Hey guys,
After wanting to get into the sport for at least 15 years, I finally went windsurfing with my mate in Perth earlier this year.

I'm a big guy (6' 100Kg) and consequently didn't get very far on his 78L board in patchy wind. A few days later I hired a beginners board -- one of the big fat blue ones -- and got stuck into it.

My mate advised me to get something around the 110L -- 120L range. And not to get something too beginner-ish because I would very quickly past the beginner level and want something a little better.

So, I have been looking around at second hand equipment, but I'm completely miffed at what would suit me.

I went in to RPS in Brighton and told the guy what I am after. He laughed and said, no way. You need a 170L beginner board. Oh, and I just happen to have one out the back. $2,500.

I can understand what he is saying. If I get a smaller board, my learning curve will be too slow and I'll lose interest in the sport. However. I do beleive that I will not be perterbed at this.

So, what I am wondering, is there anybody with some advice? Go for the big boat, or go for what my mate, who has seen me sail, advised?

I have thought about lessons too. But I did pay $360 for kite surfing lessons and they did nothing over 4 1/2 hours that I couldn't have taught myself in 1/2 an hour. On the third lesson, where I get to have a go on a board, I had 3 goes. I was getting the hang of standing up and going for a little bit. But then we had to stop because it was the end of the lesson.

I am totally confident that I will pick it up pretty quickly. I just need a board. And sail. And mast. And those other little bits that I know nothing about.

Another thought is hiring a board for a couple of hours or so. However, I am 5 mins from Altona beach. I am prepared to go to Brighton and hire a board, but if there is anyone close by that would let me have a turn on their board, and offer advice and what-not, that would be awesome.

And please, I am a newcomer so do tell me if I am out of line and totally wrong and that it would be good to buy the $2,500 177L Go from RPS.


Cheers

knot board said...

The guy at the store was correct, you should buy the 177L board and a Toyota Van to carry it around in.

You sarcastic barstard

Mintaro hire the gear untill you get better and have more understanding of the equipment.
$2500 pfffft thats alot of lessons man .For that money you could have a holiday in lancelin with hire gear for a cupla weeks and learn more than you would in 2 years in vico.

mate i reckon you should get a start or go or something similar. These boards are super easy to learn on, my mate got planing, in the footstraps and harness 3rd time out!
I dont reckon you will grow out of these boards as fast as a lot of people will tell you! I have re-discovered the fun you can have on these boards even as relatively experienced sailor. The go well in light winds and get moving when the wind picks up, even jumped (this will scare the s@#t out of you).

Mintaro,

My recommendation...buy your weight plus 40L to start with, which will become your light wind board. Easy to uphaul, and easy to get planing. When you have improved, you will then want to get something about 30 litres smaller for stronger wind.

Regards,
Harrow.

If you can, I would suggest you demo a couple of boards for a day and see how you get on, but you'll probably need more than an hour or 2 cos you're likely to struggle to start with on anything <170L. Grand Fromage demo'd a JP Funster 160L at the weekend and as a result has decided to go for a GO 144L (unless he's changed his mind since ). Again he struggled to start with but was pootling along in the direction he wanted by the end of the day.

As has already been said, there is a hell of a lot to be said for paying for a couple of hours tuition; as soon as you can get to the point where the board is moving forwards (as opposed to drifting sideways), to a certain extent the volume becomes less of an issue. It doesn't take that much forward movement for a board that is knee depth under the water when you uphaul to be on the surface when it is moving. Not that I am suggesting you getting anything that small!

Man, you guys are rockin' my world right now. And pretty much re-affirming what my mate in WA has said.

I'll see if anything is available tomorrow to hire -- being Melbourne cup day and all of that stuff.

On my second go of a sailboard, the big blue tanker, I was sailing along pretty well. Turning around and going back the other way without falling off too many times. And going upwind too. Albeit slightly. On a couple of the gusts I got a glimpse of what it would be like in stronger wind. But those moments only lasted for a few seconds. Then the wind dropped again.

I can't wait to have my own board and go sailing! I just want to make sure that I chose well. Usually I just jump into things, but I reckon that I'll be pretty serious getting into sailing. So I want to make good decisions.

Thanks again for all of your words of advice. Very much appreciated.

Wanted, Victorian Windsurfing Enthusiast.

Your Mission: To help me introduce Scott to the sport. Take him for a ride on your gear. I did. He's a fast learner and good bloke.

Ask for his number and give him a buzz and get him on the edge. This guys going to be the next Bjorn Dunkerbek I'm sure.

Imagine saying you introduced Bjorn Dunkerbek to windsurfing.

I'm in WA otherwise I would be of better help.

Go said...

Mintaro - I am 115 kg heavy, 195 cm tall, I recently bought Go 166 Ltr and I am going to sail regularly in Altona. Not too many windsurfers on this side of Melbourne, strange as Altona is really good. If you are interested, email me and we could meet one day on the beach. My opinion is: don't buy any board yet, rent for some time. I wouldn't definitely buy any board smaller than 140 ltr, or say 130. One more thing: buy Go - this is most popular board in the world, probably the best board at your stage of skills and you will be always able to sell it for a good price in future.

Good onya Go,

Only new to the forum and already sharing the knowledge.

Keep it up, if I get a chance to go for a sail this side of Melb, I'll look you up, hope both you, and Mintaro enjoy the learning experience as I am.....2yrs in, attempting (small) jumps, probably could've progressed quicker, but enjoy the flatwater too much!

Grandfromage,
Great to hear you decided on the Go.
You can demo Starboard boards (and MauiSails) at Glascraft in SA, we can also help you out with instruction, tips and advice.
I'm out of the water for the next few months after surgery, but happy to give you any pointers etc to get you progressing.

Cheers,
Muzza