Everything You Need to Know About Wetsuits!
The Surfpirates Wetsuit Guide, so you can easily find your wetsuit online!
Hey Surfer! When it comes to surfing, good equipment is essential. And on top of the list is of course the wetsuit. Whether you're looking for a classic wetsuit, a special wetsuit for women, a short neoprene shorty for women or a high-end ION wetsuit - we at surfpirates.com have everything your water sports heart desires!
At What Temperature Should I Choose a Short Shorty Wetsuit?
Ah, the shorty! Ideal for warmer temperatures and super stylish at the same time. But when is the right time to change the long wetsuit for a neoprene shorty ladies or men?
When it comes to wetsuits, the thickness of the neoprene is a crucial factor to ensure the appropriate thermal insulation in different water temperatures. The thickness of neoprene is usually expressed in millimeters (mm), and two numbers are often used, such as 4/3mm. The first number refers to the thickness of the neoprene on the body and the second on the arms and legs. We have summarized the different thicknesses in a degree table:
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20-25 degrees
3/2mm
A suit in this thickness you choose best at temperatures of 20-25 degrees. Especially in the summer months, this neoprene thickness is very comfortable and offers a lot of flex!
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18-22 degrees
4/3mm
The 4/3 mm neoprene is especially in northern Germany and Denmark a suit that you can wear well from June to September. It is noticeably warmer than the 3/2mm and still has very comfortable flex. Temperatures from 18-22 degrees are ideal!
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10-22 degrees
5/3mm
The wetsuit that everyone should have in their quiver! Probably the best-selling neoprene thickness for all who want to get out on the water at the first rays of sunshine! With the high quality 5/3mm suits you can get into the water at 10 degrees. Up to 22 degrees this thickness is your ideal companion!
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0-10 degrees
Hooded
For you it's the season all year round? Then a suit with hood, so-called Neo Hoodies, may not be missing with you! Through an integrated hood comes significantly less water into the suit and a rinse cycle is much less unpleasant! Hooded wetsuits are available in 5/4mm and 6/5mm. With these suits you can from 0-15 degrees on the water!
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From 25 degrees
Shorty
The shorty is intended for high summer, or regions where it is often over 25 degrees. As a rule, shortys are 2mm thick and thus offer extreme flex and a very comfortable feel.
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From 27 degrees
Neoprenshirt
You follow the summer and choose your destination according to the best temperature? With the neoprene shirt you can from about 27 degrees on the water. On the bottom you just wear board shorts or bikini bottoms.
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What size should my wetsuit for surfing?
Fit is everything in a wetsuit! An ill-fitting suit will leave you cold and can also cause chafing. Here are some tips for choosing the perfect size:
- Not too loose, not too tight: Your wetsuit should fit snugly without feeling constricted. A well-fitting suit will keep out the cold and provide maximum mobility.
- Watch out for wrinkles: Wrinkles in the neoprene are a sign that the suit is too big. A well-fitting suit will hug your body seamlessly.
- If you're buying online: Be sure to use our sizing charts at surfpirates.com. Don't hesitate to contact us if you have any questions. We will be happy to help you.
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How should a wetsuit actually fit?
Like a second skin! Especially for newbies this feeling is a bit uncomfortable at the beginning, but your suit should really fit skin tight. What many do not know, the suits usually widen after 5-10 times and are then about half a size larger!
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Why are the same neoprene thicknesses available for such different prices?
You want to buy your own wetsuit and click through the different models and prices online? This is due to the different neoprene qualities, linings or even taped seams.
For example, there are 5/3mm wetsuits for a little more than 200 €, but also for almost 500 €! The suits for 200 € are enough for everyone who rather wants to go on the water in good weather and also can not go out several times a week. 5/3s for 300-500 € are much more flexible than those for 200 €, offer a higher wearing comfort and offer a longer durability! The expensive suits often also have a warm lining, which dries very quickly again and taped seams, which let less water into the suit!
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The brand world of wetsuits on Surfpirates
Our impressive range of brands offers you the crème de la crème of the surf world. From up-and-coming insiders to established industry giants, you'll find a variety as colorful and dynamic as the oceans themselves. Dive into our assortment and find the perfect wetsuit that not only protects your body, but also your style.
Here is a small guide to the fit of the various manufacturers - Mystic, Rip Curl - Here you can choose the suit well one size larger than normal! ION, Soöruz, XCEL, Prolimit - These manufacturers fall relatively normal and you can choose your size as usual with eg T-shirts!
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Find the perfect wetsuit at surfpirates.com!
Whether you want to buy a wetsuit designed specifically for women, are looking for the ultimate wetsuit or the hottest ION wetsuit, we have the largest selection and the best prices. Don't forget our accessories and surf suit alternatives section. Jump into the adventure with the Surf Pirates and surf in style!
Windsurf Harness Guide
Are you looking for a new harness for windsurfing? Here at Surfpirates.de you'll definitely find the right model for you!
Here we summarize the most important points so that you are optimally equipped and satisfied with your equipment.
The harness is an important component of your equipment. If the harness is too small, it can put uncomfortable pressure on your ribs or hips and does not provide the necessary support for your lower back. If it is too big, it is very likely to ride up and quickly hang under your armpits. This happens very quickly, especially if you jump a lot when windsurfing!
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How do I find the right size for me?
All manufacturers such as ION, Prolimit and Ride Engine offer a size chart to match their harnesses!
Here you can find an overview of our manufacturers with the size charts for the harnesses:
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What are the differences between the harnesses?
The biggest difference is: seat or hip harness!
Who should choose a hip harness?
VThe seat harness offers advantages, especially for riders who are just starting out. Especially when kitesurfing, the lower seat of the harness gives you more depower and the pull from the kite is directed more towards the buttocks. The lower center of gravity gives you more control.
Even riders who often have back pain after a session can take a lot of weight off their back and stay on the water longer and without pain!
A seat harness is also ideal for windsurfers who want speed and the longest possible strokes.
Why are there so many different models of hip harnesses?
As every body is a little different, we naturally have to offer a wide range of harness shapes. Here at Surfpirates.de you will definitely find a model that suits your body. Starting in the hip area, there are different widths. So you can choose the perfect harness for your back. The back plate is also available with a narrower or higher cut. A narrower cut is an advantage if you are looking for as much freedom of movement as possible. Higher back plates distribute the pressure more over the entire back and therefore offer more comfort!
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Hohes Trapez
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Sitztrapez
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Hardshell Trapeze
Hardshell vs. Softshell Trapez
A few years ago, brands such as Ride Engine and Mystic came onto the market with so-called hardshell harnesses. These harnesses have a fixed back plate made of either GRP or carbon. This back plate ensures that the harness deforms less and distributes the force exerted even more over the entire back. The harness with the fixed back plate is therefore a good way to combat back pain after a session.
Aber Achtung, es hat auch Nachteile:
If, for example, you are out in the waves with the kitewaveboard and often ride in the switch, the harness usually always rotates a little on your hips. This can cause the high part of the back plate to slide off the back and into the side of the ribs, restricting movement again!
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Ride Engine Hardshell
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Mystic Softshell
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What kind of hook plates are there?
The hook is not always the same either. The most noticeable difference here, for example, is in the kitesurfing and windsurfing harnesses!
The picture here clearly shows this:
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Kitesurfhook
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Windsurfhook
There are also sliders in the kite sector, which are often a rope made from Dynema and are particularly useful for foiling and wave kiting! The slider allows you to turn in even further and thus place the pull more to one side. This leads to a freer ride and even more fun! Please note: Dynema ropes should be checked more frequently and replaced once a season if necessary. You can find these ropes here: https://www.surfpirates.de/search/?qs=Dynema
The Freeride Hook from Mystic is exactly the right choice for all those who don't want to unhook themselves, ride in the waves, but also like to jump!
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Important:
Many manufacturers now sell windsurf harnesses without a hook plate. This gives you as a customer the opportunity to choose exactly the right width and the right hook/slider to suit your needs. As soon as you have selected the size and color of the harness, you will be offered a selection of hooks if no hook is included with the harness!
Do you still have questions about your windsurf harness, or are you not quite sure what you need?
Feel free to contact us!
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Overview of windsurf harness manufacturers:
- ION - https://www.surfpirates.de/ION_2
- Core - https://www.surfpirates.de/Trapeze__Core
- Prolimit - https://www.surfpirates.de/Prolimit_2
- Ride Engine - https://www.surfpirates.de/Trapeze__Ride-Engine
- Mystic - https://www.surfpirates.de/Trapeze__Mystic_5
- Neil Pryde - https://www.surfpirates.de/Neil-Pryde
Kite Harness Guide
Are you looking for a new harness for kitesurfing? You're guaranteed to find the perfect model for you at Surfpirates.de!
We have compiled the most important information for you here so that you are optimally equipped and satisfied with your equipment.
The harness, also known as a "harness", plays a crucial role in your equipment. If the harness is too small, it can press uncomfortably on your ribs or hips and not provide the necessary support for your lower back. If it is too big, there is a risk that it will slide up and quickly slide under your armpits. This can happen a lot, especially when kitesurfing if you do a lot of jumps!
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How do I choose the right size?
All manufacturers such as ION, Prolimit and Ride Engine offer size charts for their kitesurf harnesses!
Here you can find an overview of our manufacturers with size charts for kitesurf harnesses:
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What are the differences between kitesurf harnesses?
The biggest difference is between seat and hip harnesses!
When is a hip harness the best choice?
A hip harness offers advantages, especially for kitesurfing beginners. The lower seat of the harness enables better depower and directs the pull from the kite more strongly onto the buttocks. The lower center of gravity gives you more control and can reduce back pain after sessions, allowing you to surf longer and pain-free. A hip harness is also a good choice for windsurfers who focus on speed and long strokes.
Why are there so many different models of hip harnesses?
As every body is unique, we offer a variety of shapes and cuts for kite harnesses. At Surfpirates.de you are sure to find a model that fits your body shape perfectly. The variations range from different hip widths to different back plates, which can be cut narrower or higher. A narrower cut allows more freedom of movement, while higher back plates distribute the pressure more evenly over the entire back and therefore offer more comfort.
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Hohes Trapez
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Kitesurf Plate
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Schmales Trapez
Hardshell vs. softshell harness
A few years ago, brands such as Ride Engine and Mystic came onto the market with so-called hardshell kitesurf harnesses. These harnesses have a fixed back plate made of either GRP or carbon. This back plate ensures less deformation of the harness and a more even distribution of the forces acting on the entire back. Hardshell harnesses can help to reduce back pain after surfing. However, it is important to note that they can also have disadvantages. For example, if you are kitesurfing in waves and frequently change direction, the harness can rotate on your hips. This can cause the upper part of the back plate to slide off your back onto your rib side and restrict your movement!
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Ride Engine Hardshell
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Mystic Softshell
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What types of hook plates are there?
The type of hook plates can also vary, especially between kitesurf and windsurf harnesses!
The picture here clearly shows this:
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Kitesurfhook
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Windsurfhook
In the kite sector, there are also sliders, which are often made of Dynema rope and are particularly advantageous for foiling and wave kiting. The slider enables a further turn and shifts the pull more to the side, which leads to more fun and freedom when surfing. However, please note that Dynema ropes should be checked regularly and replaced once a season if necessary. You can find these ropes here: https://www.surfpirates.de/search/?qs=Dynema
The Freeride Hook from Mystic is the ideal choice for those who don't want to unhook themselves and want to ride waves as well as jump!
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Important:
Many manufacturers now offer kitesurf harnesses without hook plates. This allows you as a customer to choose the right width and the right hook or slider for your needs. Once you have selected the size and color of the harness from us, you will be offered various hook options if the harness is supplied without hooks!
Do you still have questions about your kite harness or are you not sure what you need?
Then simply get in touch with our team!
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Overview of kite harness manufacturers:
- ION - https://www.surfpirates.de/ION_2
- Core - https://www.surfpirates.de/Trapeze__Core
- Prolimit - https://www.surfpirates.de/Prolimit_2
- Ride Engine - https://www.surfpirates.de/Trapeze__Ride-Engine
- Mystic - https://www.surfpirates.de/Trapeze__Mystic_5
- Neil Pryde - https://www.surfpirates.de/Neil-Pryde
Foilguide
Hey and welcome to our Surfpirates online store Foilguide!
The selection of foils in our Surfpirates store is huge! Every well-known manufacturer has its own line of foils, and some offer an impressively diverse range of foils and accessories. No wonder it's easy to lose track.
In recent years, the sport of foiling has experienced a real boom thanks to wings! As technical development has also progressed enormously, we want to give you an overview of the advantages and disadvantages of different foils in our Foil Guide.
Are you looking for a simple introduction to the world of foils? Then be sure to check out our wing foil guide for beginners.
Below, we delve a little deeper into the world of foils, highlighting the technical differences as well as the advantages and disadvantages of various foil concepts.
The different types of foil
Wir kategorisieren Foils nach der sogenannten Aspect Ratio (AR), was auf deutsch so viel wie Seitenverhältnis bedeutet. Unter Aspect Ratio versteht man das Verhältnis des Quadrats der Flügelspannweite zur Flügelfläche, oder der Spannweite zur mittleren Flügeltiefe.
Foils can generally be technically divided into three different categories. But beware, this distinction is not entirely clear-cut, but rather fluid. The classification within the foil sport is roughly as follows.
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The classification within the foil sport is roughly as follows.
- Low Aspect (3-5 AR)
- Mid Aspect (5-7,5 AR)
- High Aspect (7,5-12) AR
Here's a comparison for you: In aircraft construction, values of approx. 2-20 are common. In foiling, as can be seen above, we tend to move in a range between 3-12.
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Low Aspect
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Mid Aspect
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High Aspect
A higher aspect ratio is hydrodynamically more efficient, as additional drag occurs in the area of the wing tips due to end vortices. The higher the aspect ratio, the lower this drag. Winglets have a similar end vortex drag-reducing effect.
However, the elongation also increases the inertia around the roll axis (longitudinal axis). In addition, thin, elongated surfaces create greater technical challenges in terms of structural stability.
Driving characteristics & areas of use
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Low Aspect
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Low Aspect Foils
Low aspect foils are well suited for beginners as the wings, which usually have a thick profile, produce a lot of lift even at very low speeds. Beginners will also appreciate the low overall speed.
If you build smaller wings for advanced riders with low-aspect geometry, the result is very maneuverable wings that can be ridden very agilely in small, slow waves. The disadvantage of this is low efficiency when pumping and general performance. For this reason, wings are also less common in advanced freeriding. Freestylers never actually use low-aspect foils, as the achievable jump height is too low due to the low basic speed.
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Mid Aspect
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Mid Aspect Foils
Mid Aspect foils are now the most common type of foil in wings in general. From beginners to advanced freeriders, everyone will find what they are looking for here, as the mixture of stability, maneuverability and performance is not too much for anyone and is still sporty enough for most riders.
The range of use of Mid-Aspect Wings really does extend from freeriding to waves and freestyling. Every skill level will find suitable wings.
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High Aspect
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High Aspect Foils
As the basic level of users has risen, the High-Aspect Wings have continued to develop in recent years. And here too, the range of applications is diverse!
Coupled with a profile that is not too radical, even the sporty intermediate will find a suitable new toy here.
Large representatives of this group (1500+ cm²) are excellent light wind wings or dock launch wings.
The medium sizes (1000-1500 cm²) are suitable for almost every area of use. Sporty freeriding, moderate wave riding and freestyle maneuvers can be coaxed out of these wing foils.
In the smallest class (500-1000 cm²) you will find the most radical and fastest wings on the market.
Even the sporty advanced rider will quickly get to grips with them and anyone up to the absolute professional can find a suitable wing here. The range of use covers speed/slalom as well as medium/large waves, the most radical freestyle maneuvers and even a sporty freeride range for light riders.
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Mast length
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Beginner
As a rule, beginners should get on best with masts of 60-80 cm. Some surf schools also use shorter models - but these are only really useful for a short time, so you shouldn't buy a mast that is too short at the beginning. Very short masts are also occasionally used in extremely shallow areas.
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Advanced Freeride/Freestyle/Wave/Pumpfoil
For advanced riders, masts between 70-90 cm are the standard. Masts around 70-80 cm are the efficient choice for dock launching.
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Pros Freestyle/Wave/Slalom
It is very rare to find masts under 85 cm among very good riders. Lengths of up to 110 cm are also not uncommon in the speed range.
Fuselage length
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Beginners
A beginner's foil layer should not be too short, usually 65-80 cm depending on the other settings of the foil. This makes the foil more stable and slower in its reactions and therefore easier to control.
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Advanced Freeride/Freestyle/Wave
In this group, the most common fuselage lengths are between 60 and 70 cm.
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Pros Freestyle/Wave
In some cases, very short fuselages of around 50 cm are used here, which facilitates fast, radical maneuvers and pumping.
Stabilizer for foils
In general, it can be said that the stabilizer must fit the front wing and the overall foil. Larger front wings usually have larger stabilizers with thicker profiles. By swapping a stabilizer for a thinner, smaller stabilizer, you can get some extra speed and manoeuvrability out of a rather sluggish, larger wing foil.
Chims or similar options can often be used to adjust the performance of foils on the stabilizer.
Windsurfen - Jouw golven, jouw avontuur, jouw vrijheid op surfpirates.nl
Welkom in de wereld van windsurfen! Dompel je onder in de perfecte symbiose van wind en water en ontdek alles wat je nodig hebt voor een spannende windsurfervaring in onze online shop op surfpirates.nl.
Windsurfen: Jouw avontuur op de golven met surfpirates.nl
Windsurfen is meer dan alleen een watersport - het is een passie die je verbindt met de kracht van de wind en de ruis van de golven. Ben je op zoek naar een professionele windsurfwinkel die alles biedt op het gebied van professionele windsurfuitrusting? Hier bij surfpirates.com vind je alles wat je nodig hebt om in deze spannende wereld te duiken en het meeste uit je windsurfervaring te halen.
Wat is windsurfen?
Windsurfen is in. Deze populaire watersport is niet alleen populair in Australië, de VS en Hawaï. Windsurfen op de Oostzee kan ook een onvergetelijk avontuur zijn in plaatsen als Warnemünde of Fehmarn.
Windsurfen is een fascinerende mix van surfen en zeilen. Staand op een surfplank en met een zeil in de hand gebruik je de wind om over het water te glijden. De combinatie van balans, techniek en snelheid maakt windsurfen tot een onvergelijkbaar avontuur.
Windsurfen: Wat heb je nodig?
Voor een succesvol windsurfavontuur heb je de juiste uitrusting nodig. Dit omvat een windsurfplank, een zeil, een mast, een harnas, voetbanden, vinnen en een giek. Natuurlijk moet je ook zorgen voor de juiste kleding. Een wetsuit kan je bijvoorbeeld beschermen tegen wind en water. Vooral bij lage temperaturen kan een wetsuit de moeite waard zijn bij het windsurfen. Maar ze kunnen ook handig zijn in de zomer en je lichaam beschermen tegen afkoeling. Let op: hoe dikker het materiaal, hoe beter het isoleert en hoe warmer het is.
Windsurfen: Welk zeil voor welke wind?
Een windsurfplank met een zeil is de basis van windsurfen. Naast de plank moet je daarom genoeg tijd investeren in het kiezen van een zeil. De keuze van het juiste zeil hangt af van de windomstandigheden. Bij lichte wind is een groter zeil aan te raden om voldoende voortstuwing te hebben. Bij harde wind daarentegen moet je kiezen voor een kleiner zeil om de controle te behouden.
Tip: Bekijk onze Windsurf Korting en ontdek zeilen van topmerken in onze tweedehands zeilmarkt.
Onze windsurfexperts van onze windsurfshop op surfpirates.nl helpen je graag bij het kiezen van het juiste zeil.
Leren windsurfen: Tips voor beginners om de juiste windsurfplank te vinden
Leren windsurfen kan een spannende uitdaging zijn. Nadat je je windsurfcursus met succes hebt afgerond en de belangrijkste regels van het windsurfen hebt geleerd, kun je je veilig op het water voortbewegen bij een windkracht tot drie. Nu is het tijd om je eigen windsurfplank te kopen. Maar hoe vind je er een? De volgende tips kunnen je helpen:
- Ervaring en vaardigheid: Beginners moeten een board kiezen dat stabiel is en gemakkelijk te besturen.
- Grootte en volume: Een groter volume biedt meer stabiliteit, wat belangrijk is voor beginners.
- Type board: Freeride boards zijn bijvoorbeeld perfect voor beginners omdat ze stabiel en makkelijk te controleren zijn.
- Merken: Zoek naar gerenommeerde merken die windsurfplanken van hoge kwaliteit voor beginners aanbieden. Bij surfpirates.nl hebben we een grote selectie van toonaangevende merken die boards aanbieden die speciaal geschikt zijn voor beginners.
- Professioneel advies: Laat je goed adviseren, vooral in het begin. In onze windsurf-onlineshop helpen we je bij het vinden van een board dat aan jouw wensen voldoet.
Vergeet dus niet dat het perfecte windsurfboard voor beginners niet alleen gebaseerd is op technische specificaties, maar ook op jouw individuele vaardigheden, voorkeuren en vorderingen bij het windsurfen.
Waar moet je op letten bij windsurfen?
Vaak onderschat je de immense kracht van de natuur, vooral als je weinig of geen ervaring hebt met watersporten. Bij windsurfen bijvoorbeeld zijn factoren zoals windsterkte, stroming en getijden van bijzonder belang en deze mogen dan ook in geen geval worden verwaarloosd.
Daarom is bij windsurfen veiligheid van het grootste belang. Voordat je begint, moet je altijd de windomstandigheden controleren en je uitrusting grondig controleren. Het is verstandig om bepaalde reserveonderdelen mee te nemen, zodat je ze in geval van nood snel kunt vervangen.
Het is ook belangrijk om de regels op het water te respecteren en altijd een veilige afstand tot andere watersporters te bewaren.
Welke merken windsurfmateriaal verkopen we bij surfpirates.nl?
Als populaire online windsurfwinkel zijn we er trots op dat we bij surfpirates.nl een breed scala aan topmerken voor je windsurfuitrusting kunnen aanbieden. Deze omvatten: Fanatic, Goya, Quatro, JP Australia, Tabou, S2 Maui, Duotone Sails, North Sails en nog veel meer.
Ben je klaar om de golven te veroveren? Kom meer te weten over onze geweldige aanbiedingen voor windsurfmateriaal.
Onze experts staan klaar om je vragen te beantwoorden. Ervaar de sensatie van windsurfen en koop je windsurfmateriaal vandaag nog bij surfpirates.com!