First of hi to all here in this forum!!
Ive decided just lately to try my hand at windsurfing, i currently surf but have been looking for something to keep the salt on my face when the winds onshore!..
So recently ive purchased the mags, trolled the internet, watched youtube to gather information to help. Now im aware obviously bigger boards to start are quicker to learn on and prob less frustrating when starting out.
But i have a question, while i will have a few lessons, i have in possesion a 2005 starboard CARVE 258x60 99 litres. Im 95kg and will be mainly starting on sandbars or places where shallow. The question is , while i know it would be much harder to learn on, IS IT POSSIBLE? or am i dreaming!!!!!
Any help from you guys would be great!!and muchly appreciated.
Look forward to posting and getting to know you guys!!!
thx
Try borrowing at least a 140L board for start, when you get used to riding hooked in in harness and recommended riding in footstraps as well as knowing how to waterstart since you won't be able to uphaul much with 95kg on 99L board.
With a larger board you'll learn the basics much faster and will be able to switch to 100L board soon and struggle riding it much less....
Thx sideskirt for advice, i think lessons on a bigger board will be the sensible option.
anyone know best place to take lessons in perth?
Ive searched the internet and know of a couple but would love to hear from someone who's been down that road, recommendation counts for alot!!!
It's possible, but very painful (Excellent freeride board though). I think if you had an experienced mate help you on a good day with lots of shallow water you could make some good progress.
I kind of learnt waterstarts the same way when I inherited my brothers Tyronsea Stinger (sinker board) at 16. He gave me some tips one day then it took me a summer of frustration until I got it down pat. I kind of enjoyed it, but I got sick of the Life Saving boat coming to see if I was ok while attempting my next waterstart.
Best option is to follow Sideskirts advice.
Thje carve is an excellent board but not for you for quite some time. Maybe trade it in on something more suitable, but first start with some lessons to get you over stage 1. then you can buy a stage 2 board.
Lessons- 2nd wind have a good beginners series that gets you up and going in two sessions, I've heard windforce at Pelican Point are good but I have no experience with them.
Yeah, probably you could use some lessons to get going then maybe try a 130L board, that could be a keeper for lighter days and eventually learn on a smaller for stronger days.... take it step by step....
I made a mistake buying an old 130L 59cm wide slalom board (mistral explosion 2001), while still learning.... lost great deal of time learning how to plane and learning how to tack, get in footstrap.... now I find it a gread board for using a 7.0m or larger sail, but definately not a beginner board...I used it for 3 months and then I tried a 113L fanatic eagle which I found easier since it's width (66cm) and I bought it 1 week after trying it out.
A lot of friends also use arround 150L boards for light days, and they bought them when they started (some are about your weight), so also a 150L board could be a great value for a long time...
Interesting comment about the Mistral Explosion. When I lived down in the Illawarra a couple of my mates bought Explosions. At the time I was dismissive of them. Too wide, too much volume, too short, a board for fat lazy windsurfers, stupid idea.
However now I think the designer was ahead of his time or perhaps I've become a fat lazy windsurfer.
Back on topic. Definitely learn on a big board, something that resembles an aircraft carrier's flight deck is good to learn on. Otherwise your initial windsurf experiences will be more of constantly falling in rather than windsurfing. If you can visit a windsurf school that has a fleet of carriers available then you are in luck!
I have a Tabou Rocket 140 which I really like. Its not the fastest board in the world but its very comfortable and easy to gybe and tack. Very few vices. I had it out on Sunday in quite choppy and swelly water with the wind up to about 25 knots. It was bouncing around but still under control. It was great fun.
I never thought of a 295cm long and 59cm wide board as a short and fat :)
This is an old Explosion not the newer short wide version of it, the new one would be my light wind choice definately :)
just a confirmation of what everyone is saying - with a few more numbers...
i also run between 95 and 100 kilos
started windsurfing on a lake with a longboard ie 220 liters with centre-board
my first shortboard was 160 liters and 79 cm wide
i had some older 7.0 sails, but purchased an 8.5 sail
wanted to get out no matter what, so, actually purchased a 10-oh last year
after three(3) years on this board I purchased an older 124 liter board
this board is supposed to handle my 8.5, butt we will see ...
all this to say - my 3rd and hi-wind board would be around 100 to 105 liters
original poster is jumping two(2) steps in my mind
IF you intend to go in lighter winds, bigger boards are better ie 150+ for 95 kilos
also, the newer boards are wider - anything around 80 cm is GREAT
you wanna see the latest movements ?
check out the JP SuperLightWind and also Tinho Dornellas of calema.com is making custom boards for heavyweights to plane earlier
= these are 90 cm boards and NOT considered Formula :-)
One thing you could do is use your board with the fin out on a beach with clean sand.
You need at least 20 knots of fairly steady wind. Then its a case of learning to hold the boom and control the power of the sail to slowly lower yourself to the ground and slowly raise yourself back up again.
That will take time, but you start by just leaning out a bit and using the sail to hold your weight. then you gradually lean out further and further ( you are allowed to use a sit-down stance as necessary).
When you can lower and raise yourself slowly with just the sail power, that would be a big help to learning the waterstart.
I'm 100kg, I've got a great idea, you being a surfer why not get a sailable SUP style of board around the 200 litre mark? I guess you would be itching to sail the surf also?
First board that comes to mind is the Mistral Pacifico/Wave. Learn the basics on flatwater and as you get your skills up with using a harness and footstraps (removeable on Pacifico) you can consider your next move but still keep the board for light wind and small surf duties. If you feel like it use it as a SUP. Family and friends will love ya.
Being a long wide board will make learning hell of a lot easier and you won't need to sell the board as you advance through. When you feel you are ready use the Carve but I think, from experience, you won't be doing that for a long time eg. 2 seasons minimum depending how much time you have on water (TOW).
With your/our weight the Carve will sink if you don't have enough wind or sail area eg. 18 knots + 7.5 sail +, it will be frustrating and guaranteed you will quit the idea if your skills aren't up to scratch. But the 7.5 sail will be useable on the big board in anything from 12-20 knots. However, you will need a smaller sail to learn with, I recommend a 5.5-6.0 as your first sail which is more than adequate even in light winds. But you will not outgrow this sail either, if it is a Freeride or Wave sail you can use it in light winds with the big board to wave sail.
After all that said I still would recommend you have lessons. Learn technique rather than discover it and it will make your progress so much easier and fun. And that's what this sport is all about, having fun.
Yup.
People tend to rush at teh water, without learning any sail control first. Learn sail control, and the board size matters a whole lot less.
I think it's possible to learn on the size board you have in mind, but I agree it's not ideal.
It's possible I'll win Lotto this week too, but I'm gonna keep working anyway, it's a more reliable approach.
Possibly the worst approach to learning windsurfing is to use the gear that comes to hand, rather than selecting the right gear for the job.
Oh yeah, and apparently you will need longer lines.
While I endorse what every body else is saying a bigger boards being easier.
If you have a surfing background, aren't interested in uphauling, (get lots of wind when the waves are around, so don't need to uphaul). you can learn on a sinker, with help in the right conditions.
I taught a young guy this way several years ago now. he was trying to gybe after a couple of weeks, had snapped a couple of old boards trying to jump them after a month or so.
But he was a natural, quickest to learn I've ever seen.
I started on the beach, in medium winds, got him to hang off the boom, (both sides) to learn sail control.
Then again on the beach lying alongside the board, getting the rig to pull him up.
Then in the water in the water start position, learning board and sail control. Not trying to water start, but keeping the board in a 90deg to the wind position, again both directions.
Once this was mastered then in light to moderate winds pulling the board underneath him with back foot while pushing sail up as high as possible, still keeping the board tracking in the right direction. Wasn't long before he was up and sailing.
It's mainly about having the right size rig for the wind strength, to suit ability and stage of learning.
Not enough power in rig, or too much will slow the learning process.
Although much harder and more frustrating learning this way it can be much faster, if you have the right temprement
You have a hell time where all you do is look a fool, get slammed left right and center, then suddenly it clicks.
But even this way it would be easier on something 110 to 120 liters. You could make this your low wind wave board, so it needn't go astray.
The other thing to think about is a SUP with mast base, that could be an ultra low wind wave board, and be very easy to learn on. And if your going out in very light winds, then learning to uphaul won't go astray either.
