Windsurfing Magazine

kristin
2004-11-04 19:00:00 | 4528 views | 0 Comments

Now more than ever, lightweight kids' rigs have opened the door to all ages. But don't take our word for it, scroll down the page.

SAFE FOR ALL AGES
“As a physician, I think windsurfing is a relatively safe sport for children, especially when combined with a certified personal flotation device, sunscreen and, most importantly, the right-size rig. With today's modern lightweight kids rigs, not only is windsurfing substantially less hazardous than wakeboarding, personal watercraft, mountain biking or skateboarding, but it's a great form of exercise without the noise, pollution and propeller hazards of many other water sports. There are few things more satisfying than watching children get fresh air and exercise windsurfing, knowing that it's laying the foundation for the lifelong benefits that windsurfing brings to us all.” – Dr. John Cocker - Newmarket, Ontario

LESSONS LEARNED
• Be picky about gear and conditions so their first windsurfing experience is a good one
• With young kids, there's no right or wrong, and fun is the only goal
• Keep it simple - understanding wind theory won't mean much to kids until after they're hooked on windsurfing
• Tether ropes to avoid excess walking and swimming (for parents and children)
• Cut tail fins in half to enhance board maneuverability for lightweight riders and small sails
• The board a child learns on must have a centerboard or center fin
• The right sail size is a must. See “Get Sized Up” below

In just three years, the number of kids windsurfing on Maui went from about three to 75, with the biggest growth among eight- to ten-year-olds. This is largely thanks to an increase in gear that makes windsurfing easy, safe and fun for children to learn.

HOMEGROWN KIDS BOARD
With the right modifications, that old board in your garage could be perfect for kids. Simply complete the following steps:
• Dull down sharp edges with sandpaper and take off foot straps
• Cut the tail fin in half so the board turns better for small rigs and lightweight children
• If the board doesn't have a center fin, use a router to cut out a slot in the board's bottom (often, a normal tail fin of 6 inches or more works fine)
• If the board doesn't have a centerboard or center fin, make a SuperSuck centerboard

GET SIZED UP
So what size sail and board are best for your little ripper? Below is a guide to help.

<td bgColor=#666666.5-4.2 m

	AGE (years) WEIGHT (lbs.)	3 to 6 30-50	5 to 7 40-60	6 to 9 50-70	7 to 10 60-80	8 to 12 70-90	10 to 12 80-100	10 to 12 80-120
	1 to5	1.0-1.5 m	1.5-2.0 m	2.0-2.5 m	2.5-3.0 m	2.5-3.0 m	3.0-3.5 m	3.5-4.2 m
M	5 to 10	0.8 m	1.0-1.5 m	1.5-2.0 m	2.0-2.5 m	2.5-3.0 m	3.0-3.5 m
P	10 to 15	0.8 m	1.0-1.5 m	1.5-2.0 m	2.0-2.5 m	2.5-3.0 m	3.0-3.5 m	3.0-3.5 m
H	15 to 20	0.8 m	0.8 m	1.0-1.5 m	1.5-2.0 m	2.0-2.5 m	2.5-3.0 m	3.0-3.5 m
	20 to 25		0.8 m	1.0-1.5 m	1.5-2.0 m	2.0-2.5 m	2.5-3.0 m	2.5-3.0 m
	25+		0.8 m	1.0-1.5 m	1.0-1.5 m	1.5-2.0 m	2.0-2.5 m	2.5-3.0 m

Parents: tempted to hand off your own 3.5-4.2 adult sails to children? Don't do it! The high center of effort, boom cutouts and clew positions, as well as the heavier masts and materials of adult rigs, make them heavy and a poor geometric fit for children, stunting improvement.

Five Fun Ways to Get Your Kid Hooked

ONE Play balancing and paddle games on the board with no sail attached

TWO Go sailing with your child onboard

THREE Find a location where other kids windsurf

FOUR Have a parent-child tandem race with other families

FIVE Enroll your child in a kids' windsurfing camp

WINDSURFING EXPOSURE FOR KIDS
WindSurfing magazine is on the hunt for cool images of kids windsurfing. Got any? If so, e-mail lo-res images to editor@windsurfingmag.com or mail prints to WindSurfing magazine, 460 North Orlando Ave. Suite 200, Winter Park, FL 32789.

 

KID BOARDS
	HIFLY Matrix 265S - Ages: 8-90 (75-150 lbs.) Included: Centerboard (not pictured), DaKine foot straps and Powerbox fin. Features: Smallest board (8'9″, 149 liters) that offers a retractable centerboard. Is said to handle sails from 0.8 to 7.5 meters. Price: $675 (hull only) or $899 (with Hifly Junior Pro) www.hifly.com
	STARBOARD Kiddy Board - Ages: 3-8 (up to 80 lbs.) Included: Interchangeable safety tail fin and free-ride fin; carpeted deck. Features: Multiple foot-strap inserts, thin rails and a scaled-down size (217 cm long, 75 cm wide, 88 liters) that was molded after the Hypersonic. Claims to handle sails from 0.8 to 5.0 meters. Price: $707 www.star-board.com
KID SAILS
	AEROTECH Future - Ages: 6-12+ Sizes: 2.2, 2.8, 3.5 Included: 3-piece Nautix aluminum mast; boom, uphaul and outhaul. Carbon mast option exists. Features: All grid monofilm construction, reduced luff curve and adjustable headcap. Fits normal mast base. Price: $256-$288 www.aerotechsail s.com
	FLY Next -nAges: 5-12 Sizes: 1.6, 2.0, 2.5, 3.0, 3.5 Included: 3-piece Nautix aluminium mast; aluminum boom, uphaul and outhaul. Features: Lightweight monofilm construction, full-length battens, fits normal mast bases. Price: $236-$286
	GAASTRA Freetime - Ages: 3-90 Sizes: 1.5, 2.0, 2.5, 3.0, 3.5, 4.0 (and up) Included: Fiberspar Breeze mast and Gaastra boom. Features: Lowered center of effort, twisting head and durable Dacron construction; requires reduced-diameter base; designed by master instructor Tinho Dornellas. Price: $234 (1.5); $255 (3.0) www.gaastra.com
	HOT SAILS Maui MicroSlide - Ages: 3-13 Sizes: 0.8, 1.2, 1.6, 2.1, 2.7, 3.2, 3.8 Included: Five-piece extendable pre-bent aluminum mast with EVA grip, 1″-diameter boom fitted to mast and specialized mast base. Fiberspar mast for 3.2 and 3.8 meter. Features: X-ply and PVC (no monofilm) construction, fully battened layout with same graphics as adult sails for youngest sailors out there. Price: $425-$525 www.hotsailsmaui.com
	NEIL PRYDE Experience - Ages: 6-100 Sizes: 1.9, 2.6, 3.3, 4.0, 4.7, 5.5 Included: Specialized lightweight Experience mast and lightweight reduced-diameter Neil Pryde boom. Features: Low-tension rig and adjusting head for easy rigging; heavy-duty construction and vinyl window for durability. Small sizes have 2.5 battens, larger have 3.5. Price: $422-$435 www.neilpryde.com
	SAILWORKS Retro Ripper - Ages: 6-16 Sizes: 1.7, 2.5, 3.3, 4.2 Included: Ripperstick fiberglass mast and lightweight small-diameter boom. Ripperstick mast accepts conventional mast bases and booms. Features: A scaled-down full-size sail that twists and reacts for easy, stable power for young riders. Doubles as a teaching sail for adults. Gorge tested and proven tough. Price: $520-$587 www.sailworks.com

 

 

 

haul and outhaul. Carbon mast option exists. Features: All grid monofilm construction, reduced luff curve and adjustable headcap. Fits normal mast base. Price: $256-$288 www.aerotechsails.com FLY Next -nAges: 5-12 Sizes: 1.6, 2.0, 2.5, 3.0, 3.5
Included: 3-piece Nautix aluminium mast; aluminum boom, uphaul and outhaul. Features: Lightweight monofilm construction, full-length battens, fits normal mast bases. Price: $236-$286 GAASTRA Freetime - Ages: 3-90 Sizes: 1.5, 2.0, 2.5, 3.0, 3.5, 4.0 (and up)
Included: Fiberspar Breeze mast and Gaastra boom. Features: Lowered center of effort, twisting head and durable Dacron construction; requires reduced-diameter base; designed by master instructor Tinho Dornellas. Price: $234 (1.5); $255 (3.0) www.gaastra.com   HOT SAILS Maui MicroSlide - Ages: 3-13 Sizes: 0.8, 1.2, 1.6, 2.1, 2.7, 3.2, 3.8
Included: Five-piece extendable pre-bent aluminum mast with EVA grip, 1″-diameter boom fitted to mast and specialized mast base. Fiberspar mast for 3.2 and 3.8 meter. Features: X-ply and PVC (no monofilm) construction, fully battened layout with same graphics as adult sails for youngest sailors out there. Price: $425-$525 www.hotsailsmaui.com NEIL PRYDE Experience - Ages: 6-100 Sizes: 1.9, 2.6, 3.3, 4.0, 4.7, 5.5
Included: Specialized lightweight Experience mast and lightweight reduced-diameter Neil Pryde boom. Features: Low-tension rig and adjusting head for easy rigging; heavy-duty construction and vinyl window for durability. Small sizes have 2.5 battens, larger have 3.5. Price: $422-$435 www.neilpryde.com SAILWORKS Retro Ripper - Ages: 6-16 Sizes: 1.7, 2.5, 3.3, 4.2
Included: Ripperstick fiberglass mast and lightweight small-diameter boom. Ripperstick mast accepts conventional mast bases and booms. Features: A scaled-down full-size sail that twists and reacts for easy, stable power for young riders. Doubles as a teaching sail for adults. Gorge tested and proven tough. Price: $520-$587 www.sailworks.com