I wonder where most of the mark-up is in WS retail? When I was a kid my old man ran a scuba diving (summer) and snow ski (winter) shop; I helped out in it -- from what I recall, big stuff like aqualungs, buoyancy compensators, regs, skis, boots,had little mark up, all the money was in masks, fins, gloves, watches, hats, poles, you name it. Is it like that in WS? -- i.e. all the money in harnesses, fins, foot straps, spare parts, mast bases, extensions, etc.?
Also, agree with above regarding patience pays
Select to expand quoteScoob said..
I have bought a lot of gear over the years and I am amazed by how little I have spent.
Getting started, I thought was costly, however ..... As I progressed I had no trouble selling gear and up grading. The cost of changeover is surprisingly low. There is a very liquid market for SH gear.
My one tip would be, select and commit to a matching brand of mast and sail. A mast brand that matches to a sail brand covering multiple disciplines, is marketing genius and very cheap, long term.
I hear Turnbull's cabinet is considering a Medicare Levy rebate on windsurfing expenditure, in next (election) budget. Therapuetic goods, it all makes sense and I'm voting for it.
Commit and persist, you will be rewarded. It's proving to be way cheaper than my alternatives.
The Turnbull Government also wants to privatise Medicare, and charge for vital health tests.
Imagine the rise in medicare levy once it is run by corporations for profit???
I think the rise would far outweigh the little carrot they are dangling(rebate on therapeutic goods) it would be a minimal rebate anyway.
Just another con by the people we trust to run our country. 
Select to expand quoteSteadyshane said..
If they could even keep the prices of gear a little more realistic the sport would get more people involved and then everyone will do better business sorry for beating the dead horse
Manufactures & retailers have sold & made cost effective learners kit in the past but it doesn't mean there has been a huge uptake of people taking up windsurfing.
In fact most retailers want the learners kit back and are willing to offer a more than reasonable trade in price to upgrade to better gear but once again no great increase in the windsurfing population.
Windsurfing is no longer a mainstream sport ,its more boutique,those that do it love it,those that don't are missing out,their loss.
If you get to know your local retailer you will find that they will look after you and RRP won't mean anything to you.
I find it amazing that people in Australia don't think twice about spending 1 Million $+ on a ****box (aka something supposed to be a house) but then are surprised when consumer products are priced to match.BTW I remember a 1986 Mistral board costing $3,500 in Germany. The joke used to be that Mistral is a brand for dentists because no on else could afford them. Most other brands would be about $1200 semi at the end of the season. Semi meaning no fin, straps, mast base (remember? In those days each board had it's own mast base system). So about $1400 complete... The average income in 1986 was $21268 ... average income today is $80158. So in real terms prices of windsurf boards seem to have actually come down.
