Having done very little windsurfing for the last 12 months I've really got back in to it in the last month or so, helped by spending too much on new gear!

Being on my 104 exocet cross and 6m fusion during a couple of sessions on botany bay and catching a bit of chop it made me think the whole wave sailing thing would be fun to have a crack at, but no idea where to start or whether I'm anywhere near good enough to even consider it.

So any tips from people who have 'been there and done that'? What do I need to know? Where is a good place to start off? Could I get away with small waves on the cross+fusion?

I've just started getting into the waves myself over the last few months. I'm not sure what your new board is like but I'd say what ever board you're using it's going to take a hell of a beating. You might want to get a 100 litreish freestyle wave type board that's been around a while. It won't take long to crack the nose in your new board.

Another thing I picked up on recently is how much you need to push and pull your board around with your legs when sub planning - this made a big difference to me. Particularly pushing the nose of the board down wind with your front leg while pulling the board in with your back leg. It sounds simple and I don't know why I didn't think of it (I get a lot of good advice from mates)but it's made a big difference to me.

I bought a NP bouyancy vest which has been really good. It helps preserve your energy because if your like me and not jibing too well you will be doing a lot of water starting. The vests are great and I wish I bought one sooner. I can waterstart without one but they make it way easier.

Getting into waves myself. Biggest things that helped so far were:
Practicing quick waterstarts, and if you can fall and keep the rig flying so you can water start straight away.
Get as fit as you can - you use heaps more energy - particularly if you spend most of a session swimming (and you will at some point).

As for the wavesailing technique:
I have learned to get out through the waves and over whitewater, feel reasonably comfortable ducking the rig sitting on the sail (tip of sail into wave) and going through the rinse cycle.

Can't comment on actually riding waves yet as I seem to spend most of the time riding amongst them Awesome fun in any case.

!st tip I can think of, is to try and fall off with the mast pointing into the waves not the beach. If it is pointing at the beach get it out of the water as quick as possible. A wave hitting your rig will drive the mast into the bottom, potentially a mast snapping scenario.
If wiped out in the impact zone, I like to have the board pointed at the shore with the rig behind under water.
I'm at the back of the board hanging on to the back strap with one hand and pushing the boom as far under water as I can.
With any luck the wave then washes over you, keep hold of the back strap, that's stopping the board turning over, and you getting washed onto the fin.
Stay in this position until the set has gone, then water start and get out of there.
This works for me up to head high waves, not sure what you do when it gets much bigger.

This could be a useful thread, but should be put in wave section.

We could share newbie experience and seek technique advice ;)