Information for Beginning Windsurfers
2010 Regional Clinics
August 7, & August 15, 2010 SUP Events @
Lakes Bay
For more information, click
here
October 1-3, 2010 at the
Dewey Beach launch in Delaware, by
ABK If
interested,
click
here and then click on the "Sign up here"
hyperlink and fill out the form
LESSONS
Group lessons every other weekend throughout the summer
at the Gunpowder.
For more information, click
Here
Private and Group lessons throughout the summer at the
Lakes Bay launch
For more information, click
here
BEGINNER LAUNCHES:
1. Mason Neck State Park#--near
Washington, DC
2. The Gunpowder# -- near Baltimore, MD
###
3. Jackson Creek Landing# --
near Annapolis, MD
4. Dewey Beach# -- near Rehoboth beach,
Delaware
5. Canadian Hole# -- Buxton, NC
6. Windmill Point# -- Nags Head, NC
7. Hallieford# -- Middle Peninsula, VA
8.
Factory Point# -- Hampton, VA
9.
Mill Creek#-- Hampton, VA
10. Ocean City, MD#
###
11. Lakes Bay# -- near Atlantic city, NJ
###
12. Assateague# -- 10 miles south of Ocean
City, MD
13.
St Mary's College# -- Southern Maryland
14. Elms Beach# -- Southern
Maryland
15. Camp Merrylande# -- Southern Maryland
16. Seaside Park#, LBI, NJ
17. Sandy Hook# (bayside Lot C)
18. Harvey Cedars# LBI, NJ
19. Bayview Park# Brant Beach, LBI, NJ
###
Beginner friendly launches generally 1) have shallow water, 2) are more
protected from
motor boats and big waves,
3) other windsurfers are often
present, 4) often have rescue
facilities and 5) may have a support shop on site
if indicated
by an "###".
READ
Start Windsurfing Right book by James Coutts
good inexpensive, easy to read book
about the basic principles of windsurfing.
Although U.S. Sailing sells this book for $16 plus shipping by clicking
here,
you can often get it for about half that price by
buying used or
new from
amazon.com or
half.com.
Free On-Line Windsurfing Instruction by U.S. Windsurfing. Click here to begin
Guide to Successful Rigging and Derigging by Glenn Woodell. Click here to view
Simple Tips and Tricks for Windsurfing Gear by Glenn Woodell. Click here to view
BUYING GEAR: Start out by taking a few lessons. When it
comes time to get your
own gear, remember that windsurfing is an imploding
sport, which means that it is easy
to buy used gear at a fraction of the cost of
new equipment. Also remember that in the
latter months of the year
(e.g.,
August-Dec), used gear sells for less than at the early
months (Feb-June).
Sources of used gear include, but are not limited to
Craigs List,
iwindsurf,
Annapolis Wind,
Extreme Windsurfing,
bw_windsurfing
What equipment you buy is somewhat personal, but I personally loved the Hifly
Primo
board (FX 335). 335 is the length in cm and its floatation is in the
200 to 250 liter range.
This board is a very stable school board with high
floatation but not terribly limiting.
For sail sizes, buy a 5.5. You do not want too small a sail size or you
will not be powered
in most conditions, and you do not want too big a sail as it
can get heavy. For beginners,
the 5.5 is a good start. It is not
necessary for your first sail to be a 5.5, but
something close to it is what is
necessary.
A last word of advice, and perhaps this is my personal taste, there is
a balance that needs to be struck, when buying your board, between ease
of use versus performance. I recommend leaning towards ease of use so that
you will not be overwhelmed when going out and quit because it is too difficult.
People have encouraged me to lean the opposite way, to buy something that
can perform well so you will not outgrow it quickly. The problem is
is that many have dropped the sport because they buy too aggressively,
and as a result, do not want to go out because it is too difficult. I
recommend
that you err on the side of ease of use when purchasing your first board, so
that
you will want to go out again and again so that you can get to the next level
to later see the day that you plane and use footstraps.
ALSO CHECK OUT:
Glossary Page defining windsurf terms and jargon;
Genres Page providing an overview of the sport; and
Calendar Page describing how the different seasons impact the windsurfer.