Your first windsurfing board - Part 2
In our last post, we talked about some of the dilemmas facing a windsurfer who has just finished a course and maybe some rentals and is now deciding about his first real commitment to windsurfing - buying windsurfing equipment.
The parameters that you,as an “advanced beginner” sailor has to take:
1.Budget - like everything else in life,this will be the most important parameter in your decision. The question is not necessarily how much money you HAVE but (most of the times) how much money am I going to put into windsurfing. And you will learn that it is not a cheap hobbie, although some are more expansive, obviously..
2.Time in water - this is a tough one.I believe most windsurfers are optimistic by nature, but when you make big decisions like this one, you must try to be realistic and try to estimate how many days you WILL BE surfing, and that is not the same as how many days the conditions are optimal for my level, which is not the same as how many windy days you have in your local spot per year.
How do you estimate your Time on water? The easiest way, and probably the best thing you could do as a noob, is ask your masters. Every spot has its veterans. They know everything there is to know about the wind,waves, water temperature, where to hide your keys and where to go to drink hot coffee and a sandwich after a long day of windsurfing. You will also find very useful surfers who have a little more experience than yours. They have been where you have been not long ago and they might even sell you their own beginner board.
3.Your level - again, be honest with your self.If you still have problems uphauling when a tiny chop comes,you need a bigger board.Some people are naturally more gifted or have worked on their balance, strength or coordination( I guess someone with background as a gymnast would do better that average in the beginning..) and they might start with a smaller board.
One thing to always remember - todays modern beginner windsurfing equipment is very easy to use! You can buy a board that will give you many days of great pleasure.
The next part of this post will get down to business - we will talk about what to look for in a beginner board and talk about some of the best ones out there.
Tags: beginner, board, sail, wideboard, windsurfer, windsurfing