Gear help for a beginner!

[adamker]

Hello Iwindsurf community!

I just started off doing some windsurfing the other day here in Japan and fell in love with it! I don't have money to buy a new board myself so I received an old board from a friend who didn't need it anymore but I need to get 2 parts for it if I understood it correctly I need a BASE and a EXTENSION.

Since I'm new I would really appreciate your help with identifying what I need to buy to have a complete gear.

I think the maker is Mistral and I attached a picture for you of the slot.

I appreciate any help I can get!

Thank you so much in advance!

[craigatk]

Sorry can't help exactly with which part you need. It can be a real pain tracking down old bases. At least Mistral still makes boards so they might have legacy parts available. I'm sure this forum can help with some more details.

Where in Japan are you? and can you speak Japanese (abit?). I was living there for 5 years and used to windsurf out of Miura-Kaigan south of Yokohama. They had two really solid shops right on the beach that rented like new gear for about 4000-5000 yen per day. With a more modern sail and board (wide style) your learning curve will go that much faster and you don't need to buy anything. Worth considering.

If you pick up a copy of one of the Japanese windsurfing magazines, they have all the shop address in the country listed and you can probably find one in a major city nearby. I would ask one to try and help you find the part you need if you are convinced getting this board working is your best option. Find out who the shops that carry Mistral are in Japan or the Japanese distributor and call them or ask your Japanese friends for help. Good luck!

[dhmark]

As I recall from these old Mistral boards, you can use a standard Chinook single nut base that goes in the standard base slot, get rid of the nut, and simply screw the base into the further back of the two holes on the board. so you may not need any special parts.

Are you able to move the mast track back and forth. I think you flip the black thing all the way forward, and then when you press it all the way forward something releases and the track will move back and forth. It helps to have a base in place to move back and forth.

Dmark

[dhmark]

I would add that the board, a Mistral Energy XR would be really bad to learn on, too low volume (105 L) to easily uphaul and get going. It was never an easy board to sail, flat bottom, stiff rails, nervous fast ride, and difficult to jibe. The XR version is really light (prob 15 pounds) and super fragile. dhmark

[jingebritsen]

yes, the chinook single bolt will work. yes, the board is a real flying fish! it will not allow one to learn on very easily. better to use something more friendly.

http://www.exocet-original.com/nano.php

the above link will show you the style of board to look for for learning. so will the one below.\

http://www.exocet-original.com/link.php

either case, one should use a larger board for learning and then start using the specialist boards like the energy you show.

[d0uglass]

Hi Adam,

If you take the nut off a single bolt Chinook base you can screw the base directly into the smaller (threaded) hole in the Mistral mast track carriage. The base you're looking for will look something like this:

http://www.bigwinds.com/wind/category/5/product/721

And the extension you're looking for will look something like this:

http://www.bigwinds.com/wind/category/6/product/570

Just FYI, though- it will be IMPOSSIBLE to windsurf on that Mistral Energy because it's way way way too small and narrow for a beginner. You'd have better luck riding a unicycle on a tightrope.

Look for a wider board with a daggerboard and at least as much volume in liters as your weight in pounds.

Good luck!

-James

[wsmike]

Agree, you'll only frustrate yourself in an already steep learning curve. With a wide board with lots of volume - 150Litre plus, it'll feel like a dock under your feet. With that old narrow board it will be like trying to stand on a floating log, all while trying to manage the sail, uphaul and steer.

There also can't be enough said about getting a lesson, will save you months if not years of banging your head against something solid.

[KevinDo]

What kind of fin would work on that board?

[adamker]

Thank you all for answering and sorry for the late reply! I didnt think I would get any reply so fast! Thank you so much! Some of you kindly mentioned that this board is not good for beginners but I have another that should be better for me as a beginner. I think its made by Bic (also ancient) attached photo. Is this better for beginners?

@craigatk , I actually live at Yokohama station but at the end of this month Im moving to Zushi just next to the beach! Thats why Im preparing

I actually have a bigger board better suited for beginners (I think)
Can you look at the picture?

@dhmark , Thank you! I will look into the Chinook nut base! Hopefully I can find it here in Japan or maybe I need to find it on the net.

@jingebritsen , Thank you for your board suggestions! Actually I have a wider board that is supposed to be better for beginners, what do you think? Since im a real beginner I thought its better to start off with some second hand stuff before buying my own board. And they are so "#"%%in expensive here in Japan! Ill look into that brand when im ready to get one for myself

@d0uglass Thanks for the links!! I looked at their site and they dont seem to ship to Japan. Do you know any site that do ship internationally? If so, maybe you can check my purchases before I put to the order to be on the safe side? Thanks again for your help!

@wsmike Thank you very much for your advice wsmike. I have had a couple of lessons here in Japan already. I might sign up for a couple of more but Im moving to the beach this month with instant access to the beach and my place has storage for boards which means I can go practicing everyday But yes, this might not be the best board for beginners but I have another bigger one (picture attached) that should be easier? Its made by BIC I think. This Mistral was more intended as a board to experiment for friends coming over who already have experience or for me when I get much much better. Thanks again!

@KevinDo: Yes, I would want to know that as well

[jingebritsen]

same dilemma. although easier than the mistral you've shown, it still is pretty advanced.