Hey guys,
I'm really keen to learn to windsurf. I've got a good mate who kites and tells me if need specific boards and sails erc.
I live in Mandurah and would be keen to get out and learn with somebody who enjoys giving tips and teaching. However, I need to buy all my gear.
I'm 125kgs and 177cms tall.
Any help and advise would be really cool.
Select to expand quotejbgough said..
Hey guys,
I'm really keen to learn to windsurf. I've got a good mate who kites and tells me if need specific boards and sails erc.
I live in Mandurah and would be keen to get out and learn with somebody who enjoys giving tips and teaching. However, I need to buy all my gear.
I'm 125kgs and 177cms tall.
Any help and advise would be really cool.
Gday jbgough. Today I dropped into WSP near Leach Hwy and they showed me these new inflatable JP boards which can be used for learning to windsurf and also for SUP. Might be ideal for your needs. Lots of fun regardless of the weather and they will have good resale. I'm sure they are stocked other places too.
Select to expand quotejbgough said..
Hey guys,
I'm really keen to learn to windsurf. I've got a good mate who kites and tells me if need specific boards and sails erc.
I live in Mandurah and would be keen to get out and learn with somebody who enjoys giving tips and teaching. However, I need to buy all my gear.
I'm 125kgs and 177cms tall.
Any help and advise would be really cool.
Hi Jbgough
I am also a beginner in Queensland - I have been going for a year now and am totally addicted - as an absolute beginner I started on a Mistral Pacifico a Sup sail board 220L. Awesome, I really like to sup as well and figured if I didn't get windsurfing together then I have a sup board I can paddle. It is still my go to board to have fun.
There are a few who would like to get me off it but it is fun so I am sticking with it for the moment - in fact a local shop has leant me a board to try which should have the same characteristics as the Pacifico - it is a massive board something like 165L similar to a long board its called a starboard long tail. I will hopefully have some pics and a begginers report on that board over the next couple of days on my blog.
My oldest son is around your weight and he also likes to go to the Pacifico for its stability. There are some really nice Starboard sups that can get some pace up - depending on your budget.
The sport not only is a lot of fun but very good for fitness - which we bigger guys need. Better to the gym because you just want to keep going back and back and back into the water.
If you are interested you can have a look at my blog 'windsurfing leaning curve' in the Queensland posts - I have put most of my journey down. There might be some stuff in there that may help you with your journey. I just told it like it was.
Have fun and enjoy this great sport. Also the windsurfing community seem to be very friendly and happy to help so go to your local areas and have a chat to some of the guys there.
Cheers
Morgan
Gday mate. I'll go check it out. I've got maybe $1000 to spend on startup gear so would be keen to get out this season. I'd like to know if anyone has a full set up that would be suitable I could buy. Makes it easier I think with no real knowledge of gear . cheers
Don't rush out and blow your $1000
Some research....especially as a larger sized sailor 
Read Morgan's blog as mentioned above - it contains some very hard won information
Plus ....Average joe windsurf blog
joewindsurfer.blogspot.com/p/how-you-can-start-windsurfing.html?m=1
Plus his article on heavyweight sailors
joewindsurfer.blogspot.com.au/2011/06/heavyweights-and-windsurfing.html?m=1
With your budget you are looking at secondhand gear. Be very careful and get some advice. Post what you are looking at here first if you don't have access to an experienced windsurfer
Not sure what you have access to but you will find some lessons on hire gear an invaluable start that will save you much money in the long and short haul
Cheers Jeff
Only 3 seasons in myself plus a larger lad
Yeah buddy go for it :)make sure you start with really good conditions try to aim for smooth water open spaces and gentle 10 knot breeze learn on a float big wide board and say a decent 5 mtr size sail any questions ask me on SupWindsurf page on facebook I don't get on here much as everyone is an expert?:(
oops I ment 265L It is a starboard Rio Longtail - just heading out now to have a go
What do people think of this for jbgough..?
www.seabreeze.com.au/Classifieds/Windsurfing-Boards/~th7ex/Starboard-Start-200-litres.aspx?search=MsVd7Fn$$IqRBEqJrLYVwY9Kxgs6DYq8
Some of the sails look a bit past their use by date...?
jbgough, the best bit of that gear is the Start board. That would literally be a good start for you, but the other 100l will be useless for a beginner at 125kgs for a long time yet. The remainder of the rig looks quite old school, but they may be made to work ok initially. Ideally, if the seller is willing to split it to just the Start board, a mast and boom plus a couple sails, that would be better.
Do you have room for this much gear? The Start board itself is quite large.
If you would like, I don't mind going with you to have a look. I don't mind spending some time in the water with you (at Melville though as Mandurah is too far for me).
Have you had any lessons? If not, you really should start with some basic lesson (2nd Wind at Melville is good for this)!
If you've had lessons, a good alternative would be to spend some time at Pelican Point, and hire out their beginner gear. The cost is minimal and they hire out the Start board so you get a feel for it.
I am too far away from Perth to be of any assistant. However, I just want to comment on the willingness of experienced windsurfers being prepared to help out beginners.
I recall I was in a similar situation years ago when I wanted to learn how to windsurf. Being a compulsive character, and I did have a few extra dollars floating around in my pocket, I walked into a shop and asked to buy a windsurfer.
"So what kind of board would you like?" Asked the owner.
I pointed to the smallest one with techno colours plastered all over it. Why the smallest? Because I thought a small board is easier to learn on !!
The owner was a very nice person and a good windsurfer too. He asked me if I had ever sailed one. The answer was "NO". A little shocked, he advised me to take a few lessons first to suss out what I need. "Besides", he added very diplomatically, that "smaller boards are for 'advanced' sailors."
My answer was: "I want one now."
Would anyone believe me? He refused to sell. Yes, he refused.
Anyway, he worked out a way to make a transaction as well as satisfied his own conscience. Yes, "conscience". The deal was that he will sell me a bland new board that resembled more of a floating dance floor. It was ugly...not the cool object of desire I can instantly attracted to. No techno colours. No gently curved rails, but a sea of whiteness, like a floating bathtub! Above all, it weighed a lot.
Anyway, he took me out "only" on days when it was calm, and I did a few lessons. He actually refused to be paid for the lessons as well ! To satisfy my own conscience, I took him out to a fast-food joint for lunch.
Well, to this day, I still am grateful to that perfect gentleman of a windsurfer. Like I said, you do find such good characters in the windsurfing scene. I always take my business to him since then.
If you can face a weekend in Perth,jb, come up and do our beginners course.
After the 8 hours, you'll have with enough ability & knowledge to be able to make informed decisions.
Cheers
Jez www.facebook.com/2ndwindsailboards
My advice is to get lessons through a windsurfing shop. If you don't you'll more then likely get frustrated and simply give up
