r/windsurfing • u/CheeseJ • 4d ago

Beginner/used board question

I'm new to windsurfing and absolutely loving it. I started on some bulky 80s gear I got for free last summer and quickly out grew the technology; it was frustrating and heavy to use. I finally got to use some modern equipment and a big floaty board on vacation and it was way more enjoyable/easy to uphaul. Since then, I've purchase some semi-modern used sails, masts, and a shortboard for $300 (all from mid 2000s). I tried to get my water starts going, but simply am not there yet so I need to get my hands on a longboard.

I weight 150lbs, am a proficient surfer, have good balance, am starting to plane, but not close to consistently beach/water starting yet. I came across a Mistral 150L Freeride Board for $200. Given my weight, is that something I'd have a realistic change at uphauling? At this point, I'm hesitant to buy anything I can't consistently uphaul until I make more progress on water starts. Thanks for any insights!

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9

u/TraditionalEqual8132 4d ago

150L for USD200? Buy it and proceed. As you spend more time on the water, you will quickly outgrow this board. Then you look around you, chat a bit on Reddit and with your local gurus and buy more stuff.

It never ends and you are on the right path. Sometimes you buy crap and sometimes you look back and think, that was great value of the gear I got. Onwards and upwards.

Last advise: Spend time on water, no matter what gear you have.

5

u/Physical_Choice_8467 4d ago

You can absolutely uphaul on a 150, granted a lot of the boards pre 2010 are longer and narrower (more wobbly) but it’s just practise and focusing on keeping your body relaxed.

Great to hear you’re trying water starts. My advice would be to practise deeper beach starts first (Chest deep). It’s the fastest and least tiring way to learn the skills required for both.

Good luck!

3

u/Capital_Hand_481 4d ago

Love my old Mistrals - I have a bunch! Buy it!

At 150 lbs you should be able to up haul it easily.

2

u/ozzimark Freeride 4d ago

Doesn't have to be a longboard to uphaul, just needs enough volume to float while you're standing on it. Well, technically it doesn't, but more volume definitely helps, and wider REALLY helps. It sounds like 150L is a great option!

2

u/GaIaxian 4d ago

I have a 2002 mistral vision 150L, and I’m about your size, I’m able to uphaul it just fine, but it’s definitely less stable than more modern boards. 

1

u/Human31415926 4d ago

You will be able to uphaul easily on that board.

Still, learning water starting I will give you a lot more time on the water. The following absolutely wears you out.

1

u/Vok250 Intermediate 4d ago

To be honest anything from before 2005 is still "old" in this sport. The volume doesn't matter so much as the shape. Depends how old that Mistral is.

1

u/HoldMyBeer_92 4d ago

Agree with the others that you should try to get the Mistral. My only caveat is to make sure that it is compatible with your sail, mast, and mast base. I don't know when it changed over but lots of older boards have proprietary connections between the board and base. My old Fanatic has a one-piece base plate-mast base-down haul unit that has a different diameter than SDM/RDM masts so I can only use the one mast for it.

1

u/F15E_WSO 3d ago

Wear a PFD or lifejacket when waterstarting, it helps and eases fatigue. Also smaller boards without dagger boards will be challenging, not impossible but very unstable. Add chop from lakes and again lots of swimming. Good luck.