Friend wanting to get into windsurfing?

[jjm]

I have a friend wanting to get into windsurfing. He lives in Bel Marin Keys (Novato) and would be launching from his dock in the back yard!!

Kiting wouldn't be very practical without boat assistance.

He keeps bugging me for help, but I have no experience with windsurfing and thought I'd ask here. He's about 180lbs and winds can get in the 15-20+ range in the afternoons.

Any recommendations on gear to get and where (board size, sail size(s))?

As far as learning, steer him toward instruction (Boardsports, Cal Sailing Club, ?), or just let him wing it?

Check out the setup, so jealous every time I go to his house!
http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&geocode=&q=bel+marin+keys&sll=37.0625,-95.677068&sspn=47.483365,93.076172&ie=UTF8&hq=&hnear=Bel+Marin+Keys,+Marin,+California&ll=38.08247,-122.515712&spn=0.011603,0.022724&t=h&z=16

[windhorny]

DON'T do it! Friends dont let friends learn to windsurf. kidding.

[stone]

Get him a twintip and a toilet plunger. Attach plunger to twintip topside. Congrats. Now you're a poleboarder.

Seriously, I self-taught myself windsurfing on borrowed and cheap used gear back in the early 90s. I'm still amazed I never broke an arm or collarbone from being slammed onto the board. It worked, but I think I would have progressed 2 or 3 times faster with lessons and knowing what gear works for what situations. After 5 years I was still only finishing about half my jibes. You might point him at the iwindsurf.com forums--they seem to be less dominated by bipolar types than the ikitesurf forums.

[BayAreaKite]

For windsurfing instruction, he can try Jason Voss, he teaches all levels, has gear and teaches at several locations throughout the bay...

http://www.jrvwindsurfing.com/

[jbirdmarin]

He's picking windsurfing just because of the home launch? I think that'll be great for him until he gets good enough to try diff spots, then he's gonna wish he had lines instead of a pole

[Sonny]

I used to windsurf in there almost everyday after work but on a long board, I recall winds in the range about 10 mph and only once it was windy enough to ride a short board.

[Loscocco]

DON'T do it! Friends dont let friends learn to windsurf. kidding.