wakeboard/kiteboard?? Is there a difference

snowkittenorth · Since 16 Apr 2012 3 Posts Kook

New to kiteboarding but have wakeboards.
Besides the footstraps, and carry handle is there a huge difference between the two or can I get away with using my wakeboard for kiteboarding????

dangler · Since 26 Feb 2006 1780 Posts WINDY SPOTS XTreme Poster

I rode wakes for the first 3 yrs I kited cause I got em cheap, and lost them often.

Kiteboards work much better for the most part, but the lines have definetly blurred a bit.

You won't be able to tell much difference anyway. Ride what u got, then try out your buddies gear to get a feel.

kitemare · Since 23 Mar 2010 265 Posts Seattle, wa Obsessed

pretty much everything is the same except the bottom shape. You can use a wake board to kite but what happens it that because the bottom shape is convexed, the boards are designed to ride flat mostly, ie behind the boat, so it is much harder to hold an edge efficiently enough to go upwind. Were as the kiteboard with a concaved edge is designed to ride on it's rail and will make it much easier to not only get upwind easier, but it will also be easier to get up out of the water. Granted, there are some wakeboards that blur the lines but this is generally the case.

If I were you, I would buy a kiteboard, I tried a wakeboard my first several times kiting and it was terrible, couldn't go upwind and just struggled, spend the extra dough and you will be grateful.

1surfer · Sun Apr 22, 12 6:40 am **Wakeboard**

Because of the additional rocker that some wakeboards have, I like to use them in ocean surf conditions. They can be a bit more sluggish when it comes to popping up and getting up to speed but the additional rocker also helps them to do carving turns a bit better in the surf . I also think the extra rocker makes for a bit softer landing as well.

One of my favorite twin tips for surf is a Liberation wake board. I have 2. One with straps and one that is covered with yoga mat type padding for use without straps as a wake skate.

I love that board in breaking surf but don't like it much on flat water.

I think the best board to use is the one that feels good under your feet. Try as many as possible and you will see quite a difference in the "feeling" of each.

Boards for kiting are like bikes or ski boots. One size does not fit all and what feels good to one person may not feel good to another. The only realistic way to find one that feels good is to compare the feeling of as many different boards as possible.

OG · Since 07 Jun 2011 599 Posts Addicted

what dangler said..............

it wont be much of an issue til you start getting up and trying to stay upwind. So, if it is a choice about spending immediate money, you probably dont have to. Good gear will likely get you better results faster

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

To be honest I wouldnt really want to learn on a wakeboard, I think you could learn with boots if thats what you like tho. The main difference unlike some others on here have suggested is 100% to do with rocker. Wakeboards have much more rocker, which makes riding them upwind a lot harder. It does indeed soften landings a lot, and the board in general feels more like something you would actually want to ride as far as its responsiveness over a kiteboard. That being said for learning, you are going to want to learn how to travel upwind as fast as possible.

It will be much easier to transfer what you know from riding upwind on the kiteboard, over to the wakeboard much easier, then trying to learn how to ride upwind behind the wakeboard to start with.

Just go and buy a wide, cheap, used board to learn on, then once you get that dialed in, start trying out your wakeboard, you will definitely feel the difference!

And for the record i ride a wakeboard behind the kite all year long so yes, it definitely can be done but you will want the right wakeboard to make it more manageable

sirmichaelo · Since 26 Mar 2010 353 Posts Maui Obsessed

Wakeboards have fins in the middle.

Kiteboards have fins on the sides.

Big difference.

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

sirmichaelo · Since 26 Mar 2010 353 Posts Maui Obsessed

Hahaha

You're ruining my fun.

I don't know shit about wake boarding.

A.K. · Since 01 Jul 2006 190 Posts Stoked

There is a difference as others have explained. But wake boards are cheap compared to kite boards. What they are not telling you is that you will absolutely lose your 1st board. So buy a kite board and keep it in the car until you lose your wake board!

-A.K.

dangler · Since 26 Feb 2006 1780 Posts WINDY SPOTS XTreme Poster

more like your first twelve

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

HA! I dunno, Ian... I think (1) G10 might be awesome. Thumb's Up

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

haha nice tape job!!!!