which windsurf to buy for 16 years beginner

Question
Like to buy for X-mas wind surf. for my grandson.He is 160 lb., 5.9 feet. He will surf at the beach in Puerto OPennasco,10-15 mph winds,waves.
Grateful for advise.

Answer
Hi Milos,

You will need to get him a beginner style board for him to learn all the basics and get experience. After a season or two he will probably be ready to advance to a shorter board that will work for wave sailing.

There are few good beginner boards that he will still be able to sail after he becomes a more advanced sailor. Starboard Go, Mistral Prodigy, Exocet Cruiser, and Bic Techno 293-D are the top boards for beginners. You can go to www.windsurfingmag.com for info on all these and more. Look at equipment for info and links to manufacturer websites. At their websites you can look up dealers and find someone near you if you don't have a local shop nearby. There are also good instructional tips on the windsurfingmag site.

Most boards will come with a mast, boom, & sail or you can buy all these separately. If there is a local shop near you, talk to them about what size sail your grandson would need to start with, based on the conditions there. Also, ask about lessons for him. It will greatly improve his learning and advancement if he gets professional instructions.

I hope this will help. Happy shopping.
Windlover