Windsurf Gear pictures
Lake sailing gear
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Windsurfing as well as other wind/water sport activities for some people is a lifetime sport. A variety of sizes can broaden the days you can sail. If you pursue this activity for a number of years you may acquire a quiver of equipment. Proper storage and keeping it out of the sun can keep it looking fresh and new. Good used equipment can be found but you will have to be patient. Board shapes can make a big difference on your sessions and how well you can perform. Do your research and be willing to experiment. Proper setup of equipment including proper downhaul of sails, fin choice, board size choice for conditions make a difference. Learn from experienced friends, youtube or other sources. It may be possible to get by with a couple of different sized boards and maybe three sail sizes. You may be able to sail in about 90 percent of conditions that happen in Alberta.
Waterton, Sept 2 23. Unusually higher winds so I used a 4.1 sail and 105 liter board. Board was a bit big when the big gusts hit so had to be careful. Most times at Waterton I use a 6.5 sail and 125 li. board. Lake Newell as were many reservoir lakes in Southern Alberta this season (2023) was down a lot so it was fun to get such great conditions to sail in. Unfortunately, Waterton is shut down for casual sailor there now as there is I think a 90 day quarantine for your equipment.
Kona One Design. Good beginner board with rig size based on sailor weight. Competition board but a very good large volume board of 220 liters. It has a soft deck and is 65W x 350L cm. 14.5 kg. Center board for upwind and can be used as a sup as well.
Windsurfer LT
A new engineered board copy of the original Windsurfer. Much lighter and with up to date materials and features this is another option. There is a competition model called the Windsurfer LT One Design and the regular Windsurfer LT. Do some research on this one.
Bic Techno 293 OD
Info on this board on a previous page. Check out the 293 OD information on Tahe Sport
Mistral Equipe 1
372cm x 63.5 cm wide. 12.5 kg or 28 lbs. 1987. If you find one make sure the centerboard is included. You can get a brass mast base nut (much larger and a rectangular shape) to use in the sliding track. A used board may not come with a proprietary mast base so you will have to order or make a big brass plate with threaded hole to accept the chinook mast base. They can be ordered from windsurf shops as well but shipping is expensive so put a package together of vent screws and chinook base nuts.
Bic 148 li. 264 x 75 cm wide. Good first short board size for a person not wanting a training/learning board. The fin size for this board is 50 cm and good for larger sized sails. Easy to uphaul the sail and good to learn water starts. Aggresive beginner up to advanced level.
Mistral Screamer 133 li 258 x 73 cm. Fin 38 cm. Good for 6.8 size sail and a bit smaller. Lots of fun in the bigger waves. Shape makes for a bouncy ride going upwind so steering through is the chop is necessary. Intermediate to advanced level of ability.
JP Magic Ride 241 x 74 cm. About a 35 or 38 cm fin. 6.8 and 6.0 sails works well. Also bouncy going throught the waves upwind. This is a great off shore wind board that turns nice and is a great ride in a stronger wind. Intermediate to advanced level.
Exocet 103 li. 250 x 64 cm. wide. 33 or 35cm fin. 5.0 to 6.0 size sail. Good for stronger winds up to 30mph. Good in waves and fast. You should be good at waterstarting or do not sail off shore winds with this board if you can't sail it upwind. Can be uphauled but will be difficult. Aggresive intermediate to advanced level.
Mistral Syncro 92 li. 245. x 59 cm. 4.0 to 5.5 sail size. Strong winds up to a point. Good in waves and downwind. Very good intermediate to advanced level. Almost necessary to be able to waterstart or sail only beach starts in on shore winds.
Getting the gear to the lake. I normally travel with a couple of boards and maybe three sails and two sail rigs (2 masts, 2 extensions, 2 mast bases and two booms). All on a roof rack and some of the gear in the vehicle. This covers me for 90% of the windier days. If you really want something convenient then a sailboard locker at a sailing club, a dedicated van for your windsurf equipment, a cargo trailer or an open trailer with a rack and storage box will be a good system and will keep all your gear together. Other things like towels to dry sails, small pieces of carpet to stand on, wetsuit hangers and anything else you can think of to help make it work.
Below. A van, a cargo trailer, a locker, an open trailer with rack and storage box and a roof rack on a vehicle.
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