Longboard for an old guy

GeneM · Joined: 23 Apr 2012 Posts: 4

I had a chance to take a windsurfing lesson last year when I was working in Hawaii for a while. It was great and now I'm looking for a board to really learn on around here in Santa Cruz, CA. My long term goal is small wave sailing in moderate conditions. Not interested in SUP but I'm sure just sailing around in flat water will be fun too. I read a bunch of stuff on this forum and it looks like a Kona 11'5" or Exocet Curve would be good choices. The Thommen Windsup looks like a piece of art but they don't seem to come up on the used market very often. Since I'm pretty much a beginner, I'm sure a lot of boards would work. I'd appreciate any suggestions and most important, a line on a decent used board.

Thanks - Gene

zirtaeb · Joined: 03 Jul 2009 Posts: 1769

While almost any old longboard will do, a wider one, one that you can use for small surf, and maybe one you can paddle home with, is a safe call.
Some SUP's come with mast tracks. Ideal for surfsailing when winds are light.
If you look for a poly foam SUP, you can install the mast track yourself, giving you the ultimate all water board.
I assume you surf.

w8n4wind · Joined: 12 Nov 2008 Posts: 220 Location: canada

no comparison to old longboards and the kona/curve.. if youre going into any kind of waves at all, go for the kona/curve 11 5..
it can be the one board quiver.
for longboards i have an old equipe, megacat, and two sailable sups, a starboard, and a bark..but if i was only to keep one itd be the kona, good from 8 to 25 knots..and waves.
the old longboards dont surf, and the sups dont plane.

paulf. · Joined: 21 Mar 1996 Posts: 252

RRD longrider fits here also.

beaglebuddy · Joined: 10 Feb 2012 Posts: 302

The other step tail board is the Exocet Windsup, 4" wider and 3" longer than it's little brother the Kona.

jingebritsen · Joined: 21 Aug 2002 Posts: 2066

wind SUP is larger than the curve 11'5. there's a guy in santa cruz that wants to sell his larger wave board. i think that's nuts. but, maybe the wind is that much stronger over there than florida? if the wind is indeed stronger, then the 11'5 would be great. if you choose either the wind SUP, or the long rider, tape the dagger slot closed when surf sailing them.

LUCARO · Joined: 07 Dec 1997 Posts: 146

Hey Gene:

I have a Kona 11.5. Be careful because like you i had little interest in SUP. However, this year I started taking out the 11.5 in the waves with a paddle. Now I am kind of hooked and have gone on to purchase a dedicated SUP.

Getting back to windsurfing though. If you could get a used Kona One (with a centerboard) I would go with that first. People have ridden small waves on them and the advantage of the centerboard when you need it would be good, at least in the beginning.

Then unless you are 220lb or greater you could jump to the kona 10.5. Which might be more useful in the stronger wind we get up in northern cal. (However, take that with a grain of salt as this is based more on what i have read and what i heard from the guy i got the 11.5 from).

3-phase · Joined: 26 Jan 2007 Posts: 476

Sealion XL, next to be a excellent Windsurboard to learn and excel, it rides waves well. It has a pretty wide fish tail is stable in waves glides early and also can be used as a paddle board. Very handy board. Easy to carry easy to store and move around

http://vimeo.com/10109787 see the video so you get an idea.

www.windsurfdeal.com has them stock.

Jurg