If you’re someone looking to invest your money in a new hobby, you may find that stand-up paddleboarding is a great option. This is especially true if you love water, but if you’re looking to get into this outdoor activity, you may be a little overwhelmed with all the different types of paddle boards available to you.
From paddle boards specifically made for yoga to those made for racing, there is a wide range of builds, and each comes with specific designs that address issues of the individual style of stand-up paddleboarding. Choosing between the styles has to do solely with your situation and style of boarding. So if you’re someone looking to do a little windsurfing, you will need to ask yourself – should I go with a windsurf board or a paddleboard? Or do you have to choose?
Choosing a windsurf SUP could be the answer because you will have a versatile option that saves you money and gives you a lot of options. In the end, the only question that should be asked is: do you want a windsurf board for paddle boarding or do you want a paddleboard that can be converted to be a windsurf board?
Today, we will focus on looking in-depth at the windsurf paddle board. In this short article, we’re going to take a look at what exactly a stand-up paddleboard for windsurfing is, who should utilize it, and we will answer some key questions that many have when it comes to windsurfing SUPs.
What are Windsurf SUP Boards?
A windsurf SUP takes the traditional design of windsurfing boards and combines it with the more modern build that stand-up paddleboards use. The combination of these two designs allows for versatility, unlike many others. This means that the board itself is built with the ability to easily attach a windsurf sail to its mast with an adapter. The unit will also have a long daggerboard that is fitted through an opening in the center of the board.
Of course, when it comes to actually choosing the board itself, you need to consider a few things. You have to think about who is using it and where it is going to be used. For those that may be looking for a windsurf SUP board that is good for smaller waves and locations with a little stronger winds, you’re going to want to consider the weight and grip capability of that board. In the end, though, for those who focus on the windsurfing performance of the board, should probably look at a board crafted specifically for windsurfing.
But maybe the most important thing to consider is who will be using the board. Of course, those that are beginning will need a different board compared to those with a wealth of experience.
So, who is a windsurf SUP board for?
There is a wide range of different options, including windsurf inflatable paddle boards and stand-up paddle board windsurf crossovers or convertibles, respectively. Each of those different types of windsurf boards are good for particular people.
A crossover might be a good choice for those looking for one that fits beginners and families who have multiple different activities they like to use their stand-up paddleboard for.
When it comes to the windsurfing inflatable paddle boards, this is perfect for those that have a long distance to travel as it will be more portable than other options. Though there are a lot of great windsurf SUPs, it might still be a better idea to invest in a board specifically for the activity you will be doing more of. That means if you are mainly using the board for windsurfing, then a windsurf board is a better choice. On the other hand, if you are looking to paddleboard more, then a windsurf SUP or a crossover option might be a better investment.
Windsurf SUP FAQs
Now that we have looked at what exactly a windsurf SUP is and who could benefit from utilizing the different models, we thought we would also answer some of the most commonly asked questions we found online. By taking the time to do this, we hope to help make your decision-making process just a little bit easier.
Can you use a windsurf board as a paddleboard?
The answer to this question really depends on the style of windsurf board you’re utilizing, but when it comes right down to it, yes, you can use a windsurf board as a paddleboard. But there are a few things to look at – the width and buoyancy. In regards to the width, you want to look for a wider option as that makes it better suited for paddleboarding. When looking at buoyancy, you will want to look at the weight of the rider. For instance, a boarder of 250 – 300 lbs needs to have at least 175L buoyancy capability.
Buoyancy may be the most important consideration as you will be standing on the board and paddling, and this, in turn, will help with the stability and make the board more comfortable to utilize. On the other hand, if your windsurf board is a little shorter and doesn’t offer enough buoyancy, this will be quite a challenging model to use and will detract from your paddle boarding experience. In fact, most experts would say it just won’t work due to the lack of stability and the dynamic buoyancy effect.
However, even if you use a large Windsurfboard, you have to be aware that it will provide less stability than a comparable iSUP Board. Therefore it requires more paddling experience.
Is an inflatable board feasible for this type of boarding?
Inflatable SUP boards have their pros and cons. In order to decide if it’s feasible to utilize for windsurfing, we have to take a look at those. In regards to the benefits one can take advantage of when investing in an inflatable board, they transport very easily and are quite durable.
There is damage to be expected when it comes to the standard windsurf board, but this is lessened when you invest in an inflatable model. Some of these damages are mitigated because of the more durable materials used in inflatable windsurfing boards. They also tend to be easier to use than the stiffer models and can be quite budget-friendly.
However, many windsurfing paddle boarders prefer to go with the more traditional materials like epoxy and fiberglass. Many will state that these boards give more performance capabilities and are more maneuverable. When it comes to windsurfing with these inflatable boards, they tend to add more weight, affecting the buoyancy and taking away certain skills like carving.
So yes, it is feasible to use an inflatable board for windsurfing, but it may not give you as much performance as the hardboard style board.
Can you use a Windsurf Sail on a Windsurf SUP Crossover?
A windsurf SUP crossover may be a great investment for those looking for versatility. But do you have to utilize the sails or kits that come with it specifically for that? Can you use a windsurf sail?
The answer is yes. With an according mounting kit there are several different sails that can be utilized on a windsurf SUP crossover.
Of course, you have to understand how to sail with your paddleboard, and that starts after you have attached one of these sails to your board. You want to start with the sail in front of you and make sure you turn downwind so that the wind can push the sail.
There is a wide range of kits available out there to transform any SUP which has an according mast interface into a windsurf-capable option. Most of these sails will be lightweight and easy to assemble. Of course, you can only use a wind sail or any of these kits if your board is designed with a mast attachment insert.
That’s why windsurf SUP crossovers are so great when it comes to this because you should be able to attach a windsurf sail as well as any number of different types of sails to ensure you enjoy your time on the water.
Final Thoughts
So what exactly are windsurf SUPs? Windsurfing SUPs, like any other stand-up paddleboard, are specifically designed for the activity at hand. That means you can then easily attach a sail to the mast with an adapter, as mentioned above. But also, just like all those other models, there is a wealth of different styles available to you.
You’re going to look and see that there is a wide range of widths and lengths available to you that come with a plethora of accessories. In the end, a windsurfing SUP is a stand-up paddleboard that has been designed with certain features that allow you to take a standard paddle board design and make it one that can be used to surf those currents.
We hope that our look at what exactly these boards are, who should use them, and also the answering of some FAQs has helped you understand what a windsurf SUP is and if it is the right choice for you.
If you want to dig deeper into the topic of Windsurf SUP’s, check out our in-depth review of some great products!
