What is your favorate board size?

TWIN-FIN · Since 24 May 2006 805 Posts Portland, OR Hot Monkey

Im a new rider (started this spring). I am carving heal side and toe side and am starting to learn how to jump. I have been riding a 145 X17 as my light wind board and a 137 X 15 as my high wind board. I weight in at 180 lbs. I notice a much bigger pop off the light wind board the 145 X 17 (medium tail block) and much less pop off the 137 X 15 (smaller tail block, likes to turn) I am starting to learn that riding control (kite and board) is much better when you are fully powered up.

The problem as I see it, is that when I am fully powered up on my small board (137 X 15) I feel as if I am holding down a lot of board and feel as if I get just a little pop from the board. I am sure that It has alot to do with my inexperience riding other boards but I am curious at to what other riders of 2+ years of experience typically ride.

Or restated: what is your favorate board length and width for fully powered up conditions.

Please feel free to sling mud at me if your ofended by spelling or such a stupid question. Wink

pkh · Since 27 Feb 2005 6548 Posts Couve / Hood Site Lackey

I am around 170lbs. Last year I had a 124x38cm, this year I have a 126.7x40cm. The wider board does have more pop, but its not just the width of the middle its the tips as well. If you look at most the pros out there ride boards that have very wide tips. The wider tips will be rougher in chop and a little harder to carve big turns, but will give you mega pop and low end.

A straighter edge on the board will give you speed and efficiency. My board last year had straighter edges and was really fast and efficent, but it doesn't ride in chop as well or carve as well as my new one.

If you are just looking to boost big, then you can go for much smaller boards, 124x38 or less. You will be able to hold down more kite and hold your edge longer into a big boost on the smaller board.

Inept_Fun · Since 14 Apr 2005 1417 Posts Hood River XTreme Poster

Im only 125 lbs, and ride a 129, a bigger board makes handling hot landings a lot easier, and seems more smoothe overall, i think bigger boards area little better than smaller ones.

Kataku2k3 · Since 14 Aug 2005 3753 Posts Los Angeles, CA Videographer

I'm ~140lbs and do just fine on my 128 x 38.5 Pro-X, but I'm still getting used to it. After riding an SS '03 136, '04 122, and '05 Misfit 123, the wider tips definately take some getting used to, but after you do, it's not too bad. I've been out on Tucker's '06 Misfit, which too is pretty wide, but it too has A LOT smoother ride than my board in chop and on flat water...

It's basically shaped like baby Glide.

pdxmonkeyboy · Thu Jul 06, 06 9:20 am

I weigh in at 190lbs and currently ride a 132 Caution redline. I'm not sure of the width and I'm too lazy to check Smile

Coming from an older SS SX 142 or something like that I absolutely fell in love with this board. It is VERY light, carves very nice and has a good amount of pop to it. One thing that really makes the difference (I think) is the amount of concave on the bottom. It has a pretty pronounced concave to it so it cuts through the chop well and really holds an edge.

Boards make a huge difference and just really began checking out a bunch of them. Does anyone have any experience with the North team Jamie boards?
They have really thin tips and tails that look like they would really pop off the water and provide nice soft landings?

Mike Hawk · Thu Jul 06, 06 9:38 am

2x4 Like The Hack Saw James Duggen WWF Style

Since i am 145lbs it makes for a nice a$$ kicker when needed. In my line of work you have to be able to take on 275lbs+ goons some times.

blowhard · Since 26 Dec 2005 2025 Posts Windward

if you want to go to windward get something wide and flat ,if you want to stick it get something small and narrow ,if you want to ride waves get some rocker it's just like you would think SMALL SINKS (sticky) BIG FLOATS
these big wide boards are very easy to ride and do overall kiting ,if you are trying to do something specific it will take another board for that, there is no one board for all things
I ride one board most of the time but it has two different ends on it one sticky one floaty

azazello · Since 11 Jun 2005 60 Posts Seattle

I'm still on that 128 Element that I got fom Phil last year (or was it a year before?) and loving it.. It's inefficient as all hell but I love the grip and progressivness of the round edges. Every time I try some boards with sharp rails I go like "nice, but lemme grab my E real fast now".

AFAIR it's 128x41.5 and I'm at 145lbs now.

pkh · Since 27 Feb 2005 6548 Posts Couve / Hood Site Lackey

azazello · Since 11 Jun 2005 60 Posts Seattle

azazello · Since 11 Jun 2005 60 Posts Seattle

Actually, there's one other thing that I think is key on the Element. It allows setting a _really_ wide stance. It's working really well especially for wave riding - there's not much board sticking out from the binding out so powering the board through chop works a lot better. AFAIR it was quite a revelation for me when I put the bindings to the most outer hole, changed my riding quite a bit.

Inept_Fun · Since 14 Apr 2005 1417 Posts Hood River XTreme Poster

People are just starting to figure out the advantages of wider stances? I thought that was 2 years ago when people realized that? If you still havent heard, WIDEN YOUR STANCES PEOPLE!

kiteboard117 · Since 02 Mar 2005 450 Posts PDX McLovin

yah wide stance is good. if you have extra heelside fins on your board take them off. 4 fins on your heel edge like some boards have digs into the water and makes pop bad. i would say just try things out. most shops are cool with demoing out boards. if you ever see me out at the beach your welcome to try my board out (127 06 misfit)

Hein · Since 08 Mar 2005 1313 Posts Possessed

Here's a 135x41 I built for a guy in Canada.

It's got the size XL Plates for his bigger feet
with booties on. He also rides with Unions

This has been a popular size for riders 155-185.
I'm 160 and that's the twintip board I'm on in all
conditions. Bigger board, wide stance, smaller
kite.- that's the ticket.

With the right board pop is more about effort but
if your going slow then all the effort is wasted.
Speed will turn your pop into amplitude and smooth
out the landings. Your kite will be going faster too so
it can stay with (ahead of) you when it's unloaded.

It's possible to make a board with wider tips turn.
I do it with a Single to Double Sidecut Concave that
has some V at the tips, Toe'd Thin Fins and a rocker
that is not too flat.

-Hein