Hi all ,
I'm after some advice I have had 4 hours worth of lessons on a big cross over SUP style windfsurfer and am having a blast .
I am 180 cm and weigh 82 kg and wish to buy a rig , i've found a starboard express 180 L for sale do you think this would be too ambitious to drop top this size for a beginner . I have a surfing background and could get around ok on the SUP , any advice would be appreciated . Thanks

if you're already cruising around on a SUP, and you got surfing experience, i'd go down to 145L at your weight.
With a 145L it'll keep up as your skill levels improve (Water Starting, Planing, Harness, Gybing)
145L is also a good size for the kids and family/friends to get out on as well.
With the bigger boards they become quite cumbersome as you progress.
Get a mast that'll fit a range of sail sizes if possible.

ah, the age old question - what to start with ...
you have given some information, but may need more
where will you be sailing ?
what are the prevailing winds and conditions ?
i am a little bit taller and much heavier
started with an old long board on a small lake and stayed with that for YEARS
now still have a Mistral Equipe 2 XR carbon that I absolutely LOVE in light winds
Jeff from Oz started with a SB RIO and loved it
Morgan from Oz started his own website : windsurfinglearningcurve.com/
you should be able to get LOTS of good advise and encouragement
hope you get to love it as much as we do
if you are married - wife may need to be warned in advance about your new "hobby" ...

Starboard Express is a great learner/ progression board. This is exactly what it is made for.

One of the crew we sail with has just recently moved onto a smaller board after about a year on his.
Very wide and stable and has the smallish retractable centre-board which is a great benefit to a learner.

You could go to a smaller board, but you probably won't have the centerboard and may find it difficult depending on your skill level.

If you do go with this board, I am sure you will have no trouble selling it when you are ready for a smaller board and should get similar money for it, assuming it stays in good condition. Which it should as they are quite durable, unlike many lighter more performance oriented boards.
Or you could hang onto it for a light wind board.

I am sure John will comment on this when he finds this and give you some first hand experience.

If u can find a old Starboard Go 155 cheap and watertight id go for that. Around 2007 ish they are 85 wide , eva deck and plenty progressing foot strap options .
$ 400 to $ 600 should get you a good one.
They are easy , capable , fast , tough and go upwind pretty good.
You will fall in love with it and when you progress youll keep it for light wind days , or teaching others
Oh , did I mention fast , yeah they are fast.
www.google.com.au/url?sa=i&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=images&cd=&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=0ahUKEwjT7om9y_DQAhUBWLwKHdGtAaYQjRwIBw&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.star-board.com%2F2009%2Fpages%2Fproducts%2Fv_go.php&psig=AFQjCNEmQb5ktasueHjCVjEpodHmt1DMsA&ust=1481698234935789

ps.
When looking at the picture of the loving couple with his hand skimming the water and her head nestling onto his shoulder portraying " after this your going to get sex " probably wont happen. I would say they both are very skilled and took mabee 4000 attempts at getting that shot. However nobody can take your dreams away and the board is pretty good !

Cheers Brad, yep I learned to windsurf on an Express and it was an awesome board. It doesn't do anything perfectly, but it provides a stable platform that is hard to fall off, it can plane pretty good with enough power and will teach you the best technique to get short wide boards up and going, it is heavy enough to sail well in heavy chop (unlike other lighter boards of the same width), it is very strong so you won't panic about whacking it on anything. Like Brad says you will always sell it for minimal loss when you want to change to something with a bit better performance. I replaced mine with a Magic Ride 154 after about 11 months and the crossover onto the new board was very easy because I learnt with the Express. I used mine with sails from 5.5m in over 20kn wind up to 8.5m in 12-15kn wind. It would probably go real good in light winds with a 9-10m sail but I am still to scared to use my 10m sail. I'm 99kg so even though I usually call BS on people suggesting small boards for beginners, you might get away with a 155 GO, but if you can get the Express at the right price you're mad not to but it. By the way, use the big 56cm fin.

At 82kg , 155 is plenty of safe float.
I know heavy , I'm 120kg skinny