Utah Windriders Association

This is probably the most common question I get from teaching lessons.
Windsport Magazine just sent me another batch of magazines, if anyone wants to drop by and pick one up.

One of their feature articles is directed towards that daunting question.

They suggest that a seasoned windsurfer can get away with two boards and a quiver of sails.

I am curious how local Utah windsurfers answer the "how much" question?

I love that question, because it says so much about the person asking. I usually say that you can
get into it for about $1000 with reasonable used gear, and that wind is free. I also tell them
that it gets into your blood, and alters your life decisions.

Windsport says 2 boards and a quiver. Heck you can get away with 1 board and 1 rig, if that's how you
want to play it, but, just like any other adrenaline sport, once you get that rush, money's not the
deciding factor. In Utah, I think most of us could get away with a 140 ltr board, and a 90 ltr
board, and a quiver like 4.2, 4.7, 5.5, 6.5, 8.0, 9.5. , but you know, whipping out that 3.7 and 70 ltr board when it's blowing 40MPH does bring a smile to your face, even if it's only twice a year.
In HR, I pretty much carry a 2 board quiver but I'll bet that
90% of the time I ride an 80 ltr board and sails 4.2, 4.7. or 5.5 sails. That's a 1 board 3 sail quiver.
So the real answer is, it's as expensive as you want to make it (I bought a place in HR, that's a real
expense).

-Craig

Josh Shirley wrote:This is probably the most common question I get from teaching lessons.
Windsport Magazine just sent me another batch of magazines, if anyone wants to drop by and pick one up.

One of their feature articles is directed towards that daunting question.

They suggest that a seasoned windsurfer can get away with two boards and a quiver of sails.

I am curious how local Utah windsurfers answer the "how much" question?

If your student lived close to Utah lake or Deer Creek, I would start off with a 140L and a 7.5M. Yeah I know… kinda weird I would choose those #'s. I was fortunate enough to run into a good deal on a huge quiver (Thanks again Todd) Yet despite so many options: 4.0 4.6 5.4 6.0 6.6 7.5 and 4 boards, I use just one combo almost exclusively, largely due to my newb status and suck-itude. The rest is a dream and Garage wall décor that the wife does not appreciate nearly as much as I do. So yeah my opinion is similar to Craig’s around $1000 should be a good foundation for lots of fun. Then when the second season rolls around the student can rip it up and get more stuff. Fully addicted to the point cost becomes a burden, but not a barrier.

Between $800 and infinity.

My first board and rigs were not good for beginners (I didn't know) and it cost me $800 and 2 years of learning how to sail a formula. The second board was a GO 175 and it changed things, quite a bit. I was able to re-sell a few of the sail and boards. So, the real cost is not that much. I think a comfy board/rig combo can be as little as $1,000. The benefit of weight loss and more time under the sun is priceless.

Not to mention the cost of the time you could be kiting!

ya, all that lost kiting time is priceless! So in a weird way you can't even put a price on what windsurfing cost you.

I knew nothing about the sport when I decided to get started and living in Southern Utah I'd never seen anyone else doing it. I bought 2 complete rigs for 140 bucks, consulted YouTube and figured out how they worked. I use to sail boats so the concept wasn't that foreign to me. Eventually I figured out what was going on and realized that I had bought a bunch of old junk and that's why the learning curve was so great.

So to answer the question "How much does windsurfing cost?" Not as much if you just buy good stuff right at the beginning, plus it will be a lot more fun. On the other hand, I've got some fun SUP boards from the old stash.

A COOL MILLION. Including the time I lost not kite surfing.

Transportation cost at 20 miles per gallon:

About $20 in gas, round trip from my house(Sugarhouse) to ULLB.

If you have to ask, you can't afford it. Just kidding. I used to say $1000, but it looks as though $1200 is probably closer to the current cost of NEW entry level gear: http://www.the-house.com/pkgs-brd-wind-all.html

Less than crack.

*including time lost in the dentist chair or not.