Types of Windsurfing Boards Choosing The Right One For Your Riding Style
With so many different types of boards out there, how do you choose the one that hits the sweet spot for your windsurfing skill and style? Do you want a board for just starting out, or are you an expert at shredding sick waves? Don't worry; we're here to help. Here's a rundown of the different boards you'll find at Windance.
Freeride Boards: These boards are great for recreational windsurfing and are easy to handle. They're stable, durable and forgiving, making them a good choice for beginner to intermediate windsurfers.
Slalom Boards: These boards are designed for high-speed action and are great for racing and blasting through chop. They're wider with a flatter rocker than wave and freeride boards.
Wave Boards: As the name suggests, these boards are for surfing waves. They're short and narrow, which makes them lighter and more maneuverable in the surf.
Freestyle Boards: These boards are made for bodacious tricks and stunts. They're shorter and wider than wave and freeride boards, which makes them more agile and easier to spin.
Race Boards: These boards are made for pure speed junkies. They are the longest and narrowest of all the board types. They're best suited for experienced windsurfers with a competitive, adrenaline-seeking edge.
Windfoil Boards: These boards are made to get you moving and up on foil quickly so that the foil can take over and lift you out of the water above the waves. They are the shortest of all the board types. They're best suited for experienced windsurfers already comfortable with planing and jibing on a windsurf board.
Type of Board
Material
Shape
Skill Level
Conditions
Water Types
Freeride
Fiberglass, epoxy, carbon, wood
Wide and stable with moderately pointy nose and tail and mild rocker
Beginner-Intermediate
All
Any location with wind and water
Slalom
Fiberglass, epoxy, carbon
Narrow and streamlined, less rocker
Intermediate- Advanced
Flat water, chop
Lakes, bays, sounds
Wave
Fiberglass, epoxy, carbon
Short and narrow, pointy nose and tail with more rocker
Intermediate- Advanced
Waves
Oceans, big lakes
Freestyle
Fiberglass, epoxy, carbon
Short and mid-width with less pointy nose and tail
Intermediate- Advanced
Flat water, chop
Lakes, bays, sounds
Race
Fiberglass, epoxy, carbon
Long and narrow, minimal rocker
Advanced
Flat water
Lakes, bays, sounds
Windfoil
Fiberglass, epoxy, carbon
Short and wide, rounded or pill shaped nose and tail
Advanced
All
Any location with wind and water
So Many Windsurf Boards For Sale, When is It Time to Upgrade to A More Advanced Board?
If you’ve been shredding for a while and you’re starting to get a bit bored, it might be time to upgrade to a more advanced ride. But how do you know? If you have mastered most of these skills, it is time to consider taking on the challenge of a freestyle or race windsurfing board.
Read the wind and water conditions and adjust your sail and board position accordingly
Sail in a variety of conditions, including choppy water, waves, and light winds
Maneuver your board and rig smoothly and precisely and stay upwind with ease
Plane off and sail with your feet in the foot straps most of the time
Jibe (turn downwind) smoothly and efficiently most of the time
Tack (turn upwind) competently on occasion, even if it’s not your favorite thing to do
Waterstart when your sail falls in the water (without uphauling)
You feel ready to experiment with advanced tricks and stunts, such as back loops, forwards, and grubbies, or you feel the need for speed
It’s worth saying that it’s important for advanced windsurfers to have good overall physical fitness, coordination, and balance. As you progress in your windsurfing journey, you'll likely develop your own personal style and preferences and may naturally gravitate to certain aspects of the sport more than others.
Shop Windance For A Great Selection of Windsurfing Boards For Sale
