hi, i surf and sail and want to start windsurfing but do not know anyone to help me get started. i am 15 and 50 kilos, so im quite light and where i live it can get very windy. can anyone sugest a board length and sail height, plus any tips? cheers.

hey dude,

well probably best to do a 6 Hour course at SHQ on the weekend (3 hours Sat 3 Hours Sun).

From there on, you really have 2 options buy some kit, or do some hire's?

Where do you live?

Cheers Steve

hey sflack, i live in geelong

Hey there and welcome to the forums.

Thats a big question you ask with a bunch of answers, depending on a bunch of things.

But to start with some simple answers and give you some ideas, you can spend a fair bit of money on a modern (short wide) learners board, or spend alot less and get an older long board but you will want to sell it once you get a bit better (3 - 6 months depending on how much w/surfing you get to do), either way you probably want one with a centre board.

Rigs, a good option may be to start with a fairly small cheap second hand ( about 2 - 5 years old) wave sail around 4 sq mts, coz they are built pretty tough, and im guessing a bit coz your a light weight at 50 kgs, but you should be looking for days with around 5 to 10 knots of wind to start with and as you get better it would become a stronger wind sail as you get heavier and improve.

But have a good look through the forums here ther are heaps of threads about beginners gear, start to get familiar with some of the equipment around and it will give you some good ideas about what to look for, but of course dont be afraid to ask questions.

ahh here we go, sflack knows his stuff and can probly help you with all you need to know dude.

i was a bit slow finnishing my reply

get your self a windsurfer one design second hand alot of people have learnt on them and have become very good sailors who knows you might be a gun and olympics could come your way

x sport guy is on the money!

But, id avoid EBAY as the gear they sell on that site is rubbish and expensive.

Geelong is a fair way to travel for a windsurf lesson, but if you know some guys that live down here i would recomend staying with them for the weekend.

Im one of the instructors that work down there to teach beginners and intermediates how to sail, and by the end of a 6 Hour course, the guys and girls can all sail, tack, do some light wind freestyle and sometimes get the basics of a beach start!

After that, like i said, do some hires, and get some hours up on the water then after that, do another lesson to get the instructor to iron out some faults and errors!

Let me know how you go!

and hopefully ill see you down at the beach!

Cheers steve

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windsufering said...

get your self a windsurfer one design second hand alot of people have learnt on them and have become very good sailors who knows you might be a gun and olympics could come your way

Ignore this.

hey guys, thanks for all the advice. found out one of my dads work mates windsurfs so when i get a board (if i can get enough dosh for one) he might take me out for a lesson sometime. might see u out there on the water.
cheers

Hey xtremesail, if you can get to Ocean Grove on the 13th we are having a bit of a learners day.

Check it out the posts from Nick Moloney.
www.seabreeze.com.au/forums/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=61078

Gav.

i must be a bad person i am teaching some kids how to windsurf on a one design they are going to be very good sailors and i am not charging ha ha ha ha

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sflack said...

hey dude,

well probably best to do a 6 Hour course at SHQ on the weekend (3 hours Sat 3 Hours Sun).

From there on, you really have 2 options buy some kit, or do some hire's?

Where do you live?

Cheers Steve

Hey Steve, if he becomes a Windsurfing VIC member SHQ can lend him a learner board for free right? I read this somewhere (maybe in a post) so I would love to clear up if this is True or False.