Windsurfing anyone??

General Discussion
1

Hey Guys

Couple of days ago I went to check out my local.

It was almost dead flat, but pretty windy.

So I wasn’t surfing that day.

I then thought it would pobably be a good day for windsurfing.

2 problems here.

  1. I dont have a windsurfer.

  2. I have never windsurfed in my life.

Im thinking this might be something else that might intrests me and looks like a lot of fun.

So…

What I am asking for is any info on windsurfing, and I mean anything.

Things like entry level boards and equipment, websites, techniques.

Anything that may help.

Cheers

2

Windsurfing can be loads of fun. To get started, you might check craigslist or the like for some second hand gear, it goes cheap nowadays since it is “out of fashion”. It’s important to gain a minimum of sailing knowledge so you understand how the sail works. In dem olden days they used to start you out on big longboard type things so you could “uphaul” the sail with a cord (the uphaul), but if you are reasonably fit and water-savvy (comfortable in a marine environment) then you could go to a smaller board immediately and learn to water-start and gybe from the get go. I used to teach kids and I got em going on smaller equipment without any prior knowledge.

http://www.windsurfingbible.com/ has all the classic information and some good illustrations.

To get started I would get a board about 9 ft and a sail about 6 m2 this should be pretty much standard gear for most people in winds from 15-24 knots. It’s more a question of volume/stability. Roughly your weight in Kg should be volume in liters for you to be stable if you are reasonably fit and comfortable with watersports.

Have fun and “Hang Loose”

3

Check your local phone directory for windsurf shops.

One Knot has a shop over at Gerringong, He will get you going.

Boardbumps

4

Thanks guys

Gives me somewhere to start.

Cheers

5

The Dark Side claims another one.

6

Windsurfing is almost as gay as Richard Simmons.

7
Quote:

Windsurfing is almost as gay as Richard Simmons.

Did you just call Robby Naish, Dave Calama, and Laird gays?

8
Quote:
Windsurfing is almost as gay as Richard Simmons.

hahaha… Is Richard Simmons gay? I’d love to see him do this:

http://youtube.com/watch?v=nbaaWuakxeE

.

9
Quote:

The Dark Side claims another one. Windsurfing is almost as gay as Richard Simmons.

So what do you guys do when when it is flat and windy???

Judging by one of your names, I have a pretty good idea…

10

Ha! I knew that one would ruffle the delicate tail feathers of a few… When it’s flat and windy…very rare here to find an unsurfable day…I shape, swim, fix dings, post on swaylocks and run in between my wanking sessions.

Laird??? Gay??? Have a look at some of his modeling shots and form your own opinion.

11

So why comment???

That is a statment I would expect to hear from my 14 year old.

To me, surfing, and all water sports, is about enjoyment and having fun in the ocean.

Whether you shortboard, longboard, SUP surf, windsurf, bodysurf, snorkle what ever.

As long as you are having fun, who care what you ride.

If you cant surf on a particular day because of the conditions, you do something the conditions will allow.

And windsurfing is something I think will be fun in those conditions.

Beats shopping with my wife.

Cheers

12

sirwanksalot,

You crack me up!

BC

13

IMO 2 of Oahu’s best surfboard shapers are windsurfers.

Here’s the deal, order a board from PaddleSurfHawaii (CarveNalu), and insert a mast box. Now, you can windsurf and SUP when needed.

14

LOL! The SUP might be good for boardsailing on low wind days but when the wind picks up they are toooo biggggg…

for the open minded surfer a windy rig could be reaal boon on days when the wind is whipping …

15

yo Surferdave,

have you seen CarveNalu’s boards? I think your thinking of “Beginner” type SUPs…11 and 12 foot x 29-33" wide monsters.

Carve’s boards are the cutting edge of performance sup’s. And IMO probably can cross over to racy windsurfer.

16

hey mds

check ebay for cheap gear, i found a board and two sails, harness, the lot for $200. i tried for when the wind was onshore for the summer then when i realised it was gay i sold it back on ebay for what i paid for it, no great loss. better than shopping with the wife tho.

cheers tim