Totally depends on where your sailing.

Boards have become more specific for sure, wave boards especially, some are better for on shore winds, some for more down the line.

Freeride boards have become faster and are more forgiving than years ago.

Bigger sails have more wind range so you need fewer sails in your quiver and they all use shorter booms because of the boom cut away system by the bottom batten.

Race boards are more tricky to gybe and fins are far more critical and more expensive...... Masts are heavier and thinner than ever, although the newer masts are lighter and everyone uses SDM masts for bigger sails.

Get it right and the gear can be better than ever.

Hope that helps.

$3500+ for a new board

Everyone is buying wingsails.

Hi Kelpo

I just got back into it since moving over to kiting in 2000. Must say that I rode pretty good wave kit back then and it all feels pretty much the same to me right now. The slalom gear is incredible, light and the sails have huge range and responsiveness, but I do feel that the boards are maybe a bit too fragile where the production boards skimp a bit on reinforcement in order to achieve a super-light product. I am no pro but just my 2 cents.

Foiling obviously is a huge jump and direction in the sport.... no experience (yet) so no comment.

The biggest change for me was the fitness aspect..... windsurfing is WAAAAYYY more physically demanding than kiting.

^^^^ agreed
the worst waveboards now are 100x better than the best waveboards in 2000

Faff said..

Dar said..
Hi Kelpo

I just got back into it since moving over to kiting in 2000. Must say that I rode pretty good wave kit back then and it all feels pretty much the same to me right now. The slalom gear is incredible, light and the sails have huge range and responsiveness, but I do feel that the boards are maybe a bit too fragile where the production boards skimp a bit on reinforcement in order to achieve a super-light product. I am no pro but just my 2 cents.

Foiling obviously is a huge jump and direction in the sport.... no experience (yet) so no comment.

The biggest change for me was the fitness aspect..... windsurfing is WAAAAYYY more physically demanding than kiting.

You don't think multi-fins are a big change?

My first "short board" was fiberglass and had three fins. That was in 1986.

Biggest improvement I see is wave oriented FSW boards like the Fanatic Stubby FSW that make sailing with a 6.5 in 1-2 foot waves fun and exciting. Back in the day I would have needed enough wind for a 5.3 and at least 4 foot waves to have an equivalent amount of fun.