Windsurfing Gear and Styles
This concise guide explores the essence of windsurfing equipment, including styles and wind foil, catering to both enthusiasts and newcomers.
Windsurfing Styles
- Freeride: Easy-going and suitable for most, combining fun with cruising ability.
- Slalom: High-speed and competitive, for those who crave the thrill of racing.
- Freestyle: A creative expression requiring specialized gear for acrobatic tricks.
- Wave: Attuned to the sea’s rhythms, designed for wave conquistadors.
- Wind Foil: A modern evolution offering a sensation of flying above the water.
The Windsurfing Equipment
The Sail: Sails drive the board, with size ranges suited to your style:
- Begginer Sails: User-friendly, cheap, made from dacron or basic monofilm (2.0 – 5.0 m²)
- Freeride Sails: User-friendly for cruising (5.0 – 8.0 m²)
- Wave Sails: Tough for waves (3.0 – 5.7 m²)
- Freestyle Sails: Agile for tricks (4.0 – 5.5 m²)
- Wind Foil Sails: Designed to work with the foil for efficiency and lift (4.0 – 9.0 m²)
- Race/slalom Sails: Aerodynamic for racing (5.5 – 9.5 m²)
The Board: The choice of board affects everything from stability to maneuverability:
- Begginer Boards: Wider, very stable (160 – 250 liters)
- Freeride Boards: Wider, stable (110 – 200 liters)
- Wave Boards: narrow & light (70 – 115 liters)
- Freestyle Boards: Wider, stable (110 – 200 liters)
- Freestyle-Wave ( freewave ) Boards: (80- 120 liters)
- Wind Foil Boards: Specially designed with reinforced structures to accommodate foils (90 – 150 liters)
- Slalom Boards: fat, short (85 – 130 liters)
The Boom: The boom allows for sail manipulation and steering:
- Aluminum Booms: Reliable for beginners (135 – 240 cm)
- Carbon Booms: High-performance for pros (150 – 250 cm)
The Mast: Masts dictate how the sail behaves, with varying diameters and carbon content:
- SDM: Steady for freeride and race sails (300 – 530 cm)
- RDM: Flexible for waves and freestyle but not only, modern mast (340 – 490 cm)
Mast flexibility is key to performance, with different bend characteristics influencing the sail’s behavior.
Mast Base and Extension Types: Crucial for the sail and board connection
- Euro-Pin Base Systems: Convenient with a secure mechanism
- US Cup Base Systems: Require precise setup
- Mast Extensions: Essential for fine-tuning (15 – 50+ cm)
Wind Foil: Glide Above the water
the Hydrofoil Lifts the board above water, minimizing drag and allowing for smoother, faster rides in lighter winds.
Windsurfing Harness and Harness Lines: The harness lets you use your whole body to control the sail, and harness lines connect it to the boom, aiding in distributing the load (20 – 34 inches).
A few important things to consider when buying windsurfing gear are your body weight, your experience level, and the conditions you’ll be riding in, as the gear can have a significant impact on your progression
Not sure about the size you need? Interested in fine-tuning your gear?
Reach out for customized advice on windsurfing equipment and styles to enhance your experience