The aquadrome is an ideal venue to learn how to windsurf. Pete at Action Sports runs introductory lessons, either on an individual or group basis, and has a selection of kit to hire at very reasonable rates.
What do you need to windsurf in the UK?
- a really good wetsuit - most of the year you'll need a 5/3mm winter suit. It's called a 5/3 because it's a 5mm on the body and 3mm on the arms. In the summer you'll get away with a shortie or even just a rash vest but only for a couple of months
- a flask - containing something to warm you up when you come in off the water. Hot water is fine, but some prefer soup or even whisky.
Kit
Don't buy before you try. Either rent some kit or go on a windsurfing holiday - preferably somewhere warm where you wont mind falling in! Technology and kit design have moved on leaps and bounds in the last five or so years and the used kit market can be a bit of minefield if you dont know what you're looking for. Once you've learnt the basics and are confident sailing in a straight-line and tacking you can think about buying - especially if you want to be flexible about where you sail...
Windsurfing has quite a steep learning curve so don't expect to hop on a wave board straight away! Depending on how quickly you're progressing look for:
- a board with about 150+ litres of volume. Try and get something from the last three or four years as these will be wider and more stable. Don't go too big because you'll out grow it too quickly and you might not even get it on the car!
- a sail about 6m in size which will be light enough to uphaul, but big enough to get you moving
- a mast and boom. Get some advice as they need to fit the sail. Masts vary in the amount of carbon they contain, more carbon = less weight = more money. If you're buying new 45% carbon should be fine to start with.
- bits and bobs- almost there, but you're also going to need a deck plate, mast-foot and extension, downhaul rope (and a fin if the board doesn't come with one!)
Once you've got your new pride and joy, get someone to show you how it fits together. If you've bought it from a shop, they'll happily show you. Otherwise ask someone on the beach. One of the great things about windsurfing is how friendly and helpful everyone is.
Tuning your kit
Once you get into the sport, you'll here lots about making sure there's enough downhaul on the sail. Not too mention positive and negative outhaul and moving the mast-foot for different conditions. Don't worry about that for now - just, put the deck plate in the middle of the track on the board and put on as much downhaul as you can (ie pull the rope as hard as you can!).
Lessons vs Books and DVDs
There's no doubt about it, when your learning something new lesssons win hands down. But practice is just as important. Specialist windsurfing holidays combine these two elements really well and people can progress quickly as a result. Time On the Water (TOW) is a term you'll hear lots and it's true - you won't get better by thought alone.
Books and DVDs have their place - and they're great as a mental refresher for that new move you're trying to learn. Videos tend to cover a huge amount in a short time and, as a result, can be quite overwhelming at first. Take your time and split it into manageable chunks - maybe watch the whole thing through and then concentrate on one or two moves until you've got them cracked.