Windsurfing is one of the quintessential water sports where the wind plays a fundamental role and the waves dance beneath your feet. But before practising it, we must consider countless things like: our experience level, the day's weather conditions, and yes, the equipment we'll need – which will also be a key factor to study.
Generally, when choosing a windsurfing school, they'll almost certainly provide the necessary equipment. So, the professionals will consider your experience level to provide you with the most suitable board for your profile.
How to choose the right board?
As mentioned earlier, your experience level mustn't be overlooked. Of course, someone who's never done windsurfing will need training to learn how to handle the board and sail, as well as reading the wind and sea correctly.
At this point, it's time to decide on something as important as the windsurfing board. There are several types, and the choice depends on factors like your weight and height, the style of windsurfing you want to do, etc. You'll also need to consider how far you're willing to go – if you'll only practise occasionally, renting a board at the school will suffice.
Learning different manoeuvres and tricks mastered by experienced surfers takes practice and time. There's not much difference between styles, but it's recommended (and fun) to know and try them at least once.
Types of windsurfing boards
- Wave boards. These are the smallest but far from light, as they're built with durable materials to withstand impacts or jumps from adverse wind and wave conditions.
- Slalom boards. Though less common, they're also designed for jumps, with their standout quality being the ability to reach high speeds on water. The windsurfer's skill comes into play when manoeuvring in figure eights around buoys on the course.
- Freeride boards. Free navigation reigns in this style, meaning competition isn't the main goal – recreational practice takes centre stage. You can reach high speeds while maintaining near-perfect control and mastery.
- Course Race boards. Boards designed for this specific style are the fastest, reaching around 18 kilometres per hour. Aesthetically, they're not very appealing because they're wider and thicker at the back (stern).
- Raceboard boards. These are excellent for practising windsurfing in the fastest and most comfortable way. However, they're the largest, so finding storage or transporting them can be a bit tricky. The control is such that the adrenaline might fade, but the excitement will always be there.
- Beginner boards. They're often called this because they're designed for starting out in windsurfing. With them, progress is quick as they're stable and allow learning in calm waters, mastering the basics before advancing to jumps and other manoeuvres with a different board.
We recommend giving this sport a try – slip into a wetsuit and hop on a windsurfing board. A unique way to experience an adventure sport that'll give you unforgettable moments.
