Windsurfing Boards

Unlike the yesteryears, windsurfing boards have undergone a major make-over. Previously used longboards have paved the way to smaller, sleeker and much easy-to-control shortboards. Today you have at your disposal, a wide variety of windsurfing boards that cater to your specific needs. Each kind of a sailor looks for a windsurfing board that suits his requirement. Thus, you have boards ranging from a beginner level to the boards that are made for competitive purposes.

Beginners' Boards: A beginners' board is usually a high volume board that does not sink when the sailor stands on it. A beginners' board generally, comes equipped with a retractable daggerboard beneath the board that helps the sailor maintain a straight path while sailing. The higher volume provides more stability to the windsurfer giving him a better balance on the board.

Freeride Boards: Freeride windsurfing boards are used for recreational sailing, where sailors sail straight at a low speed with occasional turns. Freeride boards like beginners' boards are high volume boards (100-170 liters).

Freestyle Boards: For sailors, who are into freestyle windsurfing opt for freestyle boards. Freestyle windsurfing boards ensure higher maneuverability and are designed for acrobatic feats like jumps, loops and spins. Freestyle windsurfing boards differ from wave boards as they are usually designed to perform tricks on flat water. These boards are 2.5- 2.7 meters in length. Freestyle boards are wider than other boards and have a volume of 80-100 liters.

Wave Boards: Wave boards are for the hardcore windsurfers who ride the wave. They have a low volume (60-90 liters), with length that is between 2.3-2.6 meters. Wave boards are easy to maneuver while performing high jumps against the waves. It is said that the volume of the board should be equal to the windsurfer's weight in kilograms. As against Freestyle windsurfing boards, wave boards are more user friendly when it comes to performing aerial tricks like The Vulcan, Spock, Grubby and Flaka.

Formula Boards, Slalom Boards and Super X Boards are all for advanced level speed windsurfing. These windsurfing boards used mainly for racing competitions have low volume and are designed to achieve early planing.

Visit your nearest windsurfing equipment store to take a peek at the broad range of boards that are up for grabs.