Boardsports California

Epic people who will get you geared and ready to go! They have full package gear options and always give good advice based on skill and finances. Super greatful for getting geared up by boardsports Cali! 9 years later, all original gear works amazing! They have amazing deals on like new kites! Really helpful and good peeps!

Great place to rent, top notch windsurfing rental gear. And Kip will rig it up for you.

Tiny place packed with gear, staffed by two lovely people who know everything about kitesurfing (and I'm sure every other discipline they cater for). Arrived 15 mins before their closing time looking to buy a kite, but Rebecca stuck around for almost an hour helping pick out the best gear for me. Recommend without reservation and I'll definitely be back next time I'm in the area.

I came here to buy a trainer kite and introduce myself to kiteboarding. I'm glad I came in person instead of purchasing a kite online. Rebecca helped me select a trainer kite and walked me through launch, flight, recovery, and packing up my new kite. 100% recommend anyone looking to get into kiteboarding to come here and learn from the professionals and support the local business! They are in the business of safely teaching how to use what they sell and offer continued support.

Great place, very friendly, relaxed and helpful shop owner/staff. Good prices, great service. The spot is really great to windsurf! Highly recommended! Update 2025: I love the shop and team. Super nice, helpful, they have a lot of gear and can get everything for really fair prices. Support local business, buy there, not via internet. They are the heart and soul of Coyote Point! Update 2022: I bought several things in the past year - windsurf board, boom, wetsuit, helmet, windsurf classes for my son, and some small parts. They are really great, very friendly, very accommodating for returns, help out with everything. It's always a pleasure to buy with them and have a chat. Really glad they are there!

Wonderful staff, very knowledgeable and helpful. Highly recommend. I bought a new Starboard Spice SUP from the shop, arrived quickly and they kept me informed along the process.

I can’t say enough good things about this place. They have a great selection of gear to rent or purchase. They staff is very friendly, personable, and relaxed. Kipps is super cool and bends over backwards to make sure things go well and you have fun on the water. Their five pack of rentals is more than worth the price. The location is perfect. You rent the gear and walk fifty feet to the water. If you decide you need different gear you just come back in and they switch it out for you. This is truly a top notch place. Give them your business and you will be glad you did.

Thank you for upgrading my windsurfing with the right mast for the sail. Great shop for water wind sports, experienced, helpful and friendly team with on hand inventory to get you quickly back in the water.

The help with purchasing my new windsurfing gear has been fantastic! Rebecca and Kipps made sure I got what I needed and dialed me in on how to set it up. There excellent service has been a true game changer, could not be happier. Thanks guys!!

I can't say enough great things about my experience with Boardsports California. They're just great people, who know what they're doing, are incredibly helpful and are committed to getting more people into the sport. I took three 2h kitesurfing lessons (Noa and Fred were great instructors). Their focus on safety and fundamentals meant that I was independent with just those three lessons. Note: Not yet fully riding, but capable of safely practicing independently thereafter. When Jesse heard that my lessons went well, he recommended I buy gear sooner rather than later, so I could spend more time practicing in the water, and spend less money towards lessons. He worked with me to understand my budget, and the next day emailed me his gear recommendations. When I had some questions about the difference between that gear and other options I was considering, Rebecca (one of the owners at Boardsports) sent me an incredibly detailed email explaining the difference and her guidance. It's also worth noting that she didn't try to push their gear except where it really mattered, like choosing a board that could handle the bay area chop well, or coming into the store to try different harnesses to find one that truly fits my back well. While I was buying gear, Jane was kind enough to give me pointers on her tips for how to check the wind forecast. It's thanks to their approach and guidance that I was able to practice shortly after my lessons, and start riding confidently within a few more days practicing in the water. When I needed to buy a second kite to ride in stronger winds, Rebecca was once again super responsive and accommodating for an expedited pick-up. When I had an issue with my bar (which turned out to be my own error), they suggested I come into the shop to have it sorted out. If you really want to get into kitesurfing, have the commitment and a realistic expectation of what it takes (lessons, gear), I highly recommend checking out Boardsports California.

Everyone I've dealt with at Boardsports have been awesome! My daughter and I did a two day class at the Alameda shop, and the instructors were very knowledgeable and helpful. You could tell they love the sport and have a passion for passing on their knowledge to new students. I made an appointment to learn how to set up my new rig, and now I'll feel confident to venture out on my own. It's a great sport and so cool to have Boardsports to rely on for gear, lessons, and information!

Terrible customer service!!!!!! Went there yesterday and that dude that was there was worthless! More interested in watching the girls on the beach! Not the first time I've experienced his lack of selling me or recommending something. I have been sailing since I was 14... Borardsport is very arrogant!!! Years ago ...Told me I needed to buy a new board cause the new sails won't work with my old board.. GARBAGE!! I called Quatro and asked first hand... they laughed! Cause they work just fine!! Since Boardsport is the only retail Windsurf shop on the Peninsula.. it's a tough go.. but will not be giving my business to these arrogant owners! Quatro is only a UPS shipment away!

Excellent service and knowledgeable staff. A great Bay Area resource for wind sport enthusiasts!

;TLDR : Great shop, answered all of my questions! A couple things to know (I didn't think to ask ahead of time): 1) Early spring at least, the San Mateo shop is by appointment only. 2) The shop is behind the entrance to Coyote Point, so you need to pay to park (they were super nice at the gate and let me go for free when I mentioned I was parking at Boardsports). That being said, I was highly impressed by the customer service. I showed up hoping to buy a windsurfing board, and found the shop closed. I live about 50 minutes away, so it was already a drive and I was disappointed! In confusion, I googled the Boardsports main line, called, and was told it was by appointment only. However, the person I spoke with offered to call one of the local employees to see if he could accommodate me. 20 minutes later, Kip was there, ready to help me out. Kip answered all of my questions, helped me find the perfect board, and also walked me through setting it up and loading it in my car. I went to Boardports, rather than trying to buy online because I was looking for exactly that kind of expertise. I'm an odd combination of someone who has been out on the water for many years, loves a fast plane but I don't have the ability to water start, so I was looking for a board that would support that combination. In addition to answering basic questions about board handling, features of newer boards and how they might translate on the water (I've been on a 1999 Mistral XPlosion for years), and explanations of things to watch out for, he also gave a good explanation of fin size, strap placement, board dynamics, and also clued me into some insights I had never noticed, especially with an older board. Kip was able to answer all of my questions, ask a few of his own, and recommend a board that (I hope) will be an excellent fit. I can't wait to get it out on the water and also probably have a good place to go for water starting lessons too, once I'm better used to my new gear. Thank you!

Solid shop that really works for their customer. Stumbled upon this shop when I was looking for North gear. They're the largest North dealer in the area. I dealt both with Jane and Rebecca who both were wonderfully helpful. Their prices were much better than anything I could find online. On top of their prices, the customer service at this shop is in a word, amazing. I had emailed Rebecca about a certain kite, but decided not to purchase it right away. A couple months later when the prices took a steep nosedive due to an end of the season sale, she held the kite for me and gave me a quick call to see if I was still interested (at the much lower price.) You would not see many shopowners with that kind of memory or who would be willing to put in that kind of effort to make a customer happy.

I planned a kite surfing trip on short notice. I had just purchased a new board slightly larger than my old board and it didn't fit my travel bag. I reached out to Board sports California and pick their brains on bags. Not only were they super helpful but they met me at the shop and showed me all their inventory and let me Try out the board in the bag I was interested in. Absolutely stellar service friendly people great selection. I can't speak highly enough about them. A plus plus

Rebecca is the best! She is super knowledgeable and makes deals. I buy a new set up every 5 years or so. (Cue up "uncontrollable urge" by Devo) Just got back from Gorge and decided to come back and play in my backyard again. Everything is in the hood so I had to pay to play. New quiver: Naish Starship 100; 5.8 Naish Cruz: Naish 430 RDM; and chinook carbon boom. Better keep this NorCal gear here...lest the Hoodies shake their heads...where is the open ocean, ezzy and pro motion monkey suit? Support Boardsports when you can.

I had texted & called Rebecca to reserve a board, no reply. Next day, called again, bc I'm only in town one week. She said she could get me on the water, to come that afternoon. After a one hour drive to san mateo, she says she can't get me on the water! Such a needlessly frustrating experience. Zero apology for her not responding to texts nor voicemails, zilch customer service. I took my business elsewhere & bought a $2,000 board from them. Don't waste your time.

They were so nice and helpful! Genuine people and they really wanted to help and are focused on safety and running a professional shop. They put up with my little hissy fit when I was under powered and got me quickly set up on another rig that was much better as the wind had shifted. Good people and a really nice place to sail. The only issue I had was carrying gear to the water from the shop you gotta walk on some rough vegetation. I wore flip flops down and tucked them behind the rocks on my second session which helped. Would be nice to have sand or something softer to walk on from shop to launch but it's manageable. I would definitely come back and I would recommend renting from This shop. They have good, modern gear in very good condition. I sailed fanatic boards and went a little higher volume and it was good. I think I sailed a 125 liter board and 7.0 sail when wind was about 19-20 mph. That was much better than the 111 and 5.7 which I was under powered on at 185 pounds. Hope that helps!

I came to boardsports to learn about the type of trainer kite I should purchase, specs etc. The man I spoke with was very rude and demeaning towards me. I asked him to repeat an answer to a question and his reply was "I just told you!". I was not satisfied at all. Within one day of posting this review, the owners promplty contacted me and made every effort to improve the situation. This included trying to determine who the employee was so that they could discuss his approach with customers, and offering me a free kite lesson. They told me that there was a meeting with the employee and promised improved customer service. I was amazed at the effort the owners made to resolve the conflict. I felt that I received very high quality treatment in the long run. As a result of their efforts I would recommend their business, and if you're disatisfied, let them know, they obviously care about their customers.

The girls who own this shop are awesome. They are so friendly and helpful even if you are just looking. They have several locations in the bay area - Alameda, Coyote Point , San Francisco. Prices are competitive and the service is so good. I'll be buying from them for all my windsurfing, kiteboarding gear. Never ever go to Helms - they suck.

This is the same BSS that is in Alameda and San Francisco. The Coyote Point location offers the same great staff with the extra bonus of a snack stand and warm showers! CAN'T BE BEAT!

Boardsports is a great company, doing much needed work: they teach windsurfing and kiting, including teaching kids, they sell gear, and they rent gear. They have locations at two of the most friendly beginner locations in the SF bay. Shop right right at the launch is a godsend: I broke universal joint once, bought a new one and was back in the game 10 minutes later! And there are not that many places in the world where you could rent decent windsurfing gear right on the windy beach. Kipps introduced me to fast Black Project fins and was willing to work with me for a year as I was trying to find out, on and off, why they spun out under me (turned out it was finbox distortion). Because everybody is on their own level in the sport, not many people can event talk same language when discussing windsurfing. Kipps can and does actually provide a usable advise. With my 10 years of experience, I have my own ideas and ways, but I listen to what he says with great attention and think it through, as he has even more experience, and with much more varying kit. That said, at beginner stage, I would just follow what he says, to cut unnecessary expense and frustration while learning.

One of a kind windsurf and kite shop right on the water at Coyote Point. One of the best wind locations in the Bay Area, and really just about anywhere in the world. Hard to find a 7 month high wind season but they have it! Great spot for visitors as they rent high quality gear right at the launch. They took the mantle from ASD, the former best windsurfing shop in the Bay Area that closed years ago. One of the great things they inherited from ASD is Kipps, who is about as knowledgable a person as there is when it comes to windsurfing gear. Kipps helped me figure out the right gear to buy when I was getting started about 12 years ago and has guided me through pretty much everything I've bought since. One thing about Kipps is he is super honest, not just trying to sell you whatever is on the shelf, really tries to figure out the right advice for your ability and interests. Great shop, highly recommended and super friendly launch and local community.

Customer satisfaction is the operating principal behind Boardsports School. I recently bought a new wetsuit through Boardsports and I cannot thank them enough for their willingness to go the extra mile here. As you know the right wetsuit is all about the right fit and I had to try many options before finding 'the one'. Jane and Rebecca went out of their way to bring me models to try - taking suits from Alameda and Coyote and bringing them to SF for me - then securing a warrantee replacement for my old model, which sadly fell apart after a couple of months - and then finding me the perfect model on closeout pricing! I'm so happy to now own an Ion Onyx semi-dry for women---the first women's wetsuit I could find that fit in over 4 seasons!! Folks I cannot say enough about supporting your local shop when it comes to purchasing gear. The team at Boardsports are super knowledgeable about equipment and can provide unparalleled customer service. Lastly, should you ever have a problem with an item you've purchased, they can step in a help to deal with the manufacturer (as BSS did when I had an issue with my boom) or give you a loaner board should yours need repair (as BSS did when I dinged my board). So head to their Coyote or Alameda location and pick up some new gear!!

If you are here to learn to Kiteboard, look somewhere else. Now the details: I've taken their Land and Water package, all in all 5 hrs, at Coyote point with jetski assistance. Let me start by saying, this left me short exactly where you needed the most help, getting up and riding. I don't know if this is done on purpose so you get a "second" lesson. The overall impression is everything is rushed. Yes, they do walk you through everything on the checklist in the land and the water lessons but it's so fast, you'd better record it because you don't get to practice any of those things for more than 2-3 times each or so. The Land lesson was solid, good knowledgeable instructors. Walked through everything, safety, landing, launching etc. The water lesson is a total letdown. Better look somewhere else for it. Let me explain why: You need to pack and take a ride from Coyote point to the marina where they have the 2 jetskis. You do this on YOUR OWN PAID LESSON TIME. There you put it all on the jetski, and take a 15 min ride out at sea. Then, the instructor pumps the kite ON THE JETSKI, another 10 min later, you have a semi-limp kite that's somehow ready for you. Then, you get in the water and they start downwind body drags, and stuff. The thing, whatever happens at sea, malfunctions or anything, your lesson time still runs. Your time for the water lesson is supposed to be 2 hrs, but you actually get less than 45 min with the kite in the water at all. All else is getting there and back. Mind you, we were back at the marina and getting off the jet ski precisely at 5:00pm when my lesson was supposed to end. Where that left me? I got to run 2 short tacks in the water at the end before the instructor said we have to go back. That will leave you hanging high and dry (err wet) and unable to actually ride on your own. The most important things you must learn so you can start progressing on your own are: - body drag upwind to your board - riding upwind at all If you can not body drag back to where you crashed, you are dead in the water, you will lose your board eventually and have a frustrated time. I learned more paying $30 to Progression iPhone video app that taught me everything else as a beginner and intermediate. Also, a note about the senior staff and owners. Drop that cocky attitude. Unless you buy one of the kites they sell, they will troll you and laugh at you making you feel so BAD about your choices. Yes Jesse leads the pack here, shame for a senior member who's been there for years. They won't support you or give you advice, apparently that's why you need to buy one more lesson for. I learned more about kiting from the bay area kiter forum than from the guys I actually paid almost $600 to get me going on the kiteboard. Apparently other people experienced the same attitude.

Great SUP lesson @ Coyote Point. Rebecca was a great teacher. Had a lot of fun, their equipment was very good, and their attitude was perfect. I'll be back again!

Great staff and quality equipment here. Bought a Naish SUP and paddle recently from Jesse, Rebecca and Kipp. Service great and they walked me through the board setup when I took delivery. My board was lost by shipper on way from Naish factory but Rebecca worked with the Naish rep and got me a replacement and kept me updated with the delay and new ETA. Definitely will buy here again and rent when I bring family paddling.

I second on Rebecca :-) Kipps also tells you both sides of the card before you make a purchase. You cannot go wrong with them whether you are a beginner or a pro. UPDATE: Today (8/26/17), I took a beginner windsurfer to the shop to rent equipment. I was busy with my own gear so I sent him to the shop to rent equipment. He came back empty-handed and said he needed to take a lesson before renting any equipment. When I went to the shop with him to rent beginner stuff, the second owner (not Rebecca) asked me if he took any lessons. I said yes, he took a long 3-4hr lesson from me, and he knows how to uphaul the sail, and more or less to go from point A to point B. Mind you-I have more than 30 years of windsurfing under my belt, and I know a thing or two about teaching a novice how to windsurf. I said he has been using my high-end gear, which I am reluctant to loan him because the equipment can easily get damaged by a beginner. Then she tells me that this doesn't qualify to rent equipment. She said he needed to pay $180 for a single lesson, or $400 something for a week of lessons before renting stuff. She then accused me being "dishonest" because my guy told her he never took any lesson (assuming one from the store). At this point, I wonder who is more "dishonest?" Me or the shop owner who is trying to skim money out of a poor guy. Both Kipps and Rebecca are my friends, but this would be the last time I do business with the store because I find her response tasteless and rude, and her attitude to customer is poor and questionable. When I told my buddies this story, everyone was instantly turned off because all along we thought that they were ok people.

IMO the best (and perhaps the only?) surf shop in the bay serving the interests of the people whose idea of having good time involves more than sitting on the couch. Not only do they sell gear, but promote the sport and help people get on the water. The owners are essentially doing a great public service running these shops as I can hardly imagine it's possible to turn a great profit doing this. Interesting review below regarding the interaction with Kipps. Based on the facts the reviewer has provided, he actually received a correct and cost effective advice. I have been a windsurfer for many years, and for windsurfing in particular, the choice of gear is all-important. If you are shopping for your first or second kit, I would specifically seek Kipps out for his opinion and take it at face value unless you want to get stuck with an unusable kit and eventually give up the sport.

Edit: shortly after me posting about a negative experience I had at the San Mateo Boardsports, both owners personally reached out to me to apologize for the experience. Rebecca offered to work closely with me, and seemed genuinely committed to helping me find the right equipment. I'm really impressed that they took the time to contact me, and am looking forward to renting a bit more, with an eye towards evaluating and buying the right kit for what I'd like to do. Thanks, Jane and Rebecca!

Talk about Awesome customer service! I was able to get a really great deal on a brand new Naish paddleboard. Even though they were not technically open the day I wanted to pick it up, Rebecca said she would meet me and wait for me at the store, anyways! She was very knowledgeable about the stuff she sells and the sport. She told me about different paddles and fins, which was very helpful because i plan to play in different conditions. But I was never pressured into buying anything and her vibe was super cool. I plan to come back and take some friends here and rent some paddleboards. If you want to get a board or even rent a board, or curious about paddleboarding, kite surfing or windsurfing, come here! They know their stuff!

they sells very aggressively, takes money for demo equipment, even if there were no wind, etc. Do not know anything about they school though. That review is solely for kiteboarding equipment shop.

Jesse and Rebecca were absolutely awesome in helping me with my first SUP purchase! After deciding I was ready to invest in a board, I called Jesse with basically no knowledge after chatting for a while, he helped me find the perfect board for what I was looking for and that was within my budget. He was able to get it shipped to Rhode Island (in one piece) in less than a week! It's gotten pretty freezing here, so I only got to take it out once so far, but had a blast paddling around the Narragansett Bay...can't wait to take it out on some surf!

Good friendly owners and employees. Both locations are prime spots.. Alameda with its neverending beach is a great spot to learn how to kite. The San Mateo location is a great place to hang out.. If they could just truck in some nice white sand the place would be peridice. Although having Coyote park right there makes for a nice backdrop to any type of lesson you have there..

I called looking for a wetsuit without knowing exactly what I wanted, Jessie asked when I was free and said he'd be at the San Mateo location that afternoon. He promptly called me back to discuss inventory, kept the place open for me to stop by, and helped me out on a perfect Xcel. The best customer service I've experienced in a long time, great local business! Highly highly recommended.