Windsurfing Essentials in One Place

A beginner setup usually includes a wide, stable windsurf board, a smaller, easy-handling freeride sail, a compatible mast, boom, mast base, and extension, and a suitable fin. Add a wetsuit, boots, and a buoyancy aid or impact vest for warmth and safety. As you progress, adding a harness and harness lines lets you sail longer and in stronger wind with less arm fatigue.

Most adults start on a higher-volume board that is wide and forgiving, often between about 130–180 liters depending on rider weight and wind strength. More volume makes it easier to uphaul the sail, balance in lulls, and learn steering and basic turns. Once you’re comfortable planing and using the harness, you can downsize to more responsive freeride or wave boards matched to your home spot.

There isn’t one perfect sail size, but many new windsurfers start with a light, controllable sail in the 3.5–5.5 m² range, depending on their weight and wind speeds. In lighter wind you might step up to 6.0–7.5 m², while stronger wind calls for smaller sails. Always follow the sail maker’s wind-range chart and ask a shop like Windance for a quiver plan based on your spot and goals.

Freeride sails are the most versatile and are ideal for general blasting and progression. Wave sails are compact and durable for control in strong wind and surf. Slalom and race sails focus on speed and stability at high power, often with more battens and camber inducers. Foil sails are tuned to pump efficiently and generate steady lift at lower board speeds, making them perfect partners for wind foiling setups.

No—most sail ranges are designed around a small set of compatible masts. The key is to match mast length, diameter, stiffness, and bend curve to the sail’s recommendations. Using the correct mast helps the sail set with the right profile and twist so it feels balanced across its wind range. Windance can help you choose a mast quiver that works across multiple sail sizes to save cost and keep rigging simple.

Seat harnesses sit low and feel very locked-in, making them popular for freeride and race sailing with bigger sails. Waist harnesses sit higher and allow more freedom for waves and bump-and-jump. Harness lines should be positioned so the sail feels balanced when you hang off the boom with light hands. Adjustable lines are perfect when you’re experimenting with stance; fixed lines are a clean option once you know the length you like.

To start wind foiling, you’ll need a foil-ready board, a windsurf foil sized for beginner or freeride use, and a sail in the recommended range (often smaller than your usual fin-board sail). A helmet, impact vest, and boots are strongly recommended. Many riders wait to try foiling until they are comfortable with harness use and sailing in the footstraps, which makes learning to manage the foil’s lift much easier.

Choose your windsurf fin based on board width, sail size, and style of sailing. Freeride and race fins emphasize early planing, speed, and upwind ability, while wave fins favor maneuverability and control in chop and surf. Weed fins have special shapes that shed grass and debris. If your board feels slippery or hard to control, changing fin size or type is often the fastest way to improve handling.

Windance stocks a curated selection of windsurf and wind foil brands including Chinook, Ezzy, North, Slingshot, Tabou, and other leading manufacturers. That mix covers sails, boards, foils, masts, booms, hardware, and accessories, so you can put together a complete setup that fits your weight, local wind, and budget with expert help from the Hood River crew.