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kristin
If you can stand on a sidewalk, you can stand on today’s learning boards - they’re just as stable. Gone are the narrow, tippy boards of windsurfing’s past. Now boards are wide, which allows newcomers to focus exclusively on sailhandling skills without balance problems. The result? Today’s beginner lesson takes only an hour, and it’s not uncommon for a rookie to stay dry throughout.
Sails are lightweight and user-friendly thanks to materials like monofilm and carbon components. But the big change is that current sails for learning are shorter, which makes them easy to pull out of the water and easy to control. They’re also more stable - no longer do they flutter wildly in the wind. Match these sail upgrades with a wide board and windsurfing becomes easier than ever. It also means that if you tried windsurfing before and failed, try again. You’ll sail - guaranteed.
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it is true that wider shapes will help you start learning quicker, however when you get to point of using the foot straps a wider board will need a more advanced sailor. I am an intermediate sailor and it is easier for me to get in the foot straps when the straps are closer to the center line. I am using a JP 103 in Rio Vista and have had pretty good luck with the foot straps. I think the board is a 1999 vintage. I am looking to invest in a newer sail that won't over power me. I also think the rocker of the board comes in to play deciding whether you are slogging or planing. I think too much attention is placed on the new boards, it is way more than just a board issue.