Help on getting my own Board & Rig

[<song>]

Hi all... I’ve been windsurfing in PA for a about a year now and have always been using the club's 5m sails and prodigy boards. I'm looking
to purchase a 2nd hand board and rig but a couple of things have been holding me back e.g. not sure what to buy, no idea how to rig up (the club boards/sails are really different from the personal ones... No harness, foot straps, etc). Am really interested in this sport but finding it hard to a take a leap into getting my own equipment and knowing how to use them properly.

Some info on myself: I’m 55kg and 1.66m tall and been windsufing quite regularly for a year. However always on the PA prodigies with a 5m sail. I can do basic stuff like jibing and tacking but not too smooth at it still.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated! =)

[P.J.]

Hi Song

You could read-up under techniques section. There are a few write-up that will familiarize you with modern days equipments.

Then approach someone at the beach, I belive most windsurfers are very approachable.

[<song>]

Hi thanks for the reply =)

I have looked through the techniques section, however as I started off my research looking
for the right board before proceeding to the rig, and since the techniques section doesn't
seem to have a guide on boards... I started doing a little reading on the different styles
of windsurfing and their appropriate boards. The following are my findings. Pls lemme noe at any point where you think I am wrong =)

The following are the different types of boards available and my opinions of them as a potential one to buy:

1. Freeride: One of the boards I would like to consider. A recreational short board with both
ease of use and maneuverability.

2. Formula: One of the boards I would like to consider too. Heard it is designed for planing
in light wind conditions and its wide and thus should be quite stable? But I heard its maneuverability is not as good as Freerides?

3. Wave: I don't supposed its feasible to do this kind of windsurfing in Singapore's weather? Unless in a thunder storm? =P

4. Freestyle: I'm looking to plane not exactly freestyle at the moment so I guess this one is out?

5. Slalom: This is a board built solely for speed thus I guess it must be really narrow and thus difficult to use for a short-board beginner?

6. Beginner/Funboards: I think I should proceed beyond this types of board to improve?

7. Racing Longboards: Not sure about this still think I should get a short board.

8. Combination boards (Combination of 2 or 3 of the above boards types): Depends on combination bah.

I just want a board with enough speed, maneuverability and ease of use for a novice like me to be able to train and eventually plane and tack/jibe like the seasoned windsurfers I see at PA every weekend =) I am thinking of a Freeride or Formula board... like the Starboard's Carve, F-Type or Formula boards. I am not sure whether if they are suitable for me to start learning how to use short boards... cos I know the technique used is pretty different from long ones.

Another thing is the volume of the board. I understand that the lower the volume of the board, the faster it can go, easier for it to plane in strong winds and more maneuverable. However it also requires a higher skill level of the sailor to be able to achieve that. What volume would be suitable for a light-weighted (55kg) beginner for short-boards?

Any advice would be very much appreciated! =)

P.S. Btw I have tried registering with Bluefinz, but after registering I got an error about not being able to forward an email (presumably containing my password) to my email account. I have registered but could not login as I have no password. My account name is 'hoonsong' and my email account is hoonsong80@hotmail.com. Can help?

[Jen]

Hello Song,

You are spot on in terms of the choice of boards you should be getting. i.e. Freeride/Free Formula. The "Free" pre-fix is important as it usually translates into a less technical, more forgiving ride.

If cost is not an issue, then ask any of the dealers for a quote. I would think that a brand new set would cost around 3K. Unfortunately, you cant usually "Try before you buy".

Otherwise, have a look at the "Used Gear" section, (under Forums). I think Jus has a good offer (SGD500 for a full set), as does Dirk, for large volume freerides/free formulas. Assuming that the gear is stored at the beach, you can try before you buy

Have fun

[<Song>]

Hi =)

I am considering Jus's offer... will be contacting him in a while. However I do not see Dirk's offer. May I know which post issit?

[Jen]

Think he sold off everything already.

[<song>]

who? both Dirk and Jus?

[Jen]

Jus' gear is still available