Like many, I have been windsurfing mostly on and sometimes off since the early '80s. in the last couple of years, age has started being more of a factor in keeping going. I have been placed on a common med. recently that have a side effect of promoting muscle aches - just what is needed in a physically demanding sport! I was given the good news(not) that I have arthritis in my feet a few years ago - they can hurt like hell after sailing. I am confident that keeping on going has been a big factor in general wellbeing and I really can not imaging the day when I would hang up the boots forever - though at some point this is out of all our hands. I might be encouraging or give encouragement to hear what others are dealing with to keep on a board - with a foil in my case.
71.
Feet kill me after foiling, not so bad after powered up windsurfing and a couple dozen jumps.
Around 95 days combined this year, maybe 15-20 on foil.
This weekend, 4.2, 4.7, and 4.2 on different 85 liter boards.
Why the Bold letters? I don't know.
Yesterday, 2 sets of tennis and powered 5.0 with over 20 decent jumps and that many waste of time little ones.
Medial collateral hurting after foiling, as does one ankle.
Probably only a few years left, so milking it to the end as long as I can still ride 85 liter boards and don't fall in.
Well free ride foiling is the least taxing option if you stick to sailing in the 12-15 knt range,
keep pushing on and you will have a healthier longer life
dr TK
NB- get some sun glasses and move to a warmer climate (North QLD) that will help too 
Whether it's size, skill, gear, spot, conditions, technique, or age, isn't it all still a matter of perspective? Knowledge can sometimes set limits that otherwise would not exist.
I'm only 62, started in the early 80's. My body is a bit knocked around from motorbikes, basketball and windsurfing, my knees and ankles get sore jumping and in big chop. Speed sailing in the smooth has provided some excitement with less impact. And of course foiling is smooth as.
Just about to turn 60 and have some serious probs with shoulders and back. Got the knees fixed awhile back, fingers crossed. Have been playing or doing sport since I was 7 and body is wearing out, part of life. Footy has been the main culprit.
But what ever you do, dont stop!!!!!!!! Find something you can do to keep active. SUP is great as is walking and biking.
As for windsurfing, flat water blasting is so much fun. Miss the waves but what can you do.
Just keep active and learn to know how to avoid the pain.
Bad backs from old sports injuries seems to be pretty common complaint. I know someone else whose knees have exploded basically but they still turn up whenever the wind blows. One thing I notice is that windsurfing is easier while I am also bike riding - they seem to compliment each other in some way.
In my 60th year, foiling is great 
- so lucky it has come along, way less brutal than slalom etc - and love my Windtech boards for same reason - have come to accept that I just don't recover the way I used to - everything aches all the time now, that is aging for you 
- all about finding the right balance, doing but not overdoing, I'm on the water most days and still pushing, but no shame in rest days if the mood ain't right! Goal is another 20 years!
At what age do you start to lose top speed?
I know gybing speed is reduced as you get old bit not so sure about speed.
I'm noticing I'm less gungho, and more conscious that injuries take longer to heal. So I take less risks, don't push the boundaries as much, as I used to. Not sure how much that affects my speed on flat water, but it certainly slows me down in chop.
All I'll say is, thank medical science for antiflamitory and analgesic drugs
.
Use it or loose it is my moto.
It sucks but for me I'm just respecting my injuries (broken pelvis, torn ACL/MCL, surgically repaired shoulder, a couple of hernias) and using more judgement and caution. If it's super windy I'll go out but only if I can find flat water, preferably shallow. I'll ride too big a board often because if one of my injuries perks up, or my heart condition kicks in I may not be able to waterstart a small one. I'll use a bigger sail than most because in the first place I weigh 100kg and in the second place because pumping can bring on the heart condition. Foiling has been a godsend because the chop doesn't wear me out, but I'm very damn cautious about trying to foil a jibe and I'll be on a 7.0 when lighter, younger guys are on 4.7. The last time I went out in real surf was 1993 (that was when the broken pelvis happened, and it took years before I could go back on the water at all, so I'm grateful for every hour I can still sail now.)
Age 72. Foiling my brains out. A friend, age 73, finning his brains out.
Yes, injuries take longer to heal. However, water sport injuries are preferable to getting fat.
Longer to heal, so 3 hard days in a row is not adviseable.
For me, sessions max out at 1.5 hours. Foiling closer to one hour as the constant small adjustments work my knees, ankles, and feet much harder than a jump day with 85 liters and 4.7 sails.
I try to sail every other day, but it's hard to take a day off when the winds top 23 in the summer. Off season is coming in Nov. so I can rest then.
Awalkspoiled - it is inspirational that you are keeping it going. Man that is quite a story look after yourself, keep doing it if you can safely.
Select to expand quoteCaptFathom said..
Like many, I have been windsurfing mostly on and sometimes off since the early '80s. in the last couple of years, age has started being more of a factor in keeping going. I have been placed on a common med. recently that have a side effect of promoting muscle aches - just what is needed in a physically demanding sport! I was given the good news(not) that I have arthritis in my feet a few years ago - they can hurt like hell after sailing. I am confident that keeping on going has been a big factor in general wellbeing and I really can not imaging the day when I would hang up the boots forever - though at some point this is out of all our hands. I might be encouraging or give encouragement to hear what others are dealing with to keep on a board - with a foil in my case.
If chronic injury or disability resulting in me not being able to WS , then I am going get one of these
www.hobie.com/kayaks/mirage-adventure-island/
The wind doesn't know what age you are so it doesn't matter so long as you respect your abilities and fitness. The catch 22 is that you lose the fitness if you don't do it.
About to turn 60 and probably less injuries than some of you guys.
I see a chiro regularly and I do a regime of exercises to keep aches at bay.
If I can get out at least once a week , preferably more I handle things ok. I get some aches but generally a painkiller the night after and doing my stretches keeps things ok.
I try to keep fit with bushwalking , cycling and kayaking.
I find once I stop sailing for a while ( injury etc) all the little aches and pains start to surface and I can get to the stage where my old ankle break plays up and I'm worried about standing or walking..
Chiro says the more windsurfing the better and I certainly find it so..
I've gone to more user friendly Windtechs for the chop and I'm having a ball trying to get as good as I can and getting back into B &J. The more sailing I get the younger I feel..
I add copious amounts of turmeric powder to anything i cook. Sometimes i buy the herb fresh from Spudshed and grate it down before cooking.
A soup of 10 or more different herbs works best. It tastes like medicine not comfort food though
These things work for localised pain - not sure how. You can get them online. I was directed towards them some time ago(I was very sceptical) - they don't cure anything but do almost immediately take the pain away. I use them instead of popping too many anti-inflammatories. I think they fall into the same alternative category as Tumeric. I have no affiliation with the product :)
Select to expand quoteCaptFathom said..
These things work for localised pain - not sure how. You can get them online. I was directed towards them some time ago(I was very sceptical) - they don't cure anything but do almost immediately take the pain away. I use them instead of popping too many anti-inflammatories. I think they fall into the same alternative category as Tumeric. I have no affiliation with the product :)
Look up Methyl Salicylate. It's Oil of Wintergreen when produced naturally and can also be synthesized. It does provide immediate relief as a counterirritant (like Capsaicin or Menthol) but in the body it metabolizes into Salicylic Acid - also known as aspirin - which is an NSAID. So you're getting some of the benefits of Bengay or Tiger Balm, but also you're getting Aspirin right where the inflammation is.
Age 67, windsurfing since age 28. Can't do marathon sessions as I did 30 years ago, 4 hours non-stop in the Gorge. Now need a break on flat water after 1.5 hours. Plenty of joint repairs over the years from other sports, which don't bother me while sailing. What I have noticed recently is pain/arthritis in my right hand and finger joints, which is reducing my grip strength. Maybe related to more sailing recently, farm work including pruning, weeding etc, PC mouse and keyboard. Probably need to increase reliance on harness. Any thoughts? Do creams work?
I hope I've got another 20 years of sailing. Got to nail that foiling jibe
Favorite new motto: "We don't slow down because we age.....we age because we slow down." Keep moving.
Select to expand quoteCaptFathom said..
Like many, I have been windsurfing mostly on and sometimes off since the early '80s. in the last couple of years, age has started being more of a factor in keeping going. I have been placed on a common med. recently that have a side effect of promoting muscle aches - just what is needed in a physically demanding sport! I was given the good news(not) that I have arthritis in my feet a few years ago - they can hurt like hell after sailing. I am confident that keeping on going has been a big factor in general wellbeing and I really can not imaging the day when I would hang up the boots forever - though at some point this is out of all our hands. I might be encouraging or give encouragement to hear what others are dealing with to keep on a board - with a foil in my case.
Who for out though CaptFathom? Noticed your a Taswegian.
Select to expand quoteJohn340 said..
All I'll say is, thank medical science for antiflamitory and analgesic drugs.
Use it or loose it is my moto.
Yeah , and I'm losing it , no wind , + 3kg winter plumage.
Select to expand quoteImax1 said..John340 said..
All I'll say is, thank medical science for antiflamitory and analgesic drugs.
Use it or loose it is my moto.
Yeah , and I'm losing it , no wind , + 3kg winter plumage.
It's looking OK over the next 3 days
Select to expand quotesegler said..
It's better to be a has-been than a never-was.
"It's better to burn out than fade away"
said the bible or was it Ghandi ?
............
It was the bad guy in Highlander.
Awalkspoiled - thanks for that info, I am pleased to know there is a scientific reasons for those things working so well(instant). Voltaren gel works well too and bye-passes the digestive system where it can be harsh. I have utmost respect for anyone keeping on sailing into their 70s - quite an achievement.
(Karen - we re-met at Dorans sometime last year. Currently overseas in Asia for another year or two).
I'm 50, and in the last 5 years have acquired lots of minor and major niggles. Knees, shoulder and back.
Firstly, keep moving. Doesn't have to be much, but something. Even if you're injured and off water, go find a physio and ask them what you need to do to get back on the water. Listen to what they say. Then do it! This is likely to mean a religious daily/weekly set of exercises but after months off water, you will be thankful for the recovery. If you don't do it, then you compromise your ability to get back to where you were.
Secondly, stop believing you're in your mid 20's when you're double that age, and still trying to do stuff that compromises your body if there's an accident. Set realistic expectations of what your body can do. Listen to it.
Also, I think major muscle groups such as core, legs and shoulders need to be kept in as good a condition as possible. They're the ones that do the majority of the sailing work. Look after them and they'll serve you well.
Go see a massage therapist. Get them to bust up all those knotted muscles and realign your body. It hurts but it's good pain.
After chatting with a few physios, I've got a routine. And importantly, it works.
10-20 mins of leg stretching a day - usually in front of the tele watching the news.
4 sessions of 5 min shoulder exercises a week.
Core strength a few times a week. Massage therapist once a month. Who knows how much more time this is getting me on water, but it's gotta be helping.
