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Windsurfing Boards

Sean O'Brien December 17January 28th, 2023
Windsurfing Boards

Your windsurfing experience will be much better if you’re using the right windsurfing boards. There really isn’t much like windsurfing, but as a pretty technical sport, you need the right gear to make it easy for yourself to progress.

Boards are improving all the time and will only get better as time goes on. Modern boards are more lighter, more sturdy, and feature greater technology than boards from the 1990s when windsurfing was at it’s peak. Whether you’re searching for a board to make you race-ready, hit some great moves and jumps, or just cruise around the local areas casually, we hope that our short guide has assisted you in making the best selection possible as you continue your search.

Windsurfing Boards 3

Beginner Windsurfing Boards

If you’re new to windsurfing, all you’ll need is a solid board to keep you from sliding off. This necessitates boards with big widths (about 70cm to 100cm) and higher capacities (around 140L to 200L).

Soft material boards are also a preferable alternative for newcomers who are not used to sailing on the boards for comfort and fewer injuries.

If you’re an adult novice, your choice of style and size may be influenced by your weight. In the case of children, the option is largely determined by their age and sometimes weight. Soft surfboards for kids aid in the development of confidence. Select a board that is simple to maneuver, making sailing more entertaining. Choose boards with retractable daggerboards since they are quicker, easier, and more convenient to use.

Lt Windsurfer Board

Beginner Board Table

Rider Weight (kg) Volume (l) Length (cm) Width (cm)
50 145 285 72
60 160 292 78
70 175 299 83
80 190 306 89
90 205 313 94
100 220 319 100
110 235 326 105
120 250 333 111

Advanced Board Table

Rider Weight (kg) Volume (l) Length (cm) Width (cm)
50 95 261 70
60 108 265 73
70 121 269 75
80 134 273 77
90 147 278 79
100 160 182 81
110 173 286 83
120 186 290 85

What you need to know to buy your first beginner windsurfing board

When it comes to shopping, there are a few things to keep in mind. The following factors influence the selection of a windsurfing board:

Width

The broader the board, the more stable it is, and the easier it will be for you to learn to ride quicker. However, you should choose boards with a medium width, as excessively broad boards (in the formula category) are meant for specific competition categories.

Volume

The volume of a dashboard is usually calculated based on the amount of water it can displace before submerging. According to research, one liter of water floats on one kilogram of weight.

Before acquiring any board, it is recommended that you first determine your weight. This will serve as a guide for the volume of the board you should purchase. For a beginner, an extra 50 to 100 kg is generally suggested. As an example, if you weigh 60 kilograms, a board with a capacity of 110 to 160 liters is the most appropriate.

It’s worth noting that the larger your board’s volume, the more stable it will be. This makes balancing it in the sea much easier. However, as you improve as a rider and can deal with stronger gusts at higher speeds while still having enough volume for up hauling, you should modify the volume of the board.

Using a high-volume board is challenging because, as you grow and learn more at a higher level, it becomes more difficult to control the equipment in high-wind areas, especially when riding at high speeds.

Fin

These are frequently found near the board’s bottom. They are responsible for creating lift and controlling movement direction. A large fin creates a lot of lift, which is necessary for enormous sails and heavy winds.

Less experienced windsurfers, on the other hand, are strongly advised to utilize boards with small fins. This is to avoid accidents from occurring during heavy winds.

Foot Straps

Foot straps are used to accommodate the feet when the board is planing, as the name implies. They’re designed to keep you stable when wearing a harness.

Mast Track

This is the component on the board that links your rig to the board. The skeleton of the windsurfer is made up of a slotted channel in the board deck. It is usually an important part of the board since its structure allows it to be propelled by the wind at speeds exceeding 50 knots.

As a result, it’s best to pick one with a stiffness that falls within the range specified or recommended by the sailmaker. This is determined by holding the mast at both ends and adding a weight of approximately 30 kilos to the mast’s center.

To accommodate the extra forces generated by larger sails, stiffer masts are required. You must also examine the bend curve’s shape, as it plays a significant function in the board.

System of dagger boards

This refers to a rectangle fin in the centre of the board, which is common on beginner or intermediate level boards. It is commonly adjustable to a range of 0 to 90 degrees while windsurfing, depending on the conditions.

The fin is sometimes angled downwards to aid stability and lessen the risk of drift. However, you should totally retract it to the bottom of the board in order to increase your speed.

Windsurfing Boards – Different Types

Windsurfing boards were divided into two categories in the 1970s: short and long boards. Most sailing ships employed the latter, which were roughly 3 meters long with a rectangular centerboard and were typically used in lighter winds.

Short boards, on the other hand, were less than 3 meters long. They were designed to work in planning environments. A variety of modern varieties of boards are thought to be the outcome of development and advancements achieved on short boards.

Most windsurfers prefer to surf when they can plan ahead of time and use versatile equipment. The best types of boards for leisurely cruising are freeride boards. Freeride boards may be right for you if you prefer straight-line sailing with a few spins here and there. On flat water, the planing speed of these boards is fantastic, but they only hold up until the wave gets moderate. These boards are the polar opposite of racing boards, and were created for those who view windsurfing as a more freeform activity, hence the name.

Wave Boards

Wave boards, as the name suggests, are used to catch breaking waves. Like surfboards, these short and maneuverable boards can easily do big jumps, ride wave faces, and cutback or bottom spins. These boards are typically 7.5 to 8.5 feet long and have relatively low capacities. You can choose a wave board with a bigger volume for sailing around in lighter winds or for a bit more stability, though most people choose a wave board with a lower volume for planing.

Formula Windsurfing Boards

Formula Windsurfing boards are among the shortest on the market, and they are designed exclusively for the sport. The boards are really fast and make fantastic racing boards. With one of these bad boys, you can easily exceed 30 knots.

Freestyle Boards

These boards are similar to wave boards, except they have a bigger volume and are a little wider. This makes them ideal for doing jumps, rotations, slides, and other movements. These are approximately 7.5 to 8.5 feet in length. Because many modern stunts require sailors to leave the water, many recent freestyle boards are relatively light.

Slalom Boards

Slalom boards are designed solely for the sake of speed. These are the boards you acquire if you’re serious about racing. They aren’t particularly stable or maneuverable, but they can easily push you past 30 knots if the wind is favorable. Pro sailors should use these boards because they are often exceedingly sleek and compact.

Speed Boards

They are a narrower slalom board designed for extremely fast speeds. They are available in a variety of sizes up to 60cm wide. When you need to sail at fast speeds, you should use these types of boards. This is not, however, a good idea for beginners.

Olympic Windsurfing Boards

Jean Bouldoires designed the current RS:X Olympic Windsurfing Board in 2004 and produced it in 2005. This came as a result of Neilpryde’s successful bid to offer one design windsurfing equipment for the 2008 Olympic Games in China. It was created to take the place of Mistral One Design.

The equipment included a high-tech rig with mast and boom, as well as a wide-style board that allowed the competitions to be staged in any weather. In planing settings, its steadiness delivers a high concert locked in sensation. Due to its minimal weight and high performance, it may also be used in non-planing conditions. The RS: X permits both men and women to compete, attracting the top windsurfers to the event.

Beginner Boards

Beginner boards, often known as fun boards, have a lot of volume and stability. This is due to the fact that these two characteristics are essential necessary for rookie sailors. These variants are usually longer and include a daggerboard to assist you in picking up speed as you proceed. These are the boards you should be looking at if you’re new to the sport.

Foil Boards

Windfoiling is a new and radical type of windsurfing. It entails specially constructed and reinforced windsurfing boards combined with specialised windsurfing Hydrofoils that allow boards to foil and fly in winds as low as 5 knots.

The distinctive foils (Hydrofoils) are designed to raise a windsurfing board out of the water, meet the path of least resistance, and give the rider a feeling of flying.

Wind SUP Boards

These are usually robust, light-weight, and long-lasting boards made for windsurfing in light to moderate winds. These boards are made utilizing the AST approach (Advanced Sandwich Technology).

These boards come in a variety of widths and lengths. Large surface daggerboards are available, and a few versions include sliding mast track choices.

This design combination improves upwind pointing capability and speed. They’re fantastic for cruising around, exploration, light wind freestyle, leisure racing, and small wave riding in some cases.

Inflatable Wind SUP Boards

These boards allow for a very small SUP that takes up very little storage and transportation space. The board, board parts, and pump all fit into a backpack, making it ideal for travel. These inflatables can be used for both windsurfing and standup paddling.

Windsurfing Boards 2

Further reading – Windsurfing Boards

How much wind do you really need to do this?

Contrary to common misconception, windsurfing does not need that much wind to happen. Of course, the air shouldn’t be completely devoid of wind, but as long as you can feel a tiny breeze on your skin, you’ll be fine for the time being. I’ve been windsurfing on the World Tour in winds as low as 3 knots with no problems (as long as you have a centreboard), and that’s enough of wind for even the most basic windsurfing skills. It is recommended that you have winds ranging from 10-15knots if you want to gain ground in the ranks of competition. Gusts of 30knots or more are no problem for serious windsurfers, but beginners will struggle to get started in winds of more than 15knots during the first several months.

Can you surf with windsurfing boards?

It would be fantastic fun to try to surf with your windsurfing board, but it would be really difficult to turn because the rails of windsurf boards are much different from those of traditional surfboards. They are far too buoyant to actually press their feet into the water and do not provide the cutback and maneuvering options that a surfboard can offer you. A windsurfing board, on the other hand, can be used as a stand-up paddleboard. The fact that windsurfing boards are incredibly buoyant, stable, and long enough to help you paddle with isn’t the worst thing in the world, is it? To get started, all you have to do is remove the rig from your board.

How does windsurfing compare to other sports?

In windsurfing, you are standing on a board and maneuvering with only your body, legs, and the power of the waves to achieve success in surfing. There are no sails or other means of propulsion to assist you in your progress. This means that it is wholly and entirely depending on the conditions of the ocean.

Kiteboarding is characterized by the use of a huge crescent-shaped sail that is suspended in the air. While you are maneuvering around the water, it flies high above you and drags you. Additionally, when comparing kiteboarding to windsurfing, kiteboarding necessitates an entirely different set of skills and actions when compared to windsurfing.

Wakeboarding is a water sport that makes use of a boat and the wake created by the boat. Rather than using a sail or simply the power of the waves, you use a boat that pulls you and creates small waves for you to ride on, which is more efficient. You have the ability to bust a variety of different movements. This activity also necessitates the acquisition of an entirely other set of abilities.

How do windsurfing boards compare to surf boards?

The answer to this issue is tricky because they both require a different set of talents from one another. As a surfer, you’ll be paddling for extended periods of time, thus having strong upper body muscles is vitally essential. A similarity may be drawn between windsurfing and gymnastics in that it requires tremendous arm power to hold the sail up and in line. The ability to maintain balance is required in both of these activities, though we would have to conclude that maintaining balance while on a windsurfing board is significantly easier than maintaining balance while on a surfboard. Even with all of this in mind, they are two completely distinct sports that are difficult to compare. We strongly advise you to try both!

Is windsurfing hard?

Both yes and no. The answer to this question is dependent on a number of factors. If you purchase a board that is well above your current ability level and attempt to ride it on your own, you will have a considerably more difficult time learning. As an alternative, if you purchase the appropriate board for your skill level and hire an excellent instructor to take you out on the water and demonstrate the basics, you should be able to master the fundamentals in one lesson even if you have never surfed before. It goes without saying that those who have a natural feeling of sailing and balance will learn much more quickly; nonetheless, like with any sport, getting proficient takes a lot of attention and practice. Your body will soon develop a second-nature awareness of how to interact with the elements such as wind, water, and other equipment.

Sean O'Brien

Sean O'Brien

Sean represents Australia on the PWA World Tour and is Design Lead at Brisbane Agency.com. He is an 11x Australian Windsurfing Champion, former YA sailing coach and current member of the IFWC Foil Committee.