You may ask yourself “Why are there so many different models of boards on the market ?” A relevant question with a relevant answer: Because there are an infinite variety of different wind strengths and water conditions that you can go windsurfing in.

Most boards are designed for specific conditions and it all may seem very confusing to you at the beginning with all of the selection that one has nowadays. Fortunately for everyone, there are clear categories for boards.

1) Beginner – Beginner boards are wide, stable boards that are forgiving of lack of balance and clumsiness associated with beginner problems. They generally come with dagger boards or center fins, and have soft EVA foam decks to protect the board from damage.  [Read more →]

Tags: Boards, For Beginners, Gear Advice, Windsurfing by EricD
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The harness is not something that the beginner thinks about right away, as it won’t be necessary in the first few “dips” in the water.

As you progress though, a harness will allow you to take the strain from your arms and shoulders and incorporate the rig into a “full body experience”. This means that you will use your body weight to transfer the energy of the wind into your whole rig.

There are a variety of harnesses on the market, each having a hook positioned at about waist height which lets you hang from the ‘harness line’.
 

        Seat Harness          Waist Harness      Women’s Harness       Kid’s Harness

The most popular windsurfing harnesses are waist harnesses and seat harnesses. Now, don’t be fooled by marketing; a harness is not a decoration, nor a fashion trend. It is a piece of equipment that touches your body, protects and envelops your back. There are also harnesses that are geared towards women on the market. A man’s harness will not necessarily properly fit a woman, they are simply shaped differently.

When you are ready for a harness, ask questions. Try every different style if you have to, but find the harness that is comfortable and fits your body type. Just because it’s cheap, doesn’t mean it’s good for you. This is one thing that you don’t want to scrimp on, as it will ensure your general comfort level and health of your back in the long run.

Tags: Accessories, For Beginners, Gear Advice, Windsurfing by tracy2rad
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The uphaul is the thick rope that is used to pull the sail out of the water.  It is often made from tubular webbing with elastic bungee cord in it to keep it out of the way (against the mast) when not in use.  

Whether you’re a seasoned sailor or a beginner, this small but important piece of equipment is either a thick knotted rope or length of slightly elasticized webbing used to pull up or ‘uphaul‘ the rig. In the beginning, you will use this to get the sail out of the water. As you progress, it will be useful to get you out of a tight spot if the wind dies and you need to get your sail out of the water in a pinch.

Tags: For Beginners, Gear Advice, Rigging Components, Windsurfing by tracy2rad
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Harness Lines are not something that a beginner will need right away until they are ready to purchase a harness (see harness description below). Harness lines are basically a loop of plastic-coated rope attached to the boom (one on each side).

They are available in a variety of fixed or adjustable lengths. Some adjustable harness lines can be cut down as you get better and some are fixed to adjust from one set length to another set length ex: 19”-24” (see pictures below). When you are ready to tackle the harness, we would suggest getting a set of long, adjustable harness lines that you can cut to begin with. This will give you a chance to learn getting in the harness with much more ease.

Here are some examples of different types of harness lines.

Tags: Accessories, For Beginners, Gear Advice, Windsurfing by tracy2rad
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Here is a section dedicated to helping you understand what a wetsuit is all about.

Neoprene: A closed cell rubber foam, lined on one or two sides with a jersey fabric. It is the lining that dictates the stretch within the suit. There are many names for the variations of superstretch fabric, but far less differences between them, each offering a similar level of stretch. However, bear in mind, the more stretch, the less durability. More durable neoprenes should be used in the knees and in some circumstances in the seat panel, where the need for durability out weighs the requirement for stretch. [Read more →]