Kiteboarding Forums

Hi,

I am a beginner kitesurfer, woman, 5'6, 135lbs. I am very atlhletic, excellent snowboarder, intermediate windsurfer. I need some advice before purchasing my first board. 

What boards do you suggest for lakes? ocean?

Thankx!

bigger boards are better for beginners but you're board skills seems to be good so a smaller board might be in order. If the board is to big it will be easier to plane but will feel floaty once you have the hang of things.

i ride a 125, with most of the poeple i spoke to this is a bit small alround but i like the feel of a small board, it just cuts through the water and handels well with lots of speed.

try a 127 and if it feels floaty try a 125 (they are a bit rare these days). as far as shapes go, more convex in the bottom = more bite in the edge but less slide when rotating on the surface but the first few months you wont even notice.

naish thorn and north youngblood are good boards to try but there are lots and lots of different boards out there so the more you try the better.

oh yeah on fresh water a bigger board will do.

 

Sweet, thanx!

I'm heading down to Hatteras soon for a few days, hopefully I will get to try different boards. 

Should I buy new? Did the boards really evolve in the past couple years?

buying new is nice but if you can get a second hand board that you like and rides like you want it get it. my first 2 boards were second hand and there was no problem with them. Last years boards are awesome still riding one today.

yes they did go through stages, in the begining they were BIG then they got shorter and wider and now it seems that they are getting longer again, i meen to get a 125 these days are hard most of the boards begin at 127 and 129 seems to be the most popular.

but once you get the hang of kiting ride a 129 for 5 minutes then get back to share and ride a 125 you wont believe the difference. I come from a skating background and the smaller boards just feels better for me, turns tighter, edges harder, most freestyle boards have less convex to allow for surface rotation and I think the smaller size makes up for this as it edges easier.

So go out and ride them all and you'le know whats right for you...

Hatteras you say...you're so lucky.

 

Hi,

In your board testing, be sure to try out the 2008 Cabrinha Prodigy, a 138 for your size . I'm not experienced enough to give you all the technical low down, but all I know is that it made a huge difference to my riding the minute I stepped on it!

Happy testing

 

Second hand is the way to go when you're beginning -- unless a board is really old or has been abused, they last for years. Second hand is a lot cheaper, and if you don't like the board you can sell it and get another without losing lots of cash. When you know what you really like, then you can lash out on a really nice custom board that suits you.

Unless you're loaded...

Try a couple of different boards... but in the very beginning you won't really know what is working for you. So get a good intermediate board, and just go kite.

If you're smallish then a shorter board is better (very big boards are a dog, they don't turn well, and more importantly it's hard to get your heel in when you need to edge hard, so you'll struggle to manage your speed). Basically big boards are only for the poor bastards that live in really light-wind areaas.

Have fun...