Getting Started

Hey I am new to windsurfing and I am just wondering what is all the equipment that is needed to start windsurfing? Thanks

Have you already learned how to kite board, and now want to take up windsurfing? The reason I'm asking this is because of your avatar name, which makes me think you might know how to kite. If you do know how to kite, then you already have some balance coordination and basic wind knowledge down, which is helpful when learning how to windsurf.

C'mon guys, if we want to keep our beloved sport alive, we should be encouraging newcomers, not putting them off by being rude to them.

No rudeness , just ****s an giggles , the smiling thing

^^^^^^^^
Drool factor
Thats what a tattslotto win looks like

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powersloshin said..
Seriously you will need:
5 boards spaced 20 lts apart
10 sails spaced 1/2 metre apart
at least 5 masts for the sails
3 booms is the minimum
each board will need at least 3 fins plus a weed fin, that makes 20 fins
Plus bits and pieces
To carry that stuff you will need a dedicated big van or custom made trailer, example below:

Good luck !!

You will need more gear with windsurfing than kiting, but not to this extreme.

Hey wow. Thanks for all the replies. You guys are funny haha. To answer jn1's question I am 18 years old, 6'4, 70kg? haven't checked in a while. I used to kitesurf but was a noob and could only go as far as turning on a board but no tricks. I am looking to join windsurfing because it seems safer and I think I would enjoy the fast pace and slashing up the waves. Is that true equipment Tardy? unlike what powersloshin said haha? Also, yes I have search engined all the equipment but it seems to vary, there are some pieces of equipment that I cant find on here that it says on other websites you need. Also do you guys think that windsurfing is better and in what way? (I know I am on a windsurfing forum, but would love to here your views).

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powersloshin said..
Seriously you will need:
5 boards spaced 20 lts apart
10 sails spaced 1/2 metre apart
at least 5 masts for the sails
3 booms is the minimum
each board will need at least 3 fins plus a weed fin, that makes 20 fins
Plus bits and pieces
To carry that stuff you will need a dedicated big van or custom made trailer, example below:

Good luck !!

That's 10L apart ...

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MrCranky said..
18, only 70 kg... The world is your oyster. If you plan on having a gap year, consider going to club Vass and doing ther course.

Thanks mate. But Im in uni and have no funds :( Would love to go to Greece.

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KitesurfNoob said..
Also I am on the Sunshine Coast and areas like Mooloolaba and Caloundra look good

Since you are on the east coast, you should be able to get lessons. I highly recommend you do that first.

Sunshine coast is a wave spot ?.. about 15-20 knots ?. If so, I would start off with a 100L freestyle/wave, freewave etc (depending on marketing name) board and a 5.3 wave sail (preferably an onshore wave sail)... but don't go into the waves yet. Start learning in the flattest water you can find in 10 knots. Learn the basics like beach starting, and tacking.

Equipment list is as follows:

sail
mast (5.3 sails, you'll be after a 400 mast)
boom (140-180cm boom for wave gear)
extension
base
board (aim for 62-64cm width)
fin (24 - 26cm wave or weed/wave fin, depending on your weed situation)

Purchase once you start planing:
harness lines
harness

While you are young/learning, try to get 2nd hand gear when ever you can. You are only going to smash it up. There's lots of cheap Severne gear at the moment on the buy/sell section. You should be able to pickup a 2-3 year old sail and a 5 year old board for less then $300 each. With the boom, spend a bit more money and get a 100% RDM carbon, as masts will last you for many years. Pick a bend curve mast, and match your sails to it accordingly. I recommend using constant curve masts.

Finally, you don't need 5 boards and 5 sails to windsurf. You can get by with one board and sail... and normally 2 boards, and 2 sails. It all depends on how much weather condition you want to cover, and the younger/fitter you are, you can make the same gear sail in wider conditions (than say I could). Like me and many other X gens, we only have a van load of gear because we are cashed rich and time poor (when I was younger, it was the other way around).

Good luck !.. and now I have broken the ice, bring on the other 1000 opinions !

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KitesurfNoob said..
Thanks for the reply jn1 and powersloshin, very informative :) so I assume the sail heights and board sizes are specified to my size? Yeah, gets about 10-15 knots around Caloundra area where its really flat water and quite shallow. Is the harness necessary like a kitesurfing harness is?

Yes. If you have a kitesurfing harness already, you might need to change the hook to a windsurf-specific one. It is more open and releases more easily (so you don't get trapped under the sail). You can use the kitesurfing hook, but it may be dangerous. If you don't have a harness already, consider getting a "cross-over" harness like a mystic majestic. It has a generic hook and is very strongly built (kitesurfing harnesses have to be, which also makes them more comfortable, but bulkier), so you can use it for either sport.

10-15 knots is not very windy. You will need big gear to be planing even at your weight.

^^^^^^^
Absolutely hook up with olskool , cant beat old age and treachery

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KitesurfNoob said..
Hey wow. Thanks for all the replies. You guys are funny haha. To answer jn1's question I am 18 years old, 6'4, 70kg? haven't checked in a while. I used to kitesurf but was a noob and could only go as far as turning on a board but no tricks. I am looking to join windsurfing because it seems safer and I think I would enjoy the fast pace and slashing up the waves. Is that true equipment Tardy? unlike what powersloshin said haha? Also, yes I have search engined all the equipment but it seems to vary, there are some pieces of equipment that I cant find on here that it says on other websites you need. Also do you guys think that windsurfing is better and in what way? (I know I am on a windsurfing forum, but would love to here your views).

Yep ,you will learn all the basics .on a 140- 160 board ,and a.5.5 6,0 will be ok .now we know your weight .

you will have to learn to uphaul .

i still uphaul all the time .even after 20 years of windsurfing .
welcome to a great sport .the speed of a windsurfer ,is like having free drinks all night .

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KitesurfNoob said..
Hey wow. Thanks for all the replies. You guys are funny haha. To answer jn1's question I am 18 years old, 6'4, 70kg? haven't checked in a while. I used to kitesurf but was a noob and could only go as far as turning on a board but no tricks. I am looking to join windsurfing because it seems safer and I think I would enjoy the fast pace and slashing up the waves. Is that true equipment Tardy? unlike what powersloshin said haha? Also, yes I have search engined all the equipment but it seems to vary, there are some pieces of equipment that I cant find on here that it says on other websites you need. Also do you guys think that windsurfing is better and in what way? (I know I am on a windsurfing forum, but would love to here your views).

Yep ,you will learn all the basics .on a 160 board ,and a.5.5 6,0 will be ok .now we know your weight .

you will have to learn to uphaul .

i still uphaul all the time .even after 20 years of windsurfing .
welcome to a great sport .the speed of a windsurfer ,is like having free drinks all night .

As i see it when wave riding, there's a delay while the kite gets into position means you have to plan ahead. Whereas windsurfing you can go for the lip as soon as it appears. If you put a sail on a sup you can be wave riding in lighter winds. I'm not familiar with your winds. But if you were in wa. I'd recommend not starting by up hauling. At your age and weight you could learn to beach and water start on a low wind wave board, 90 to 100 litres a board much bigger you'll find hard to throw around. And if funds are low you don't want to spend on something you could grow out of in a few months. Depends on what you want to do. If just blasting around when wind is light and there's no waves appeals then the bigger board would still be useful. And easier to learn on

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olskool said..
Hi KSN, i sail at golden beach. Have a bit of gear thats ok to learn on. Come for a spin sometime.

Cheers, might have to take you up on that olskool.
Ill check that out appleman thanks :)