Hi, I am currently 16 years old and have been wanting to get into windsurfing for years! finally managed to bring it up properly with the folks as I am soon going to be way to big for my current sail boat (little Arafura Cadet). anyways I have about 6 years sailing experience and have done a few lessons with the great guys at Windsup, while playing around with a learner board from my local club which is roughly 180 liters and with a 5.4m sail whenever i get a chance. I'm seeing minor improvements in my abilities but have been wondering what should i be looking at for my first gear and board? I'm currently at boarding school so it has limited the time that i can practice by myself, however that means i am based in Adelaide.

what the bottom line is what would make a good board considering i have access to a big learner should i need it a little longer. someone i met briefly suggested a big Free Style Wave board because of my weight (70Kg) roughly. any help is appreciated support, tips and crititism is all welcome

thanks for the advice GAPF, I will deffinetly keep up the lessons also I'm based around Glenelg, but also Kangaroo island during the school holidays, where i think i mentioned that i was using a 180L beginner board and 5.2m sail whenever i have been there. thank you for the help and who are some good people to try and get in touch in for any sort help or advice from my area?

I would say get a free-ride board with plenty of volume to start >120l and get out in light winds. If you do this and learn to gybe and tack in light winds consistently you will improve your skills when planing much faster and even when you can plane, waterstart etc, this style board is good fun to learn your first carve gybes, jumps etc on.

Get an instruction dvd like the Gem Hall one called Beginner to Winner.

Summer seabreezes are the best to learn in but this time of year north haven (launch by the surf club) is pretty nice on a north-westerly, flat water, warm (ish), not too gusty. Just mind the kiters.

Catch up with the music teacher Tim Frears he is a keen (used to be!) windsurfer and may be able to help out!!

Tim is a good one to talk to. he was racing lasers but now races bic windsurfers at Kingscote sailing club.
I dont know much about KI but pretty sure Tim said he just launches from the sailing club.

Who are you!! Another fellow young punk from KI wanting to windsurf hey???? Been a few years since I was learning over there but the yacht club is a awesome place to learn. Infact one of the best I have ever found. Get a large board over 100 litres and just practice!!! PS what arafura cadet do u have?

CHEERS Chris.

Ah yes cool. I used to sail nirvana. Was bloody good fun! Windsurfing is a lot more social and better then sailing I think. Once you progress you get out in the waves and its awesome fun cheaper and a lot less gear then sailing. Windsurfing SA will be organising a come and try day this summer so that would be a good day to come along. I may have to gear for you if your keen its not that new but works perfectly fine.

Cheers

i could lend you gear too get started maybe even some pointers one day

GAPF said..

Hay`s the man...taught me everything i know!

+1 Hay's the man you want to be hooking up with for advice!

You have access to a large learner board so that is a bonus, I would be looking at a freeride/freestylewave board around 115 litres. I own a 116 fsw and its pretty stable and easily uphaulable in rough water for me (95kg)
Make sure the width is at least 64-66cm for stability. No need for anyhting flash either, jump on buy/sell and grab something for $200-300 as long as its a modern shape - 2005 or newer???