Got my best mate into sailing.
One year down and he's in harness and straps and happy as a pig in mud.
Got him an old Starboad Go 165 which I re decked and pimped out for him.
Last weekend after catapult no 438 he managed to snap his board in half just in front of the mast track with a high speed shoulder smash on the front of the board.
Got to give credit , he managed to get back to shore with the front just dangling there.
I can fix most things, engineer 
and I used to make boards 100 years ago. 
Under closer inspection I noticed at least a dozen what looked like baseball bat crunches fanning out from the mast track like a Peacocks feathers.
A few metres of glass and a kilo of resin and he'll be back on the water this weekend.
Piont of story...........
A beginner should start with a cheap big board , not something to grow into because he or she will smash it to pieces .
It's a GO
repair it...might end up heavy ...hes hooked then
I snapped one jumping from the back of the wave to the front .
mine broke behind the track .It was the weirdes feeling ...my feet stayed there and the front
of the board sailed away with my arms ... 
Lucky I had 2 boards way up there...north West WA. It was 4.5 hour drive to the nearest windsurfing shop.
F2 ride R.I.P
put some wooden stringers in .200 ml long
"hard" to believe the "board lady" used NO stringers
W
W
and obviously she is the SME/egg spurt
Our beginner theory is buy the best beginner board (wide with 160-200L depending on your weight) you can afford. When the time comes to upgrade, the market is large and availability of boards low so you will always sell it for minimal loss and sometimes no loss. Incentive is to skill up quickly and minimise damage. I've just sold my learner board for what it owed me, no damage from me, still in great condition and 11 months ownership. Absolutely agree with not buying something "you'll grow into", that's the worst advice ever.
Don't spend very much money at first. You are more than likely going to damage the equipment as You learn. Buy used and cheap, it's all available out their, just take the time to find it. It doesn't have to look pretty, just watertight and as light as possible. But don't shy away by getting a board with nicks and scratches all over the board. But don't Buy anything that looks like it has structual damage, but all cosmetic damage is fine. After you get the hang of it, then buy a nicer board.
