I keep seeing a lot of negativity toward posts by sponsored riders even when they are providing good answers to questions people are asking.
I find that the sponsored guys are a good source of information on gear because they have tried a lot, spend a lot of time on water, and wont use gear that doesnt work. They will even usually let you try gear out to see if it suits you before you spend your hard earned on it!
Is it because we are jealous?
Do you want to see these contributors mention who there sponsors are whenever they post?
Maybe there could be a section under their avatar with a sponsors list?
All that is true, but you do see quite a bit of replies like "buy this brand" when all the person asked was "what size?"
For an intermediate, a 140L Fanatic, Starboard, Naish, RRD, JP - whatever - will ALL be just as good
I know they are paid to promote the brand, but the above is not helpful.
Bit like magazine reviews where every board is awesome........
Certainly most other fora I have used for other hobbies have a signature block at the bottom and sponsored crew list their gear so it is obvious if it is pimping and not honest advice
I know a few of you will find his difficult to believe but;
I would just like to, and for the record, declare that I am not sponsored, endorsed or supported by any commercial, profit making or charitable organisation. Any advice that is given or shared is my own misconceived and confused opinion, whether its right or wrong is neither here nor there, what is important is that I am not paid for it.
Phew, thank god I have finally been able to clear that up, sorry if I have misled anyone
I thought my comment was valid as for what he asked for??
www.seabreeze.com.au/forums/Windsurfing/Gps/Fins-for-Isonics/
Ain't no jealousy involved, spend enough at some shops you too can become a team rider 
Personally I find it quite funny that people look to particular sailor & buy the gear they are using because they say it's good or going well. Good sailors will go well no matter what they ride, they will ride brand x & it is the shizzle, next season they will change to brand y & it will kick the ass over brand x in their eyes (they have to justify the change to themselves & then everyone else).
Listen to what the local guys have said, then take a look at their histories on gps team challenge- then eliminate natural progressive improvement and you will see that many have set their yardsticks 3 or 4 years ago- this contradicts what has been said regarding how good their gear is.
Also many don't read what guys are actually asking, and will just offer up brand x because that is their thing to push, sometimes the gear that has been suggested is good for their level & not the level for the person asking the question. So many times I have seen sailors go backward because they've listened to what their local gun has said, or bought a bargain from them and the gear is such a big leap for their level that they go slower, spend more time in the water or go from getting some gybes to none, or the gear they get is far too fragile for their level.
In the end none of it really matters cause most of the gear the major brands put out is pretty good. Getting the right gear is objectively identifying your level then finding what suits you.
People should just buy HS Superfreaks and be good like me they are totally the best and you can take the battens out and use them as a picnic rug or to fother sinking ships Dacron is Backron
yes - all gear is equally good
no advances are ever made.
No one does any r and d - no one is thinking outside of the box.
All companies just copy each other and all the gear we ride is exactly the same as it was in 1985.
if thats what you want to believe then fine - keep your head stuck under the sand and pray for the mediocrity you so desperately seek.
Well thats just great...Thanks to this topic my sponsor has dropped me...I'll give them one more mention , mmmmmm Boags !!!!
I do my best to support the local sponsored riders by buying some of their well priced gear at the end of the season 
Does the opposite work?
I'm not sponsored by Neil Pryde and I believe that their build quality is laughable. Releasing such a large quantity of disposable windsurfing kit is actually bad for the sport.
My cat could put together better sails*
*DISCLAIMER: I do have a strong emotional attachment to my cat because he is funny and falls asleep on my lap. My cat may not actually be able to make better sails.
It's in their contract and all gear works so really any brand, what Eva suits your budget,
People ask who would be the best carpenter to do this and that, I would say ME 
