Longboards are usually considered boards over 10' long with daggerboards (or centerboards).  They are the choice for someone who would like to be able to easily uphaul their board.  Not only are they great for learning, but they are also a good choice for advanced sailors in very light winds, and non-planing conditions.  These boards can have volumes from 150 liters to 250 liters.  

Super-wide Beginner boards have revolutionized learning to windsurf. As wide as 45", 9' long and around 200 liters of volume, these new entry level learning boards steepen the learning curve tremendously. Short and wide is much more stable that long and narrow, and beginners are now  spending their time actually sailing, not falling off and repeatedly climbing back on to a skinny unstable board. These boards are not light, and are cumbersome to handle on land (so are longboards), but more than make up for it on the water. They have a removable center fin and some are even equipped with an internal handle near the mast track that makes carrying them a snap. Without the fin, they plane and turn like a short board. The boards are built with beginners in mind and can withstand all the abuse that is given to them.

Modern Transition (or Freeride) boards: The class of midrange boards has grown in the last few years, with the production of wider, floatier boards, some with as much floatation as longboards.  Transition boards can have a volume of  95 liters to 180 liters.  Most transition boards have enough volume to uphaul, but some of the narrower ones will be difficult to uphaul because of the lack of stability. Transition boards don't have daggerboards so they are better suited for moderate wind conditions where there is the possibility of planing.  

• Freeride : All round boards for 5.5 meter sails  to about 7.5.

Short boards require a minimum wind speed of 15 miles per hour to get planing.  To use a short board, the sailor needs to be proficient at waterstarts.  Back in the "old days", these were called "sinkers" for the simple reason that with no wind, they will sink under the weight of the sailor.  This type of board is the most popular board in the Gorge.  The size range for short boards is under about 95 liters. Some designs may fall into multiple categories.

• Freestyle : Freestyle boards for 7.5 meter sails and down.
• Wave and Gorge : Wave/gorge boards for 7.0 meter sails and down.

What size board should I get?
That would depend on the level of sailor you are.  It would also depend on the strength of the wind that you sail in.  Sailboards range in length from around 8' to 12'. in recent years boards have become much wider so it is important to consider the width and volume in addition to the length when choosing a board.  Generally larger boards are designed for lighter winds or beginning sailors.  Smaller boards are better suited for more advanced sailors in stronger winds.  Larger sailors will also want a larger board (and sail) than a smaller person in the same conditions.  

Why are new boards so wide?
In recent years sailboards have become wider for many reasons.  For beginning sailors, a wider board is much more stable.  The extra width makes up-hauling easier and aids in balance through most maneuvers.  For light winds a wide board will generally plane earlier.   The only real drawback to wide boards is that in high winds and choppy water, they bounce off the chop, and catch wind under the board making them difficult to control.  They also don't have as high a top end speed as a narrower board. 

Windance 108 Hwy. 35, Hood River, OR 97031
Phone: 1-800-574-4020 (or 541-386-2131)
Email: windance@windance.com
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