Beginners always have many difficulties, and unclear ideas, on which boards to buy, at the beginning of their career. With this article, we would like to give newbies a hand in choosing the first large volume windsurfing board, on which to take their first steps, and the first medium volume freeride board, with which to evolve further. We therefore give you an overview of the latest dedicated models offered by the market.

WINDSURFING, BEGINNERS: WHICH BOARD TO CHOOSE?

We had already written a guide, to help those who approach this amazing sport; the guide contains the main suggestions on the recommended equipment to start windsurfing. We warmly invite you to read it.

In that article, we reported the results of our experience, and, considering an average weight rider (about 70 kg), we suggested to use a beginner board of about 180 liters of volume, and then move on to a freeride board of about 150- 140 liters. The suggestion is always more than valid. It is clear that the that heavier riders (80-90 kg) will have to opt for a beginner board even of 200 liters, at the beginning, and a freeride board of at least 160 liters, subsequently. For he lighter riders, except in special cases, we suggest they do not drop to a too small volume board, anyway, in order not to lengthen the learning curve. Eventually, if they show rapidity in learning, they will be able to accelerate the further volume decrease by going to a freeride board of 110-120 liters, or to the first freewave, taking into account, however, that the different shape type also entails new difficulties in managing a board with lower volumes in the nose and tail, compared to the previously used ones.

Having said that, let's try to give some examples and indicate which products are available on the market, in the beginner boards range, and among the less technical freeride boards, more suitable for those with little experience.

Beginner windsurfing boards (school and entry level boards)

Fanatic Viper

The Fanatic Viper ( see the manufacturer's website , from which the photos published here are taken ) has always been a point of reference among the school boards to start. The 2022 model, currently on the market, is available in 4 volumes sizes, with 30 liters of difference in between each one (160, 190, 220, 240 liters), which are really able to cover all needs. Consider that the weights range from a minimum of 11.85 kg to 15.15 kg, non-trivial weights to carry. The board is characterized by a deck covered in soft material, important for cushioning the hits resulting from the many inevitable falls. Obviously, equipped with a center fins, and a daggerboard (to be raised, when sufficient upwind riding ability has been acquired).

The strength of the Viper has always been that of being a board with excellent gliding performance, a feature that makes it a valid board also for progressing further; that is, after having learned the fundamentals (upwind riding, bearing away, base tacking and basic jibe), when it is a question of learning the harness and straps use, and of learning to glide. You can therefore avoid having to quickly switch to another board.

The board is also produced in an ultra-robust HD (Heavy Duty) version, made of Thermoform technology, which, according to the manufacturer, makes it almost indestructible. A very extended pad in the foot movement area guarantees ideal comfort and friction. The board is produced, however, only in the volume of 245 liters, which makes it suitable, almost exclusively, for schools, being difficult to transport due to its weight.

For some years now, Fanatic, like other manufacturers, has also made available the inflatable version of the Viper, the Viper Air (in the normal and premium version). The board is available only in the 355 liter size. The advantage of inflatable boards is that they are easier to disassemble, not so much due to the lower weight (in this case, however, 15 kg), but rather because they are deflated and have a smaller footprint (they are kept in a special backpack, and can be put in the trunk). They can also be used as SUP, given their remarkable stability and buoyancy (which also greatly facilitates beginners in the early stages). On the other hand, as also stated on the Fanatic website, the lower stiffness determines lower performance in terms of entry and gliding performances. Therefore, the beginner will need to change boards to easily learn the entry and control of the glide.

The Premium version, compared to the basic version, is made with a much more reinforced structure (DOUBLE LAYER HD - HEAVY DUTY - TECHNOLOGY), which however also translates into a weight of 15 kg (against 9.55 of the basic version). As for the rest, the dimensions of the board and the fins are the same.

Starboard Rio and Start 

Another historical brand of windsurfing, Starboard , offers two distinct models for the beginner board: the Rio and the Start (see the manufacturer's website , from which the photos below are taken). The latter is especially designed for learning the fundamentals of windsurfing, favoring stability over performance in terms of gliding. The Rio, on the other hand, has a more tapered shape, and favors performance in terms of glide, at a slight detriment to stability. It is, therefore, a board similar to the rigid Viper, just seen above. The two photos below clearly show the different outline of the two boards, with the Rio characterized by more parallel side edges (rails).

However, it must be said that the Starboard beginner boards all have very generous volumes. The Rio is produced in 4 volumes (196, 219, 259, 266 liters), with weights, quite important, ranging from 16.5 kg to over 20 kg. The Rio is produced in two versions: with or without pad, on most of the deck. The one without, slightly less comfortable for absolute beginners (more slippery and less soft on impact with the body), is however lighter, and more durable (the pads deteriorate over time).

The Start is produced in two sizes, M and L, with both very generous volumes, 238 and 246 liters, and equally important weights (18.8 and 19.3 kg), characteristics that make it not very portable, and basically suitable only for schools with storage.

The Starboard Beginner boards have always been excellent boards, easy, robust and well finished, and these models, for deck finish, strength, are no exception. As we will see later, Starboard also offers a very successful model for the next step: the Starboard Go, a freeride board, to which are linked some of this article author's most wonderful memories about his first real glides.

Starboard Airplane

For some years now, Starboard has also been producing the inflatable version of the beginner board: the Starboard Airplane. On this site, we have already reviewed the 2016 version of this product in detail ( read review ).

Over the years, this type of product is continuously evolving, with the aim of giving the boards greater durability, more rigidity and lightness. In any case, the limits of the inflatable boards, already highlighted above for the Fanatic models, remain. Starboard even promises the possibility of performing the Carve Jibe with the Airplane, but we find it hard to believe that the sensations can be those of a traditional freeride board. Stability is certainly a peculiarity that facilitates the learning of beginners.

Starboard declares: Double-layer, low-extension woven drop-stitch Fusion Welded technology adds stiffness, improves durability with a higher resistance to puncture, improves shape stability over time and reduces weight. New improved efficiency and reduced drag ensure easier planing. Enclosing the AirPlane’s rear fin box permanently in the board streamlines the bottom shape, which improves early planing and top-end speed. The new box is glued in place and no longer removable, which also makes the board easier to set up.

It is available in 4 models with volumes of 201, 229, 290, and 314 liters, and relatively low weights ranging from a minimum of 7.9 kg to a maximum of 12.6 kg. 

The larger model (Whopper School Edition) is designed for windsurfing schools (falling beginners cannot break the board as it is inflatable), and is compatible with SUP, when there is no wind.

RRD Easy Ride and Evolution

Even RRD (see the manufacturer's website , from which the photos published here are taken ) has always paid particular attention to the boards dedicated to schools and beginners. The strategy is similar to that of Starboard, i.e. RRD offers a designed board, the RRD Easy Ride, for learning the first fundamental maneuvers, and navigation technique, and a more slender and performing board, the RRD Evolution, for the immediately following phase. The author learned windsurfing with an RRD Easy Ride 180, from a few years ago ....

The RRD Easy Ride has Deck covered in Softskin, impact resistant, and soft in case of contact with the body and knees. It has a solid and resistant construction that is suited to the use of the board for a long time in schools. It has many options for the placement of the front and rear straps. The available sizes are 3 (S, M and L) and correspond to the different weights and levels of beginners: 166, 180 and 200 liters, with board weights ranging from 12.5 to 14.5 liters.

The RRD Evolution is proposed as a board also dedicated to beginners, but in fact it is already an entry level freeride, even only for the volumes available, all quite small (115, 125,135, 155 liters, and a width that does not exceed 76 cm in the larger model). It has a more elongated shape than the Easy ride, and full edges from bow to stern,  which guarantee better gliding performance. It has two different positions for the straps: a more advanced and central one, for the less experienced; the second one more external and rearward, for the more experienced who want to obtain better gliding performance. It is also  suitable for the practice of windfoiling, a peculiarity that however can only interest those who already have a good control of the fundamentals. 

The roundup could go on for a long time. By now, the list of windsurfing board manufacturers is almost endless. We wanted to focus our attention on the producers who, historically, have always paid a lot of attention to beginners, also resulting as the main suppliers of windsurfing schools all over the world. We limit ourselves to adding that Goya also produces an excellent board, the Surf, dedicated to beginners, with different experience, with volumes ranging from 100 to 260 liters, with peculiar characteristics depending on the size. We have already talked about Goya Surf in a recent article introducing the whole new range of Goya boards .

Entry level freeride boards 

Once the fundamentals have been learned, the large volume school board is increasingly bulky, and too poorly performing. So, it becomes necessary to switch to a more performing shape and get some volume down. On this site you will find several articles with the reviews of the freeride boards of the main manufacturers, from the past years ( click here, for the review of the 2021 models ).

In this part of the article, we will focus our attention on the models of some manufacturers, which are best suited to facilitate the first steps in learning the harness use, glide entry and control, and the Power Jibe.

Fanatic Gecko

Also in this range, Fanatic (see again the manufacturer's website) offers one of the models that have always been most appreciated among the entry level freeride boards: the Fanatic Gecko. It is a classic freeride board, very stable, and relatively easy to control when riding straight, with more possible options for the straps positioning, with a large hull surface, to ensure easy planing entry by the less experienced, with thin rails, and wide tail to facilitate the execution of the Carving Jibe. It is made in three versions: HRS, ECO, LTD.

The HRS (High Resistance composite technology) features a durable construction for everyday use. It gives the hull maximum strength, as well as making it resistant to shocks and dents. The strategic use of fiber reinforcements ensures adequate rigidity. The deck is covered in EVA, which gives the surface greater softness and friction. Available sizes: 100/110/122/135/148/156. 

The Eco version is built with linen, cork, bamboo and bioresin instead of the classic glass and PVC sandwich, Eco technology uses, where possible, sustainable plant-based raw materials, without compromising performance. For the rest, the shape is that of the HRS. Available sizes: 110/122/135.

Finally, the LTD version is made with BIAX FIBER / FULL PVC SANDWICH LIGHT FINISH TECHNOLOGY, which offers an optimized weight / stiffness / flexibility ratio. It is the lighter version of this board model, and also a little more delicate. For comparison, take into account that the 135-liter model weighs 9.65 kg in the HRS version, 8.1 kg in the Eco version and 7.9 kg in the LTD version. Wide range of sizes available for the LTD version: 100/110/122/135/148.

The next step can be the Fanatic Blast, which is a board that requires an already evolved technique to get it into planing.

Jp Magic Ride

For years, the Jp Magic Ride has been another reference point among freeride boards for the beginners initiation, who have now mastered the basic maneuvers, and who want to progress further (see the manufacturer's website , from which the images published here are taken).

The Jp Magic Ride is a board that is easily controlled in straight line ride, and which is easy to jibe with. It is designed to tolerate stance errors by the novice rider. It has a thin shape (the lower rider position facilitates control) and wide, with a uniform distribution of volumes, which keeps the center of gravity close to the mast base, further guaranteeing stability.

It is produced in 7 sizes (99, 109,119,129, 139,149, 159 liters), and in two construction technologies: LXT (more rigid), and ES (Epoxy Sandwich). The ES version is supplied with a standard Powerbox fin, and only the LXT models are equipped with the Foil-Powerbox, specially reinforced from JP, for use of the board also for windfoiling. Lots of straps positions available.

Starboard Go and Starboard Carve

Starboard offers two models for those who get off the Beginner board and want to get on a board with which to learn the technique of gliding: the Starboard Go, and the Starboard Carve.

The Starboard Go is a board with intermediate characteristics between a school board and a freeride board. The range of volumes available is very wide: 122, 133, 144, 155 (which are called Starboard Go), and 165, 175, 195 (called Go Windsurfer). The central fin of the GO 122, 133, 144 and 155 and the daggerboard of the GO Windsurfer 165, 175, 195 help to stay upwind and sail in a straight line. For the more experienced, removing the daggerboard or lifting the fin just a little, adjusting the straps in their rearmost and outer positions, allows you to unlock the maximum board potential. Weights range from 10.1 kg of the smaller volume to 14.1 kg of the larger size. The Go Windsurfer is almost a school board, which is also good for taking the first steps. The Starboard Go is an easy board, ideal for those who already have some experience (maybe, acquired with a few lessons, or a few rentals), and wants to buy their first board on which to experience at 360 degrees, on the fundamentals of windsurfing.

The Starboard Carve offers full freeride performance in all conditions. 99 and 109 are the measures, at low volume; 159 and 169 are the recently added measures for lighter winds. The range of measures is therefore really wide. Carves are fast, but retain total control, jibe well, glide easily, and maintain glide just as simply. Extra volume has been added in the tail, and features an extra long flat bottom shape that increases ease of gliding. It is produced in two constructions: the Starlite Carbon is more rigid, powerful and expensive; the Wood Sandwich is softer and more comfortable. 8 volume sizes available, from 99 to 169 in 10-liter increments. 

The GO 2022s are available exclusively in the new Starlite construction, a significant step up from the standard construction typically used in this price category: lighter, stiffer, more impact resistant and with a sharper, more performing feel on the water. It uses a combination of 0.6mm Australian pine wood and fiberglass to combine premium technology with a quality finish.

The Starboard Futura, as the Fanatic Blast, is the next step once you have become an experienced freerider.

RRD Firemove

Finally, we also mention the RRD Firemove to close the article. In addition to the aforementioned RRD Evolution, those who intend to switch to an easy-to-ride freeride board can also consider this model, characterized by a considerable width, and a uniform volumes distribution, which make it a stable and relatively easy board.

The manufacturer declares: the Firemove is known for its "plug and play" attitude and for the superior confidence it is capable to generate from the first time you step on it: early planing, acceleration, maneuverability and a feeling of lightness above the water . The rails of the Firemove have been made even thinner, to the point of being thinner than the rails of the Hardcore Wave; a real injection of maneuverability and ease of handling with the feet.

It is produced in the following volumes: 100/110/120/135/155 liters.

All sizes are characterized by a wide tail with winger and a wide and compact bow.
The larger sizes (120, 135 and 155) have a reinforced Deep Tuttle box specific for hydrofoil, and Tuttle box in small sizes.

Multiple straps inserts: outboard for speed and jibe sessions; inboard to accentuate the maneuvering characteristics or for exits with the hydrofoil.
The board is made in 3 construction technologies: LTD, LTE and E-TECH:
LTD: deck in Biaxial Carbon Innegra fibers and Glass bottom
LTE: light and resistant, with wooden sandwich on deck and bottom
E-Tech: HD glass epoxy skin on top and bottom with glass crossed fibers lamination.

Also for this boards range, we could list several other models of the many brands available on the market. We believe, however, that those described above are among the most accessible options for those who want to finally get closer to the fantastic world of funboard.

Hang loose. Fabio Muriano