Red Paddle Co FAQ: Can I Use A Windsurf Board As A Paddleboard?

Whenever you invest in a watercraft, you want to ensure that it’s versatile enough to suit all of your requirements. So, if you’re a big fan of windsurfing or SUPing, one of the questions you may have is “can I use a windsurf board as a paddleboard?”. This is a question we get asked frequently at Red Paddle Co, and with good reason too - it’s a really important one!. With this in mind, we’ve put together the following short guide answering the question of “can I use a windsurf board as a paddleboard?”.

Windsurfing Vs Paddle boarding

Windsurfing and paddle boarding are very different sports, and so it’s not surprising that they have different equipment requirements. Windsurfing is a combination of surfing and sailing. Windsurfers use the wind to propel their board forward, using a sail that is attached. Stand up paddle boarding on the other hand, involves users standing on a SUP and using a paddle to propel themselves through the water. As windsurfing is dictated by the wind conditions it is a lot faster in pace. However, stand up paddle boarding is a lot more versatile and suitable for a range of abilities. You can paddle at your own speed in a variety of locations, and in races for more advanced paddlers. 

So we’ve established that they’re very different water sports but how does that impact our original question of “can I use a windsurf board as a paddleboard?”’.

The very short answer to this question is yes, so long as you have a board that is a suitable size and shape.If you want to use your windsurf as a SUP, then you need to ensure it has enough buoyancy to support your weight as you ride. In other words, your windsurf board needs to be wide enough, with sufficient volume to support your weight when paddling on the water,ensuring that you don’t sink. 

Built with versatility in mind, we have ensured that the Red Paddle Co Windsurf MSL Inflatable Paddle Board functions equally as well for windsurfing as it does for stand up paddle boarding. Let’s take a closer look at how.