If children and teenagers are to have fun learning to windsurf, there is no getting around special children's rigs with lightweight components. But what about boards? Which board size makes sense and what are the differences between children's boards and those for adults? We have compiled the most important questions and answers for you below.
What board size makes sense?
The old rule of thumb "Body weight + 100 = recommended board volume" applies equally to adults and children. However, this rule of thumb applies primarily to beginners who are just learning to windsurf. For a nine-year-old child weighing 35 kilos, a board with 130 to 140 litres would be absolutely sufficient, although larger boards are of course also possible.
Once you have mastered water starts and loop surfing, the volume should not be more than 40 to 50 litres above your body weight. Even if it's hard to imagine from an adult's perspective: 80 litres - that can be a really big boat for a ten-year-old weighing 35 kilos.
Children's board or board for adults?
What is not a good plan for rigs is in many cases a good plan for boards - using adult material for children. For kids weighing 35 kilos who have left the absolute beginner stage behind them, a large freerider with 130 litres for light winds can work absolutely well if you get the problem of lateral drift under control. As most planing boards do not have a centre fin or even a daggerboard, you should retrofit one. Centre fins can be strapped on using tensioning strap systems. Practical solutions include the "Add-On Drift Stopper" (Duotone, Arrows), the "Fit Ocean Wing Fin" or also the "Ezywing Fin Kit". These systems are also an absolute must-have when children are learning on inflatable SUPs, as these are much more susceptible to wind than hardboards due to their thickness and rounded edges, which noticeably increases lateral drift.
As the strap systems sometimes require a minimum width for the boards, an alternative option for hardboards is to go to a trusted shaper or repairer. For example, if you have an additional power box installed in your 130-litre freerider, you will in many cases have a passable children's board with a centre fin without completely giving up its suitability for planing.
How to tune adult boards for children
For beginners, many longboards are available with a daggerboard or WindSUPs with a centre fin is usually also suitable for children and young people. With small sails (< 2.5 square metres), however, it can happen on very long boards (> 3.30 metres) that the steering impulse of the sails is no longer sufficient to tack the long board. The following tricks can then help.
- Fit the small fin: If you swap the long fin in the tail for a short or sawn-off fin (15 to 20 centimetres), you will noticeably improve the turning ability.
- Base plate far backThis measure also supports turning with small sails.
As soon as the offspring can safely hold their height and surf in gliding winds, the daggerboard or centre fin become superfluous and the funboard era begins. Whether an adult funboard makes sense at this point essentially depends on your height. Background: The adult boards on the market are generally designed for body sizes between 1.60 and 1.90 metres in terms of crotch and footstrap width. The following adjustments should be made so that young people are not standing on deck in a John Wayne stance:
- Customise Stance: by using holes that do not belong together; this means that the rear loops are mounted a little further forward, the front loops a little further back, which reduces the crotch width ("stance").
- Reduce the loop width: Many straps have the option of changing the width using asymmetrical plates. If you turn the wide side inwards, the straps become narrower and offer narrower feet more lateral support - a trick that also works perfectly for small adults. If this is not enough, the strap can be made even narrower by using holes that do not belong together.
- Base plate back: To make the distance between the loops and base plate more suitable for smaller people, move the base plate to the rear third.
Windsurf boards especially for children
These measures reach their limits with smaller kids (< 1.45 metres). It is then advisable to consider a proper children's board, as the distances between the straps, mast track and fin are specially adapted for smaller body sizes. Some of these also have a soft deck, which significantly minimises the risk of injury when getting on the board as there is no rough non-skid paint. On the next page you will find an overview of the children's boards available on the market.
From the basics to power jibes
From the basics to glide surfing and power jibes - these board models are designed to be fun for dedicated kids for a long time.
JP-Australia Young Gun Magic Ride
JP offers this model in a size of 112 litres (240 x 72 centimetres). The board has a large soft deck and offers the option of attaching straps in various positions. Carrying handles at the bow and tail ensure easy handling on land. To minimise lateral drift, the board is also equipped with a long 35 mm centre fin (power box). The Young Gun Magic Ride, which costs 1299 euros, is designed for children and teenagers who have completed their first beginner's course and are looking for a board that will accompany them from basic manoeuvres through to glide surfing.
Patrik Micro Ride
Manufacturer Patrik also has a special children's board in its programme with the Micro Ride. This is available in a size of 115 litres, but at 222 x 67.5 centimetres it is shorter and narrower than the JP model, for example. As a result, the Patrik model should be easy to turn even with the smallest sails. A large EVA deck pad on the Micro Ride also ensures injury-free mounting and a comfortable stance, while the loop positions and plug spacing have been specially adapted to the smaller stance of children and teenagers. This model is also supplied with two fins: A 32 mm fin is mounted at the rear, while a 34 mm Powerbox fin minimises lateral drift in light winds in the centre area. The board is said to weigh less than eight kilos and costs 1699 euros.
Duotone Ripper
In terms of dimensions, the Duotone model is quite close to the Young Gun Magic Ride from JP - 112 litres volume, 239 x 73 centimetres are the key data here. The Ripper also has a large deck pad that extends from the mast track area to the rear. Of course, the spacing of the mast track and loops has also been adapted to the needs of small junior rippers. The weight is stated at just under nine kilos and the scope of delivery includes a centre fin, which can be mounted in the middle of the board to optimise light wind suitability, in addition to the normal fin for the tail. The Duotone Ripper model is available in the shop for 1599 euros.
Manoeuvres, tricks & wave
If windsurfing kids are already confident in the water and want to practise manoeuvres or take their first wave rides in strong winds, the following models are of interest.
We One We Wave JR & We Style JR
The Austrian board manufacturer has two special models for teenagers in its programme. These are based on proven shapes, but have been adapted to the needs of smaller riders in terms of weight (5.1 to 5.8 kilos) and the distance between the mast track and straps. The We Wave JR waveboard is available in three sizes with volumes of 61, 71 and 80 litres for 1300 euros.
For the tricksters of tomorrow, there's the We Style JR model - also with the aforementioned adaptations and in three sizes (62, 72 and 81 litres), this board also costs 1300 euros.
F2 Barracuda Youth
Radical wave boards are also available for youngsters! With the Barracuda Youth, F2 offers a board in three sizes (52, 58 and 66 litres) which, thanks to its narrow width and dimensions adapted to body height and stride width, should allow turns like a hot knife through butter.
Duotone Grip4 SLS
With a volume of 60 litres, the quad model from manufacturer Duotone is specially designed for smaller riders. With a width of just 52 centimetres and a weight of 5.5 kilos, the Grip4 SLS should also allow flyweights to carve cleanly over the edge in manoeuvres and on waves. The board costs 2249 euros.
Patrik Micro-X
As a smaller addition to the Micro Ride, Patrik offers a model for ambitious youngsters who are looking for a high-quality board for gliding manoeuvres, jumps and first freestyle tricks. Understandably, there is no centre fin or soft deck here, but the plug spacing, stance and board trim are also specially optimised for small rippers. The Micro-X is available in a size with a volume of 85 litres (219 x 58 centimetres) for 1899 euros.
JP-Australia Young Gun Freestyle
The shrunken version of a freestyle board is available for 1599 euros in a size of 65 litres (198 x 56 centimetres). Of course, not only the volume has been adjusted, but also the crotch and strap widths. Apart from its freestyle suitability, the board should also offer good top speed and be great fun for young people weighing up to 50 kilos when practising classic gliding manoeuvres.
