In this short article, I’ll show you how to quickly and cheaply re-grip your windsurf board, making your old board feel like new! With a little time and a little bit of money, your board can once again feel as good as new!

Okay, but why bother re-gripping your windsurf board?

Imagine this: you’re going in for the perfect carve gybe. Your timing is perfect, the wind is just right and the board just keeps on planing. You swapped your feet and you’re about to finish it off, aaaaaaaand…

And while 9 times out of 10 I’d say it was just your technique that doomed you, maybe, just maybe, it might not have been your fault after all…

The situation gets slippy…

Having a favourite board that feels just right under your feet is an amazing feeling. However, season by season, it will wear out. Provided that you haven’t put your mast through the nose during a catapult (but if you did, this article might help you save the day), the non-slip surface on the deck will be one of the first things to go. Slipping on such a bald patch in the middle of a manoeuvre is no fun and could actually prove very dangerous! Therefore, to make things nice and safe, a little bit of love and care is required. Otherwise:

Grip, grit and sugar on top

Sand, clean, paint, repeat!|Windsurfing.pl|

When you look to re-grip your windsurf board, there are a couple of options. However, whichever one you choose, the first step will always be to gently sand your board with 80-120 grit sandpaper. That will take off any remaining non-slip surface and fill help the new coating stick better. After sanding, make sure the surface is free of dust, degreased and clean (a wipe with white spirit might be a good idea!) It’s also good to mask off the edges of the board as well as screw mounts, mounting rail and any foam pads. You don’t want any of these stuffed with resin!

Also sold by Blue Chip Board store UK.

From there, there are a couple of options. The easiest one is to purchase a dedicated 2-component lacquer, such as Nautix Grip, that contains the grit already in the resin. For a local alternative, After mixing it in the recommended 1:1 ratio, you can simply apply it with a roller, straight onto your board. Starboard, has released a video walking you step by step through the whole process.

One note on the use of a paint-roller: It is best to soak the sponge of the roller in the resin and then use it to cover the board. A single soak should let you cover half of your board with a nice thin surface.

Or use that sweet sugar!

Among many DIY grit options, there’s one that is favoured by old-school repair enthusiasts: sugar! Instead of the dedicated product, you can use any UV-resistant resin as a coating. Apply it a little bit thicker than before and when you’re done, sprinkle some caster sugar evenly over the entire board. When the resin cures, wash the board with water multiple times to dissolve all the sugar away and complete the re-grip.This trick works, because as the sugar dissolves, it leaves behind tiny, square pits in the surface that functions a a good non-slip surface.

|EpoxySchool.com|

However, the biggest challenge when making a DIY re-grip your windsurf board is choosing the resin with the right properties. Above all, UV resistance is a must! Otherwise, the deck of your board will start yellowing really quickly. Therefore, it is worth considering Polyurethane (PU) resin over the low-yellowing epoxy ones.

Ready, set, re-grip!

Re-gripping your windsurf re-grip your windsurf boardboard is one of the simpler ways of increasing it’s lifespan and making it feel a lot better under you feet. Whatever method you choose, just take it slow, keep your work-space clean and wear a mask when sanding and laying the resin.See you on the water!

Sources for further reading:https://secureuk41.sgcpanel.com:2096/cpsess2576368684/webmail/Crystal/index.html?login=1&post_login=86851453191309https://windsurf.nautix.com/nautix-grip-non-skid-paint-2-component-transparent-deck-resistant.html#product-contact-formhttps://travel.com/en/community/forums/index/137964-windsurfing-redecking-a-slippery-board

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