Home Sailing Sites Retailers/ Getting Started Forum The Regulars Links Odds n Ends Contact
Retailers/Getting Started
Rochester is lucky to have a few regional options when it comes to purchasing windsurfing and kitesurfing equipment.
Rochester Area
Quantum Leap Windsurfing is located at:
1087 Whalen Road
Penfield NY 14526
Phone: (585) 388-0575
Quantum Leap Windsurfing in Penfield has available a full line of New, and Used Windsurfing gear. Owner Dan Scorza’s vast knowledge and honesty is invaluable to local sailors when it comes to purchasing equipment.
Canandaigua Sailboarding is located at:
11 Lakeshore Drive
Canandaigua NY 14424
Phone: (585) 394-8150
Conveniently located on the shore of Canandaigua Lake is Canandaigua Sailboarding. Canandaigua Sailboarding is a full service shop featuring a broad line of windsurfing equipment both new and used, as well as scuba and kayak gear. Canandaigua Sailboarding has gear available for rental in addition to windsurfing lessons.
Buffalo Area
Meyers Kitesurfing is located at:
259 Young Street
Wilson NY 14172
On the Web at: www.myerskitesurfing.com
Phone: (716) 751-6511
Getting Started
Briefly, getting started in either windsurfing or kitesurfing is going to take some dedication. Think of it like learning to ice skate. Totally new, unfamiliar, but man (or girl) when you get it it’s gonna be cool. Luckily you have time on your side. By that I mean that gear to learn on has come a long way since these sports began. Options for windsurfing include wide, stable boards with soft decks and small sails. To learn to kitesurf your options will most likely start with…duh, flying a kite. Small size kites are available to learn the basics of flying (launching) the kite as well as controlling it while it’s in the air. Adding the board comes later.
A word of caution though when it comes to buying windsurfing gear. Used gear is a great way to save money, BUT there is a lot of old (bad, broken) stuff out there that will make your experience a lot less enjoyable. A reasonable rule of thumb to protect yourself when considering used gear, is its age. If it’s older than five years, steer clear. Beginners should steer clear of EBay. It is a great resource, but if you don’t know what you are looking at you can get burned. To cover yourself, find a retailer that you trust and start small. The old way to learn was on long narrow (unstable) boards with loose floppy sails. Currently, beginning windsurfing involves the previously mentioned user friendly wider and smaller gear. Another great aspect of today’s beginner gear, is that with a few adjustments, it can carry you on into the intermediate levels of the sport.
If you’re at the beach and you see somebody windsurfing or kitesurfing, talk to them. You are right to steer clear when gear is flying all over, but if they are just hanging out and looking cool (because they probably are!), strike up a conversation. All windsport enthusiasts are passionate about what they do and would love to get you into the sport.
Home Sailing Sites Retailers/ Getting Started Forum The Regulars Links Odds n Ends Contact