Begginers board - What size?

30th March 2012, 07:17 AM

Hi, I'm looking to purchase a beginners board but I am unsure what size to pick. I am 6 feet tall and weigh 14 stone (196 pounds) and have never windsurfed. What size board would be good to get me started?

30th March 2012, 09:46 AM

do not purchase right away
beg borrow or steal first - lessons ??
160 liter wide short board or 180 + liter long board
some will say NOT starboard !!

30th March 2012, 10:07 AM

Thanks for your reply, I have been offered a Starboard Rio Medium by a friend (180 litres) I can try it out first but I wondered if 180 litres would be too small.
Why would some people say NOT Starboard??

30th March 2012, 10:12 AM

Hi Roger, thanks for your reply. I will be going down the lesson route so I guess I will get a feel for board sizes whilst doing the lessons. At 180 litres the Medium Rio maybe too small based on your reply.
Thanks for your help

Roger · 30th March 2012, 10:04 AM

At 6' tall and nearly 200 lbs. the best boards for learning to windsurf are probably the Starboard Start
Large and the Rio Large.
These are high volume boards with lots of width to make them stable.
They have EVA decks to make them "beginner friendly".
You would need a light weight rig in the 4.0-6.0 meter range to get started.
The wind conditions where you intend to learn will have alot to do with what size rig is the best for you as an absolute beginner.
As the other poster suggested, try to find a windsurfing school or take a vacation at a windsurfing resort and get good insttuction on the basics for a qaulifed and certiifed windsurfing school.
Once you have the basic skills learned at the school, the choice of boards that will work best for you
is far greater, and you may have advanced your skills enough to get onto a < 180 liter short board.
Then you would not need the super wide beginner/ trainer board and could choose a board based on the wind conditions where you will be sailing most often.
Hope this helps,
Roger

Roger · 31st March 2012, 12:32 AM

Hi Unreg,
The Rio M is adequate in volume, once you've had some instruction.
I weigh 170 lbs. and sail a Rio M alot when I'm teaching.
Hope this helps,
Roger

COACHG · 31st March 2012, 03:10 PM

A 180 liter board will be ok even if you are not nimble at 196 lbs. Before choosing a first board you should consider a few things. How much wind will you be sailing in regularly? What is the state of the water? Is there a current to overcome? How often will you sail?
It is hard to recommend a board without that information.

Coachg

30th March 2012, 07:17 AM	#1
Unregistered Guest Posts: n/a	Begginers board - What size? Hi, I'm looking to purchase a beginners board but I am unsure what size to pick. I am 6 feet tall and weigh 14 stone (196 pounds) and have never windsurfed. What size board would be good to get me started?

30th March 2012, 10:12 AM	#4
Unregistered Guest Posts: n/a	Reply to Roger Hi Roger, thanks for your reply. I will be going down the lesson route so I guess I will get a feel for board sizes whilst doing the lessons. At 180 litres the Medium Rio maybe too small based on your reply. Thanks for your help

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30th March 2012, 09:46 AM	#2
Unregistered Guest Posts: n/a	do not purchase right away beg borrow or steal first - lessons ?? 160 liter wide short board or 180 + liter long board some will say NOT starboard !!

30th March 2012, 10:07 AM	#3
Unregistered Guest Posts: n/a	Thanks for your reply, I have been offered a Starboard Rio Medium by a friend (180 litres) I can try it out first but I wondered if 180 litres would be too small. Why would some people say NOT Starboard??

30th March 2012, 10:04 AM	#5
Roger Dream Team - School Guru Join Date: Aug 2006 Posts: 2,060	At 6' tall and nearly 200 lbs. the best boards for learning to windsurf are probably the Starboard Start Large and the Rio Large. These are high volume boards with lots of width to make them stable. They have EVA decks to make them "beginner friendly". You would need a light weight rig in the 4.0-6.0 meter range to get started. The wind conditions where you intend to learn will have alot to do with what size rig is the best for you as an absolute beginner. As the other poster suggested, try to find a windsurfing school or take a vacation at a windsurfing resort and get good insttuction on the basics for a qaulifed and certiifed windsurfing school. Once you have the basic skills learned at the school, the choice of boards that will work best for you is far greater, and you may have advanced your skills enough to get onto a < 180 liter short board. Then you would not need the super wide beginner/ trainer board and could choose a board based on the wind conditions where you will be sailing most often. Hope this helps, Roger

31st March 2012, 12:32 AM	#6
Roger Dream Team - School Guru Join Date: Aug 2006 Posts: 2,060	Hi Unreg, The Rio M is adequate in volume, once you've had some instruction. I weigh 170 lbs. and sail a Rio M alot when I'm teaching. Hope this helps, Roger

31st March 2012, 03:10 PM	#7
COACHG Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Northern California Posts: 145	A 180 liter board will be ok even if you are not nimble at 196 lbs. Before choosing a first board you should consider a few things. How much wind will you be sailing in regularly? What is the state of the water? Is there a current to overcome? How often will you sail? It is hard to recommend a board without that information. Coachg