I'm 58. I love windsurfing. I especially love overpowered sailing in strong southeasters at my home spot, which is a rough open water location. At my age, however, I am wondering how much longer I can keep it up. I'm pretty fit and strong, but can sense my body is less happy that it was with long sessions and 100k days. I'm building up a dry-land training program to boost my fitness and flexibility in the hope I can windsurf another 20 years. My questions is, is that feasible? How are other older sailors going with their ageing bodies? I know a few here are in their 70s, how are you going keeping it together for one more season, and one more season after that?

Don't get injured. Sail regularly and lower your expectations. I've never had issues until I got injured and had a long time off the water.
I'm now struggling to get back up to speed.

Well I'm at your, "another 20 years", and still going.
You have the right idea, keeping body flexible and strong is necessary.
A lot depends how well you look after your body, I've known guys push the limits in their early years, and burn their body out early. So it's a compromise, if you want to keep having fun into the 70s don't go too far over the limit now.
I'm learning how much muscles are needed to keep the frame working. everyday exercise doesn't work a lot of these muscles. As you get older unused muscles deteriorate fairly quickly, making joint problems much more likely. Physio guidance can make sure the important muscles get a work out.
I've looked after my body fairly well.
At 69 I sailed 330km in 10 hours at LG.
I was 77 when I had my 40kt PB. This was an OK year for me, recovered from COVID and fairly active.
I'll be 79 in January, and slowing down, still speed sailing, but not in rough water, that's no longer good for my back.
Energy levels are dropping off as well. I find going for an hour is hard work.
But sailing to my ability is still fun.
That's the great thing about windsurfing, you can sail at any level and still enjoy it.

Looking at the GPSTC rankings, there's not a lot happening at 80 and over, I hope to change that, we'll see.

There are a handful of people in their 70's that windsurf here in the protected flat water spot. One lady has had several surgeries/metallic implants due to injuries and was still going. Others that are larger are still pulling up their 8.x sails and going out on days that they know they can get planing. There are more in their 50s and 60s that are actively learning to foil, etc.

If you take care of yourself it really seems like you can keep windsurfing for quite some time, barring severe injuries or unrelated health issues.

what is your dry land training looking like? I'm thinking about this too. I've recently got into regular cycling and feel like this is good for endurance, but core and upper body are things i need to work on. i want to avoid gyms

Do something every day. Pilates or swimming or stand up paddling or walking. And the gym if all else fails.

I find a lower fitness level is required to windfoil v windsurfing on a fin, also less punishment on lower body riding above the chop
Could be a good way to stay on the water till you reach 90
Cheers TK

I'm 66 and still going strong. I do no special exercise apart from regular windfoiling / windsurfing, walking the dog daily and regular stretching. I mainly wave wind foil and high wind flat water finning.

I'm 63 as well and a few years ago switched from fin to foil. My knees are much less painful than when I was ocean fin sailing. I don't do much off the water exercise but do want to start that. Plenty of walking helps with aerobic but I think some strength muscle work would be good for me.

I did look at the gpstc age group rankings and realised that it's the numbers when in the age bracket that count. So the stuff you did when younger rolls of. A good motivation to improve. Might even get back to that one if these days if I get bored with foiling. Not likely at the moment.

I thinks its like riding a horse through a desert without knowing its end ,you just keep riding it till it drops dead
then you get off and walk ,There are some absolute legends on here that keep going at 80 like decrepit .I also
know a couple of other 80+ year sailors ,all i have is respect toward them for still having the love to ride the wind .
I hope we can sail until our last days ,how long can this go on you say .never give up

I`m 76 and sailing in all types of winds up to 15-20m/s in Sweden. I`m using Goya pro 3 86 liters/Severne Fox 95-105 and 120 liters boards.
All of the sails are Ezzy Zeta and cheetah.
You must go to the gym, do deadlifts/running and some upperbody training, but the lower body is more important, The forearm and biceps/triceps comes naturally in training with bench-press etc.
My oldest friend is 85 and is still going strong with the windsurfing (sailworks and Thommen boards).
I will say: there are no corporal limits, I feel that the fear can be the limit for me, to miss a gybe and lose the board and be out there simming. We are windsurfing in open ocean and also inside a reef, but ouside the reef is the pleassure of course.
But we are vikings from the north

With regards,
John

I started foiling a few years ago when I was a couple of years older than you are now. Compared to windsurfing in chop, freeride foiling is a lot easier on the body, both with a sail and with a wing. After longer windsurf sessions in chop, various joints would hurt. After foil sessions, there is a lot less pain. With winging, my current favorite, it's just that my legs get tired (from having to stand up many times after crashed jibes .. learning was faster when I learned windsurfing a few decades ago!). I still windsurf, but have gotten a lot pickier about conditions. Flat water windsurfing tends to be a lot easier on the body than chop, even if you're pushing the limits.

Less pain when foiling is just a bonus, though. The main reason I pick foil gear over the fin most of the time is more fun, and that I have to learn new stuff. Learning keeps you young!

I agree. At age 70 I decided my ole bod was just getting worked too hard with formula gear, which involved sail sizes up to 12.0.

So, I switched to winDfoiling, where my biggest sail is a 7.0. One amazing thing about winDfoiling is that you can use one board and one foil for a huge range of sail sizes. I use the same board and foil for 7.0 as well as 2.8. Can't do that with fin windsurfing. For example, two days ago I was on a 3.5 on the Columbia, then yesterday morning on a 7.0 at the same spot on the same board and foil. (After yesterday's 7.0 morning drainage wind abated, I went fishing.)

I have no reason to even try winGfoiling since winDfoiling works so well.

Turning 61 at the end of this year and thinking the same thing about my ability to continue windsurfing for many many years!!! I've found that my gear selection is becoming more critical as my body ages and want to continue getting out on a windy bumpy ocean as much as possible as well as blasting along the local speed strip. What's improved my ability to continue ocean sailing is using Ezzy wave sails for blasting + bump n jump as they appear to make my FSW ride much smoother than more rigid design sails, which appears to take pressure off my knees and ankles over the bumps coz of the more settled ride, with much the same speed. Then on the flats I'm using a smaller board and sail than most others and usually only sail for a max of 2 hours anyway so no fighting my gear or getting fatigued. Also keeping active by mixing it up by exercising or playing other sports helps to keep muscles and joints etc from locking up, as well as the mental health benefits which imo can keep you feeling youthful if you maintain a good attitude towards life!!

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Shifu said..
I'm 58. I love windsurfing. I especially love overpowered sailing in strong southeasters at my home spot, which is a rough open water location. At my age, however, I am wondering how much longer I can keep it up. I'm pretty fit and strong, but can sense my body is less happy that it was with long sessions and 100k days. I'm building up a dry-land training program to boost my fitness and flexibility in the hope I can windsurf another 20 years. My questions is, is that feasible? How are other older sailors going with their ageing bodies? I know a few here are in their 70s, how are you going keeping it together for one more season, and one more season after that?

The oldest windsurfer I knew was still windsurfing (first in - last out) the season before he was taken away by pancreatic cancer, he was 84. The youngest who had to stop did so because of back pain at 66. In between those 20 years is hard to tell what is going to happen to anybody in particular. You might be able to keep going well, you might slow down very significantly, you might have to stop.

Windsurfing can be a very low impact sport. As long as the sea is not particularly formed, say no braking rolls, and you have long stretches of open water, it is quite effortless with proper technique. But still ... there is an accelerating physical decline from 60 onward and those miles long runs do get harder ...

I've been eyeing up this problem from another direction recently.

how can I retire so that I have more than 5 years of windsurfing left in me. Even 10 years seems to finite

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GazMan said..
Turning 61 at the end of this year and thinking the same thing about my ability to continue windsurfing for many many years!!! I've found that my gear selection is becoming more critical as my body ages and want to continue getting out on a windy bumpy ocean as much as possible as well as blasting along the local speed strip. What's improved my ability to continue ocean sailing is using Ezzy wave sails for blasting + bump n jump as they appear to make my FSW ride much smoother than more rigid design sails, which appears to take pressure off my knees and ankles over the bumps coz of the more settled ride, with much the same speed. Then on the flats I'm using a smaller board and sail than most others and usually only sail for a max of 2 hours anyway so no fighting my gear or getting fatigued. Also keeping active by mixing it up by exercising or playing other sports helps to keep muscles and joints etc from locking up, as well as the mental health benefits which imo can keep you feeling youthful if you maintain a good attitude towards life!!

Yes re comfier gear. I've switched to Windtechs for the chop ( ultra comfy suspension and control) and have switched from go fast slalom to more comfy ones for flatter water.

We have an 88 year old sailor. I don't know if he got out last season but he was definitely sailing at 86.
He no longer sails in chop. He sails in flat shallow water so he doesn't have to gybe.
He rigs and carries his own gear in walking through the wind shadow.( which is hardwork) and I reckon he must be pretty fast.
I was at Budgy 2 years ago and I felt I was going pretty fast. Someone flew past me..
It was Al! ( 86years old )
He's never worn a gps .

Blows my mind how older people sail so well. Total respect and admiration to you all.

I am 45. Was about to make a thread for 'back pain' but I'm not game after reading this.

This season my lower back really hurts and is very stiff the day/week after a few sessions.
Im trying lots of gybes to try and learn them.
Big gear, 92cm wide Jp SLW and 8.5 Ezzy, flatwater.

Hoping it is just muscle building, as the pain subsides about the same time other muscles do, calf muscles etc.

I'm doing daily yoga, back stretches and that helps.

Does anyone struggle with lower back pain / stiffness?
Reading some old threads, seems not.
There is some info out there about windsurfing being good for the back..

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sboardcrazy said..
Someone flew past me..
It was Al! ( 86years old )
He's never worn a gps .

One of many awesome stories. So cool.

The whole thing about windsurfing it's an amazing enjoyable and healthy sport and by doing it regularly is what keeps you feeling young so don't worry how old you are statistically you'll be sailing for another 20+ yrs
My only problem at 77 is I can't wipe the stupid grin of my face after a sail

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Gestalt said..
I've been eyeing up this problem from another direction recently.

how can I retire so that I have more than 5 years of windsurfing left in me. Even 10 years seems to finite

Yep, good point. I'm the same. I don't envy those who are dreaming of more time on the golf course (or taking up lawn bowls or whatever) when they retire, but they are faced with fewer physical challenges then us to keep doing what they love. And I'm relatively fortunate in having a job with somewhat flexible hours. (btw, Golf sucks, imo)

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MobZ said..
I am 45. Was about to make a thread for 'back pain' but I'm not game after reading this.

It's typical to start doubting in the mid-to-high 40s. It gets better after that .

Regarding your back pain, make sure you are using a seat harness. Those can differ quite a bit, so get one where you can really sit in. If you are already using one, use it more. That is, concentrate on using the harness and not your arms. You should be able to "play the piano" on the boom with both hands most of the time.

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boardsurfr said..

MobZ said..
I am 45. Was about to make a thread for 'back pain' but I'm not game after reading this.

It's typical to start doubting in the mid-to-high 40s. It gets better after that .

Regarding your back pain, make sure you are using a seat harness. Those can differ quite a bit, so get one where you can really sit in. If you are already using one, use it more. That is, concentrate on using the harness and not your arms. You should be able to "play the piano" on the boom with both hands most of the time.

Since I broke my wrist I can't pull my seat harness tight enough .I have to get someone else do it.
I've noticed the few times it hasn't been 'choking ' tight my lower back hurts a bit. I resort to the occasional poo stance to give it a break.
MobZ you are about my size. I'm 63.. The gear you use is massive so you'd really have to be fit and have good core muscles to survive.

I'm with Ducati, age is just a number, I lead an active life and windsurf as much as I can. Also getting back into a bit of golf again. I am more aware of my limits now though but still usually ignore them when its windy

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MobZ said..
Blows my mind how older people sail so well. Total respect and admiration to you all.

I am 45. Was about to make a thread for 'back pain' but I'm not game after reading this.

This season my lower back really hurts and is very stiff the day/week after a few sessions.
Im trying lots of gybes to try and learn them.
Big gear, 92cm wide Jp SLW and 8.5 Ezzy, flatwater.

Hoping it is just muscle building, as the pain subsides about the same time other muscles do, calf muscles etc.

I'm doing daily yoga, back stretches and that helps.

Does anyone struggle with lower back pain / stiffness?
Reading some old threads, seems not.
There is some info out there about windsurfing being good for the back..

I do, especially mid and after session , i find seat harness helps my back alot but i only like waist on the foil, and also im 16

Some of the best windsurfers in OZ are over the age of 70, Ducuti is right what is age, l will be sailing until I pass away,been windsurfing for over 40 years now And not slowing down yet at the age of 72.

It's not the windsurfing that gets you.
it's the getting out of the wetsuit.
if someone comes up with a wettie like Ironmans suit. Push button.
then I can go forever. well that and a hydraulic Downhaul tensioner.

I realised today that Pete ,another Budgy regular, is 79 !

Wow! There's some very inspirational stuff here. I'm feeling bright about the future!

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Shifu said..
Wow! There's some very inspirational stuff here. I'm feeling bright about the future!

Yep , you're a youngen..