Windsurfing with boots or barefoot? For half of the windsurfing community there is no dilemma - either you windsurf barefoot in all months except winter, or you always windsurf in your boots. Other windsurfers have dilemmas whether the water is already warm enough, whether the rocks on the beach and in the sea won’t cut your feet, and whether there is any difference in how you feel the board without boots or with them. Windsurfing with or without boots has its pros and cons.
1. Temperature
Water and air temperature are that very important factors that determine whether footwear is mandatory or not. This factor is especially important in the colder months of the year (December, January, February), when we really can't imagine surfing without 5 or 6 mm boots. As temperatures rise, the need for footwear drops. For most, the water is warm enough in May to take off your boots and store them in your wardrobe by October or November. Those of you who have slightly more sensitive feet, will do so about a month later.
2. Access to the water where we surf
Access to the beach, the beach itself and the seabed in shallow water are the factors that determine throughout the year whether we need boots or not. If access to water is via a beautiful pebble beach that also extends to the seabed, there is really no need for boots in terms of foot injuries. Sharp rocks, sea urchins, etc. are obstacles where we recommend that you put on your boots on to make sure that your day does not end too quickly and that you do not have to stay away from the water for a few days to cure the injuries.
3. Possibility of foot injury on the board
Especially when we windsurf in strong winds and waves, the chances of unexpected injuries increase. If we windsurf barefoot, it quickly happens that we slip on the board, hit the edge of the fin and quickly cut the skin on our feet. This injury can be quite awkward and painful. In the waves at the water start, we can also hit the mastbase where we can cut ourselves. The footstraps on the board are the next part, which can cause injuries to the toes, if we push the foot awkwardly into the footstraps. These injuries can’t happen (or there if way less chance to happen) if we wear boots.
4. Feedback of the board
The thicker the boot is, the less we feel the board beneath us and the harder it is to recognize what it is telling us. Without boots, we will be able to respond to the board's feedback softer, more accurately and faster while driving. Those of you who are accustomed to windsurfing barefoot will find it difficult to put on your boots. While those of you who are accustomed to boots will initially feel unusual without them.
5. Grip on the board itself
Wet windsurf board can be quite slippery area (especially if anti-slip grip is already worn out). With neoprene boots, you have some rubber on your feet so it is harder slip. Of course, you can also get used to windsurfing with a lack of grip, which you will eventually not miss at all.
6. Skin health on the feet
Health is one of the most important things in our lives. Just as boots protect us in some way (from cold and injury), on the other hand, they harm us. This happens especially in the summer when it is hot and we are in the water for a lot of time. It often happens that we do not take off our windsurfing boots all day, preferably the whole holiday. After a few days, we may experience skin problems, which stems mainly from the fact that the feet are constantly "closed" in moist neoprene and do not dry out. If we use boots, it is therefore, of course, advisable to take them off during a slightly longer break and then put them on again just before heading back to the water.
BY RECHARGE