Guide: How to care for your windsurfing equipment - the winterisation checklist

Salt, sand, UV radiation - your windsurfing equipment takes a beating over the course of the season. If you want your board, sail etc. to be ready for use next spring, you should take proper care of your equipment now.

The sad truth: if you don't surf through the winter, you'll probably be slowly sending your equipment into hibernation over the coming weeks - hopefully after a proper autumn session at the end. To ensure that the urge to get out on the water in spring is not curbed because your equipment is all salty and sandy, we have put together the best tips for looking after your equipment. Incidentally, this is not only advisable before winter storage, but every now and then in between!

Board

• Rinse and dry
• Do not store in a board bag -> risk of moisture Osmosis damage on the laminate
• Ventilation screw can remain closed
• Do not permanently flatten the loops, if necessary. Push in PET bottles (no tennis balls!)
• Rest in the shade between sessions

Sail

• Store in the shade so that the mono film is exposed to as little UV radiation as possible
• Relax during longer breaks, otherwise the mast will bend
• Rinse and dry after the session
• Store rolled up lying down, do not place on the outhaul/batten

Boom

• Rinse and move the back end regularly
• Do not leave the pins open for long, otherwise the terminals will wear out and become loose
• Check ropes

Mast

• Desand and rinse if necessary
• Thoroughly clean the connecting piece of sand and abrasion

Neos

• Rinse and dry on both sides (!)
• Hang on wide hangers to dry -> hangers that are too narrow can wear out the neoprene on the shoulders
• Store lying down or loosely rolled up, do not hang permanently on hangers

Finns

• Use fin covers in the bag and during assembly and disassembly to avoid damage
  -> Workshop: Repairing fins the right way - this is how it's done!
• Desand and rinse the base and screws

Extensions

• Rinse regularly and move the adjustment ring from time to time
• Press release a few times when flushing
• Check ropes

Base plate

• Check the tendon regularly and replace if necessary before the start of the season.
  -> Workshop: How to repair your base plate

Bags

• Flush and move zips -> Care products for zips
• Dry and desand inside and out