Windsurf Mast Buying Guide
The selection of the mast is often overlooked when people start buying their windsurfing gear. However, it is a very important component for the correct performance of the sail. Therefore, when buying a sail you need to keep in mind what mast you are going to use with it, whether you already have it or if you are going to buy one. read more…
Overhand vs. underhand grip
When I teach beginners how to windsurf I usually have them grab the mast with the front hand first as this helps maximise their control over the rig. Then, once they get better and start really leaning backwards into the wind I have them change their hand over on to the boom.
From time to time I get asked how one should grab the boom: with the palm of the hand facing down (overhand), or facing up (overhand). Let’s start with the easy answer: read more…
The 3 Keys that will Make or Break your Waterstart
While the waterstart has a lot (and I do mean a LOT) of subtle details that will make an impact on whether you succeed or not, the actual getting up and out of the water can be summed up in 3 components of our body movement and position. Positioning the kit correctly, then getting the sail out of the water and putting our feet on the board are all part of preparing for the waterstart and there are a lot of little things that go into doing these steps correctly and in a way that saves energy. However, when it comes to actually getting lifted out of the water by the sail, there are only 3 things that, if ignored, will sabotage the waterstart. read more…
Windsurfing mistakes you should avoid
Recently I read an entertaining article by Boards Magazine on the common mistakes windsurfers make. While all the things on that list are correct (board shorts have no business being worn over the wetsuit) I personally have a different list which I think is more relevant to windsurfing technique and progress. Here is my list of what I consider to be the most common windsurfer mistakes. read more…
Correct windsurf boom height positioning
The correct windsurf boom position is often a source of long debates.
In the beginner phase it is a general consensus that the boom should be somewhere around shoulder height. Basically, when you stand upright next to it you should be able to put your arm on the inside so that it fits neatly under your arm pit.
When we progress however, things start to get a little more complicated. Some say put it high, others insist that you should bring it down. So what is it? read more…
Used Windsurf Sail Buyers Guide
I wrote another article recently on how to buy a windsurf sail. In it I focused on what to keep in mind when buying a new sail. Now however I will focus on the things that you need to look out for when buying a used windsurf sail. There are a few which you might not have thought about or imagined had an impact on the sails performance if you saw them. read more…
Windsurf Sail Buying Guide – what to look for when buying a sail
I have already written an article on what to look out for when buying a windsurf board. However, aside from the fact that you will always have more sails than boards at any given time, sails also wear easier and so have to be replaced more often. Therefore, I thought a windsurf sail buying guide might be in order. Here are the things to look out for when buying a sail. read more…
Sailboating for Windsurfers
I have given lessons to people from all walks of life. Beginners, people who haven’t windsurfed for 30 years, office slaves, musicians, guys with disabilities and girls with headscarves. The most exciting group to me however has always been athletes.
You can usually tell if someone does sport on a regular basis or if they used to compete in a physical activity. From pole vaulters to ice skate racers, footballers, basketballers, swimmers, skateboarders, surfers and skiers. All of these show a certain ease of learning in one form or another. The control these people have over their body is noticeable in nearly every case.
Sailboating for Windsurfers
There is one group however that sets itself far apart from the rest: sailors. Every single one of my students that has spent even as little as a weekend on a sailboat proved to get the feeling for windsurfing in an incredibly short amount of time. read more…
The Advantages of Windsurfing – Why is Windsurfing Awesome?
There are heaps of reasons why I would say that windsurfing is the best sport ever. All you have to do is ask any windsurfer “Why windsurfing?” and they will give you 20 minutes worth of explanations of what makes windsurfing great.
I have compiled my own list of the advantages of windsurfing which I think should convince you to take it up or at least try it out. read more…
How to Tune a Windsurf Sail
Sail tuning is one of the skills that gets overlooked during the learning process of windsurfing. Most people can kind of rig the sail correctly but are either unsure, or just plain don’t know how to tune a windsurf sail. A badly tuned windsurf sail can make the experience of windsurfing unpleasant. There are only a few parameters you really have to look out for, depending on the sail. This guide should help for most windsurfing sail types although it will vary (or be missing aspects) for sails that have cambers for example. read more…
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