What kit do you need to windsurf?

[@willnicholls5]

Hey guys, what kit do you have or looking to get?

[@dimosthenisperivoliotis8942]

that video was awesome! it really helped me out! thank you so much!!!

[@willnicholls5]

@@dimosthenisperivoliotis8942 Glad it helped, thanks for watching :)

[@neilarmand3763]

Great video! I’m fortunate to have the funds to buy new, but live and sail in Mexico, so I have to import everything. I’m 50 years old (85-90kg depending on how lazy I get) and am just returning to the sport after nearly 20 years of sailing small keelboats so the kit I bought is: 145l Goya Volar 7.2 Goya Mark Pro on RDM 7.8 Goya Mark Pro X on RDM 8.5 Goya Mark 2 Pro on SDM 460cm Chinook RDM 75% Carbon 490cm Chinook SDM 90% Carbon Ride Engine Prime Harness Ride Engine Apoc 2/1 Shorty Chinook 1-Bolt Base Chinook Pro1 185-247cm Boom Chinook Carbon 46mm Extensions RDM and SDM Yeah, I guess the bug bit me again!

[@Kirmo13]

Personally, I'll just buy what I can get as soon as I get a good opportunity.

[@Team33Team33]

Great video. Thanks. You are 85kilos, How tall are you please ?

[@drewbase]

I have been living in The Netherlands next to a windsurf club for the past 6 years. During these years of laying on the couch, i became highly professional in watching KZbin and other video content. So today i decided to take on the sport, as my belly seems to grow faster every day now that i'm in my forties. After studying all day trying to figure out the sport, how to make a start and what gear to use, I finally came across this video. (stepping away from computer, kneeling down on the ground, sending praise to Will and climbing back to my laptop) But seriously... more solid, enlightening and to the point video's hardly exist to my knowledge. No need skipping a 2 minute introduction, no patreon or sponsor interruption or a 'like and subscribe' grabbing self-proclaimed actor. Nope.. instead a close to 99% percent hardcore-to-the-bone useful content ratio, proven by the state of your garden that clearly illustrates that content is all that matters to you 😉. A pleasure of eight minutes, we'll spend during 30 minutes of pausing the video to make notes. 'It had to be said' made me a missionairy typing this all down. Many thanks!! Subscribed: Yes Liked: Yes

[@willnicholls5]

Thanks so much!! Best of luck on your windsurfing journey

[@userTJ39780]

These are some great recommendation. I have been sailing for 35 years and mostly use gear from the last 10 years. On my small lake, I use a 4.5 to a 7.5 on most days, but I have an 8.1 and 8.8 for light days. I also have a few sails for traveling (the Gorge and Cape Hatteras); 3.5, 3.8, 4.2. I have 4 masts: a 370 RDM for all the small stuff, a 430 RDM for the 5.0-6.5, a 460 SD for the older and bigger 6's and 7's, and a full carbon 490 SD mast for the biggest sails. I use a 180 liter Fanatic Viper in light winds, a 133 liter Fanatic Gecko for the smaller sails, and a 93 liter RRD wave board for traveling.

[@willnicholls5]

Nice! Sounds like you've covered all bases

[@julianpratt9616]

Great video and fantastic advice. Not windsurfed for some 37 years but now want to get back into it and this was a great help - thanks for putting this together!

[@willnicholls5]

Thanks for watching Julian. Awesome that you're getting back into it!

[@julianpratt9616]

@@willnicholls5 cheers! I am lucky to live at Hayling Island so have just done a taster session at Langstone Harbour and now booked on the RYA Start Windsurfing 2 day course, will then do intermediate non planing and then the same with planing. Taster was a laugh, high tide and quite choppy and a stiff breeze and spent more time in the water than on the board but I will persevere! Now doing 3 x 2 minute planks a day do get some core strength! All the best, Julian

[@chrisarnell1]

Brilliant tutorial, WIll. Thanks!

[@willnicholls5]

No problem, thanks for watching Chris

[@oneistar6661]

Hey I remember how lost I was getting my first gear sorted out. I got 6.0m sail, 140l board with 430 rdm mast and 35 extension. Turned out great choice, got me from 0 to planning in a year, still my favorite board on low winds with 7.2 sail Otherwise I'm on skate 108l 4.5-5.5m sails. Wish you lots of smooth wind

[@willnicholls5]

Awesome! Yeah it's always tough knowing exactly what to get from the start, but glad to hear it worked out well for you :) Wishing you smooth wind too

[@andrewross3293]

Superb advice! Thank you.

[@willnicholls5]

My pleasure Andrew :)

[@neilarmand3763]

Great video! I’m fortunate to have the funds to buy new, but live and sail in Mexico, so I have to import everything. I’m 50 years old (85-90kg depending on how lazy I get) and am just returning to the sport after nearly 20 years of sailing small keelboats so the kit I bought is: 145l Goya Volar 7.2 Goya Mark Pro on RDM 7.8 Goya Mark Pro X on RDM 8.5 Goya Mark 2 Pro on SDM 460cm Chinook RDM 75% Carbon 490cm Chinook SDM 90% Carbon Ride Engine Prime Harness Ride Engine Apoc 2/1 Shorty Chinook 1-Bolt Base Chinook Pro1 185-247cm Boom Chinook Carbon 46mm Extensions RDM and SDM Yeah, I guess the bug bit me again!

[@willnicholls5]

Awesome! Great to hear so many are getting back into windsurfing. A nice selection of kit. I'm guessing the wind is generally lighter where you are. What spot do you windsurf at?

[@1st2mind]

Very informative. Thank you very much. Greetings from DK🇩🇰

[@willnicholls5]

No problem. Thanks for watching

[@Williod]

Thank you, man. Hope I'll start one day :)

[@MartiA1973]

Got to be one of the most info-packed YT vids out there. I use YT a lots for different subjects and most waffle and should be watched on 1.25 or 1.5 speed. This needed a pause and notes for my first time at WS. Unfortunately Covid has put a stop to any beginner lessons on the Dorset coast. Will Nicholls, you will probably receive a ton of neg' feedback 'cos folk whinge but stick with your winning formula - just maybe cut the lawn :) Had to SUB straight away!

[@willnicholls5]

Haha will defo cut the lawn. Really appreciate the feedback thanks :)

[@damsel72]

Great video-keeping it simple. Just got my first board on fb for $30 US, let’s hope it floats 😅

[@willnicholls5]

$30!!! What a bargain!!

[@davecaulk2380]

Really useful- thanks for posting!

[@willnicholls5]

No problem Dave, thanks for watching

[@MM-kz9pd]

Thanks! Finally good practical advice

[@josemarcelo951]

Will, add a 5.7m sail and fill that huge gap between the 4.8m and the 7m

[@willnicholls5]

Ironically I've now got rid of the 7.0m and now have a 5.2m as my biggest sail. The reason is when its super windy (22+ knots) I'll be on freestyle kit. When it's light I now use a foil so I don't actually need bigger than 5.2m. However going forward if I pick up some more kit and get into slalom sailing having something like a 5.7 and for that matter a range of sails is always a good shout.

[@gabrielrouseff2800]

very helpfull,good job🤩🤩🤩🤩🤩

[@Kirmo13]

Great video!

[@willnicholls5]

Thanks :)

[@mtbdog666]

Getting back into it after about 20 years. Main question is about the board. Want to teach my 7-year-old son, so we need a board he and I can be on together. Some charts are saying beginner board for my weight 180lbs/82kg should be over 200l. My son is about 55lbs/25kg. Your thoughts? Of course, as soon as possible my son will have his own kit. My boards in the past were tugboats, so I'm ok with big and fat for now. My wife will probably be enticed to learn after watching us, so the big and stable will work for her while I move on to sleek and fast.

[@willnicholls5]

Awesome to hear you’re getting back into windsurfing! So for you (82kg) the perfect size is around 200-220L and for your son (25kg) it will be around 100-130L. If you go with the bigger option (200-220L) your son might struggle to turn the board but will be fine going in a straight line. If you go with the smaller option (100-130L) it can make it more challenging for you, although you have previous experience so might be able to manage. The main issue kids have when learning is turning the board because they’re typically using a very small sail (1.5 - 2.5m). So I’d recommend using a small fin (

[@mtbdog666]

@@willnicholls5 thanks Will. Really helpful. As soon as my son shows a glimmer of interest I’ll buy him his own set and get him in some lessons from people who know how to teach! 😆

[@baikelai]

I could get away with 2 sails 4.2 and 4.7, 1 board 75L and one mast 370 and one boom.

[@willnicholls5]

Awesome! Just goes to show you don't need loads of stuff to enjoy windsurfing

[@matteobrunella8003]

This Summer i want to get into this sport, i live near a windy sea so i can practice a lot, I heard that a 200lt board it's very limitating, and that you have to change after few session when you start learning, and i was wondering if a 150-160lt board for me, 85kg, it's too light, but maybe It Will be a longer investiment so that i won't Need to sell and buy a new one

[@willnicholls5]

You're exactly right. I would recommend having a few lessons where you use a 200lt board to learn the basics but there's not much use in buying your own one as you will soon outgrow it. 150 - 160lt is a perfect board to buy as that's a board you will eventually be able to plane and use the foot straps on. So yes you will likely be on the 150 - 160lt for longer and therefore a solid investment.

[@matteobrunella8003]

@@willnicholls5 thanks man, keep it up

[@AlexAKlaus]

​@@willnicholls5, thank you for a great video. Would you recommend to buy a retractable daggerboards for a person who already had 6 lessons on one or is it just to get started? I also noticed that daggerboards are >190lt... Couldn't find one in smaller volume...

[@willnicholls5]

@@AlexAKlaus Thanks for watching Alexander. The daggerboard is so useful for getting upwind so yes having a retractable one is certainly a good idea even if you're above the level where you need it. Once you feel really comfortable going upwind without a daggerboard (or without it down) then it's not necessary to have one especially if you are looking to progress onto smaller boards and want to learn to plane.

[@ท้องพระอคาเดมี]

everything i want to know thankyou

[@willnicholls5]

Glad I could help

[@chrisludlam6515]

Hi Will. I,ve got a second hand 460 RDM mast. Is it OK to use this mast with a bigger sail, say 7.2, or should I get a 460 SDM mast. What would be the difference. Thanks for the video and advice. Cheers. Chris.

[@willnicholls5]

Hi Chris. The 460 RDM will still work but it won't be as good as a 460 SDM. With the bigger sails (7m+) you don't want the mast to bend too much as you will lose the shape in the sail. The SDM masts are typically better in this case because they are stiffer and will hold the shape of the sail.

[@Stb050]

Hi I am looking to buy a new board I have learned to sail on my dads old windsurfing board (105liters) but now I am looking to upgrade since the board is over 30 years old i surf on a sea that is typically quite choppy wich makes me struggle with really learning to gybe better in my 4 years on this board I have learned to handle the chop and cross the shore break but now I need something to help me get better at my basic movements what would you recommend? I am 16 70-75 kg (trying to bulk up) now how to Waterstart on a 105l board and almost always surf with a lot of chop and I don’t have a big budget

[@willnicholls5]

I would probably go for something between 80 - 90L. The general rule of thumb is 10-15L more than your bodyweight if you’re confident but go a bit bigger if you want to make it easier. If the board you’re currently using is super old school it’s gonna feel very different when you use the modern stuff so if you can borrow or rent something just once to see how you do then you’ll have a better idea of what you can manage. In terms of budget, second hand is your best option. Here’s where you’ll find secondhand gear: Facebook marketplace, Facebook windsurfing groups, eBay or just asking around at your local spot. So yeah if it were me I’d go for something like a 80-90L freewave board (these are easiest to turn) or freeride board and I’d be looking for something newer than 2015. Hope that helps

[@fabiovanzeller8868]

Thanx a lot mate, a lot of good tips. I had my first class, absolutetly loved it and i am trying to get a kit for the most absolutely cheap price possible. You reckon it´s ok to buy really old boards? What about really old and around 120-150 for a 98 kg - 2 meter dude? :) I´ll be sailing in Oslo Norway when there is mostly light to moderate winds in the summer, flat waters, but my goal is to do freestyle stuff, as soon as possible. Thanx in advace

[@willnicholls5]

Awesome Fabio welcome to windsurfing!!! I would stay away from old boards. Go for something at least 2008 as that's when boards seem to transition into a more "modern shape". If you are still having lessons I'd wait until you've had a few before getting yourself some kit. But if you just can't wait get yourself something with decent volume. 120 - 150L is more of an intermediate/improver range. For a beginner go for something at least 180L. The only reason I say that is because it takes time to really nail the basics and it's much easier to focus on improving with a board that's comfortable to use. Check out the Starboard Rio XL for example as that's what a lot of windsurf centres use for their beginners and even improver groups too. Hope that helps and good luck with your windsurfing :)

[@jimmyjames1411]

I’m a kiteboarder but curious, are there a lot of windsurfers transitioning to wing surfing?

[@willnicholls5]

It does seem that a lot are at least trying Winging but usually it's not "instead of" but "as well as". Any way of getting more time on the water. I'd be very keen to have a go myself.

[@pacoin51]

cool video! Me and my gf want to start windsurfing. its not often big winds here its on a small lake. we bought a 5m sail. we are 65 and 73 kg. think thats not to big?

[@willnicholls5]

5m could be slightly too big (to start with). Having a bigger sail doesn't only mean more power from the sail it will also be heavier and in the early stages you will be dropping and picking up the sail a lot so having a smaller sail is good idea as it will be a lot lighter. I would recommend keeping the 5m and getting something like a 4.0m. Hope that helps, thanks for watching :)

[@phd7072]

I really need help I want to buy one for this summer but I want a full gear I don't know how to buy them seperately 😅

[@willnicholls5]

If you're looking to buy new kit any windsurf shop will help you with all the components you need for a full setup. If you're looking for second hand gear, searching online marketplaces is a good place to start.

[@phd7072]

@@willnicholls5 I checked on fb and ebay but I couldn't find something specific... Is it possible to send u a message on Insta to help me with some details?

[@rancidhotmail]

thanks so much for this helpful video! i really want to get into windsurfing but have not tried it once yet... I have found a great deal from my countries version of ebay. It comes with the complete set and 2 sails. problem is, the set includes a freeride board with 60cm width (116liter board). im guessing thats a no-go for beginners? however the complete set with 2 sails are going for around 200USD i feel like that deal is too good to give up? would appreciate a reply and your feedback. Cheers!

[@willnicholls5]

No problem, thanks for watching. Yeah the board will probably be too small for an absolute beginner. However it could be a board that you transition onto once you have built some core skills. I would need to see the kit to give you a good answer on whether that's a good deal. If the kit looks fairly modern, the sails are in good condition (no holes etc) and the board is water tight then it seems like a good deal. If you haven't already I'd also highly recommend getting some lessons to start with. Hope that helps :)

[@rancidhotmail]

@@willnicholls5 Thanks for your quick reply! www.ricardo.ch/de/a/widsurfausruestung-f2-mit-2-segel-1157568000/ here is the set for sale, the two masts for the sails are not pictured and I would have to buy a new mast base. But as you mentioned, I would want a new and good quality one anyway. I was thinking of buying it first and then go for lessons. As it is winter I would have to wait anyway. thanks again Will!

[@willnicholls5]

@@rancidhotmail Tbh although it seems like the kit is in good condition the kit is quite old. If you can I would recommend getting more modern kit. However I understand it's not always easy to get hold of modern kit at a good price so if you were super keen to have some of your own stuff then it wouldn't be the end of the world to pick this up. Also the board does look pretty quick, could be a good one for the future 👍

[@rancidhotmail]

@@willnicholls5 Thanks a lot for your feedback! I might go for it. Keeping costs low is more of a priority for me at this point than getting the most modern equipment. I can always upgrade if i fall in love with the hobby. Big thanks for the advice and quick replies!

[@willnicholls5]

@@rancidhotmail No worries :) best of luck

[@darrensugrue1210]

Thanks for your informative video Will. I kept coming back to it over the past few months as I started windsurfing and buying my own stuff. I'm now ready for the harness. What size harness do you have? Is that a Large one you were putting on? I guess they should be large enough to fit around buoyancy aid/ wetsuit comfortably. I'm about 75 kg so I was thinking of going for a Medium one but maybe a Large one is better...

[@willnicholls5]

Nice one Darren, great to hear you're making good progress! I have a large harness (34" waist). I don't wear a buoyancy aid as the harness already has enough buoyancy in it. I think it's likely that you'll fit into a medium harness especially considering you'll be in a wetsuit (I assume), however I'd highly recommend trying it on if you can before hand. There's a good chance that you have already bought one since this post, let me know how you got on

[@darrensugrue1210]

@@willnicholls5 Thanks Will. Yes I went for a Large one in the end and it fits fine. All the shops were closed at the time (due to Covid lockdown) but I managed to buy it secondhand and was able to try it on beforehand. Thanks for all the advice!

[@willnicholls5]

@@darrensugrue1210 Awesome! No worries :)

[@jolllyroger1]

First is what is the weight of the rider.... I'm 220 lbs and need everything bigger

[@willnicholls5]

The rider in this example (Me) is 190 lbs. Yes having bigger kit will help heavier riders.

[@jolllyroger1]

@@willnicholls5 yeah so 30 lbs less than me..... when I first started ws in 1986 I read books... ...and bought videos..... ...and my first board was a 12 foot hifly 45 lbs and while I should have gotten a more advanced board as I learn faster than most in most things I did enjoy that board for about 25 years I got an obrian pro am next That was 9 ft 3 narrow flat bottom and boy that is a fast fun board but a total sinker for me lol.. the first board I taught many people and often let total strangers try it..... board went bad before the sail still have the sail and its still great for training newbs.... I still have the pro am... ...and have a carbon highfly 11 footer that weighs about 14 lbs if I remember correctly got that in like 2002.... the pro am was far too advanced for me when I got it but still I would take it out and blast.... the thing I found is that people want that tiny board but once you learn the board size really doesn't matter...I can take the old 60 pound whalers with wooden booms and make them do things that would blow your mind just because you never see people having fun on huge boards..... It would be nice for newbs to know what holds them up..... I'm thinking of getting a starboard windsurfer beginners board just because playing in light wind freestyle is so much fun..... from the looks of it I'll probably just build my own board just like the 1986 hifly but use glass and carbon..... that 12 footer that weighed 45 lbs I have sailed from a couple knots all the way up to 50 knots with a 2.8 sail..... I'm a fat old fucker and been thinking I should go hit the competition field .... anymore you just see these kids that just sell what ever manufacturer will back them.... a lot of hedonistic rich kids that could buy the equipment and afford to travel is what most of them are.....I like the kids that got their the hard way.... Anyway anyone new should do a search for windsurf beginner board size to weight of rider.... these days most boards are very wide ... the width of the board after getting one you can't sink by standing on it is the stability.. ...and a dagger board for all beginners.... so you can get upwind easier... I don't know how many short boarders I sailed my big dagger board first board out to and switched with them or sometimes just towed them in....I even once towed a flat bottom speed boat to the marina once.... they didn't think it was possible with the dagger down it was slow but worked and not as slow as you might think.... once you get the weight moving you would be surprised.... the hardest part was once I realized the tow rope needed to go to the mast foot I then had total control trying to tie to the back strap or my harness just didn't work well

[@willnicholls5]

@@jolllyroger1 Wow amazing to hear about your windsurfing experience over the years. Goes to show the skill level you would have needed to be able to windsurf back in the day. The oldest gear I've used was an old Fanatic Ultra-cat race board. It was actually pretty fun but so different to modern day equipment.

[@jolllyroger1]

@@willnicholls5 I almost bought a fanatic cat think it might have been an ultra cat.... sailed it at a demo day and dam that was one sweet high tech board and setup.... had camber inducers full battens I think it even had some mylar more than just the window..... my first board had all dacron poly window and 3 half battens in the lower and 2 full battens in the upper... wish they still made sails like that because they are great for light wind free style and if you know how to set up right they're very forgiving plus you can read that you're getting max power.... you pull in until the front of the sail luffs slightly then sheet back in slightly .... just like you do in a sail boat using tell tales .... tried tell tales on my wind surf rig after a fall they are wet and don't do any good for quite awhile

[@rlnm3014]

Hi! I've been surfing for a while now and I'd love to buy a set. Would a 150l freeride/beginner board be a good choice? (I weigh 45kg)

[@mancarombo1691]

Maybe try a smaller board. It will be harder in the beginning but later you will find smaller board better. If you are 45 kg maybe try 120 liter board

[@willnicholls5]

Hi Kawaii. If you've been windsurfing for a while then getting a smaller board would be better. (e.g 120/130L freeride board). For context I was around 80kg when I was transitioning to an intermediate level and I was using a 140L board. I could comfortably plane on the board and it was still good for practicing in the light winds. I could also very easily uphaul on the board.

[@michaelhaze4507]

Help please selling 2nd hand for 890 CAD I’m 5”9 and 180 pounds Thoughts on budgets less then 1k Specs Length 372cm Width 70cm Volume 230 litres Sail Neil Pryde 6.0 m

[@willnicholls5]

I think that it does depend on where you are, around my area I know you can pick up some really nice 2nd hand gear with a budget of 1k. I hope it's the same for you too. Is the specs of the stuff you are trying to sell?

[@michaelhaze4507]

@@willnicholls5 just a local Kijiji listing living in Canada Ontario

[@niklasw3196]

How much do you pay for your first kit?

[@willnicholls5]

I paid around £150 for my first board (BIC techno 115, second hand) and for the whole rig around £250 (all second hand). Wetsuits were around £120. If you know who to ask and/or look in the right places you can pick up some really good bargains but watch out for really cheap "old" kit as you this kit can be very hard to learn on. Hope that helps, thanks for watching Niklas :)

[@niklasw3196]

Will Nicholls Thanks for the answer and the very nice videos.

[@privi889]

Nowadays you need 5.000 euros to buy a board, sail, mast, boom & accessories combo. Are manufacturers NUTS? Its despicable and guaranteed that young people with non-rich dads cannot afford that. This is the end for windsurfing.

[@willnicholls5]

I agree that to buy new the prices are insane. However one of the reasons I made this video was to try to help people who like myself didn't have (and still don't) the money to buy new. Buying second hand is certainly an option and if you know where to look you can get a good amount of kit for much less than retail. At least that's my experience in the UK, I'm not exactly sure what it's like in other countries but I can imagine the premise still applies, i.e using sites like Ebay and Facebook etc

[@privi889]

@@willnicholls5it would benefit the sport if people who blog start expressing resentment towards this elitist rich only approach. I never commented on your content. Manufacturers need to understand that five grant for a rig is insane and provocative. Elitist to say the least. I insist the sport, which started by BIC rigs for havens sake, will never reach any critical mass this way.

[@MrFergusferret]

Buy used!!

[@elmanuel472]

I got myself started on 2.500 bucks for new gear (due to massive discount on past model years). That forms a decent choice of 1 board and 2 sails which share the same mast and boom. Benefit of buying new: Still in great shape after 4 years of progression, never has been broken and has become my light wind kit by now. Edit: Every somewhat sophisticated (but far from high end) road bike would require a similar budget by todays standards. Windsurfing is just an awful lot of gear and unfortunately that sums up.

[@privi889]

@@elmanuel472 yep at (heavy)% discount things start to make sense. That's my point from the start. For bikes, again same logic, but, you can start biking decently with a lot less. If you want an excellent bike, sure you will pay for it. Cant do that with windsurfing, have to dish out the lot.

[@adamb.8854]

85kgs your weight, then you are at least 6 feet 2:) and 20 years of age

[@willnicholls5]

Yep that's correct (25 to be exact) :)

[@frantzcalleja8714]

You need a lot of expensive stuff

[@willnicholls5]

Not necessarily. I think it depends where you are. I've found loads of great second hand equipment over the years that has been very affordable.