Carrying on from a previous thread I am seeking advice on Kids rigs and a suitable board. The aim is to get them going with some proper lessons (they have both become very keen to learn lately) and then have the kit for them to regularly use.
Firstly - Rigs:
To use by 7yo(23kg) and 9yo(32kg) as first steps into windsurfing on a large board in very light winds. The previous threads have talked about 2.0 to 4.5m sails – any suggestions on what size would be best for kids to learn and also continually progress on. Or is it better to get ultra-light/small kids rig with view to changing quite soon? I have no idea what would be a suitable rig, or for when they get more confident/competent.
Just to throw a spanner in the works – would also appreciate thoughts on rig to teach wife (~55kgs – don’t let her know I said this please
) – should she use a 5m wave sail or use the above as well?
Secondly – Boards:
I have been thinking about a large GO or Rio, but Chris249’s comments, about using a long board that goes upwind easily in very little wind, in the other thread make a lot of sense. So maybe a lightish(?) long board with a centreboard would be good – are there any SUP’s with a dagger or kick-up centreboard, or just the screw in the bottom fins? That way we could venture into very light wind waves, maybe use it as a malibu board surfing, as a SUP and also just to muck around with. Could be a great all-round family toy. I suppose the question would be width and stability as well but with the kids that shouldn’t be a problem.
Thoughts and suggestions would be greatly appreciated. Oh and very importantly where can I find a shop that sells this kit in Perth, or online.
for board the new goya surf training board would be ideal, it is wide and very floaty, lots of positions for foot straps and its all soft top with extra padding in high impact zones, than sticking with maui brands the hotsails maui micro freak or micro fire/SO, very good sails come with boom mast extentions etc and very strong and stable, easy to rigg and they go very small. somthing like from 0.8mtres. so perfect for 23kg kids plus you can use the goya surf to SUP on and take into small waves in winter(with a sale)
Thanks Jordo - Hot Sails micros look great - do you know who stocks them?
Not sure about the Goya surf trainer though - have you used it? Seems a little wider than I was thinking, though I do need to get used to wider modern shapes - I've never been on a board wider than ~70cm. How is it in very light upwind stuff, and suping?
I'd buy the NEWEST, COOLEST, MOST EXPENSIVE wave and slalom kit available. If the family didn't like it, I'd just use it myself.
I hope this has been of some help.
