out again something like a Starboard GO would be my first choice as they seem to hold there value well.
I had the Bic Techno 148 Litre as well.... although it got me through, I'd recommend a Go over it any day.....
What you want when learning is some forgiveness..... Techno is really a raceboard and the outboard straps won't be any good learning to get into the straps....
Definitely go a 145-155 ltr board though.... even with your 85 kg.
Surfing and understanding water will always help.
Don't go too older gear..... it will make things harder and learning time longer...
And - welcome!
I don't think there's any need to muck around with large volume beginner gear if he's allready an experienced surfer and intends to sail waves only.
I know surfers who have made the transition from short surfboards straight to wave sailing equipment no problem. The board skills are already there, Its a matter of learning the sailing part. That needs to be done regardless of the board type.
It might just be what I've got used to. I reckon smaller boards are easier to use than the big floaty logs that are so popular these days. This is only my opinion.
Hey CMC,
I was in the same boat as you- experienced surfer looking to take on sail boarding, and primarily in the suds. I started off with a 150 lt board, got some of the basics kinda worked out (tacking, slo-mo gybes etc) in the first few months,even used it a few times in the surf, then sold it to fund the next board- a 116 lt FWS style of board. Anyway, this current board is a good manageble size for me, is super quick, floats well so you can up-haul and turns sharp and fast in the surf. I've only been sailing for 6 months.
My theory, don't get too big a sail. Something around 5 meters will be heaps, and well and truely usable when you progress to the next smaller board and hit the surf. Too big equalls hardship. And too small a board equalls the same.
Whilst a good surfing back ground will certainly help speed up the painful learning process (which I'm still well and truely in...), the two sports are way different in terms of feel and and to some degree technique. But having said that what seems impossibly hard will start to fall into place in only a handful of months. Then the fun begins!
Personally, I don't think I'll ever jump back on a surf board again, as the sail board is just so much more exciting, way faster, more powerful and has an endless array of things to learn. The days of fighting over a few decent waves in a crowd are well and truely over. And when there's no swell, you can charge the flatwater. It's a win-win really.
Good luck hunting down a beginners kit
Cheers.
No probs with the info.
Not having to paddle out the back is unreal, just cruise out cheaking the line-up to find the best spot, sail steer as you go to get a better angle. Tack out the back and chug into the line-up, stalling as you go to wait for the sets. Lazy point breaks are ideal.
And you only need light wind too, clean 10-14 knots is plenty, really 8 knots is enough, with ideally a cross offshore for the dirction you want to head being perfect, eg- north winds for lefts, southerlies for heading right. But it will take you time before your confident in the surf- it truely is a hard sport, I reckon even harder then surfing, and I had all the sponsers and surfed comp level for years. There's just so many more variables. But! you will learn quick, your ballance will already be there, and you'll have a great knowledge of the ocean and where the best section breaks etc, and when you catch that first wave- even a lazy 2 footer- on a sail board you'll be buzzing, it truely is awesome. It's all biiger and better from then on. I wish I'd started 20 years ago...
This clip- whilst pretty cruisy compared to some- inspires me big time: especially as I'm a goofy footer and love lefts
Enjoy.
