The xantos is a fairly old board, but if your unable to get the money together for something more modern, it would be a perfect progression board for you.

i went from a 1980s Alpha375 to a 2005 152 Xantos (i'm 95kg)…..it cost me about $500 in 2009 and was by far the best investment in windsurfing I've made, it's easy to uphaul and I learnt to plane, use footstraps, use a harness, water start and gybe on it before going down to 114L….I didn't truly enjoy windsurfing until I bought it


it's not the most modern shape on the market and is a little heavier than newer boards but at the right price it will serve you well.

LakeLad said..

Do you recall the weight of the board ?

I understand the answer depends a bit on wind strength, but did you find an optimal sail size (and what sails did you use in general) ?
How well did it go upwind / did it need a particular fin and/or sail size to go upwind in lighter conditions ?

Unfortunately I couldn't tell you the weight exactly...mine had an unfortunate incident with a rock and now has water in it so is heavier than it should be. At a guess it would have been 10-12kg previously

I found that it sailed at its best with a sail between 6.5 and 7.5m (twin CAM freeride sails) but I have also sailed it with 5.5 (doable but not ideal).

It came with a pretty big fin (48cm I think) but I replaced it with a 42cm because it had far too much lift (at high speed or in chop the board had a habbit of leaving the water without my permission)


In light wind (sub-planing conditions) it is difficult (but not impossible) to sail upwind, it's got enough flotation to tack which helps.


As for planing upwind.......