Really light, light, light wind boards

Mike Hawk · Thu Jul 23, 09 5:53 am **Ply Board**

Use 3/8" Baltic Birch, and make what ever length or width you want, 152 cm x 46 cm is what I have. Get a few 1/4 x 20 inserts if you want to run padz and straps. You can taper the edges and run a grove or 2 near the rail and go finless. top it off with a few coas of ployuerthane. Glide 149 was dubed the plyboard killer, designed to take your money. or this guy will take your money as well http://www.myplykiteboards.com/ http://www.nwkite.com/forums/t-4541.html

jackZ · Since 13 Apr 2008 355 Posts Devon Alberta ca. Obsessed

Hey all
C Johnson has it , do something else .
BUT , if you really want to kite get a foil kite and a door board . Check out Dr. lightwind on you tube . Kiting in light wind is ok but.......
Have a great day all

Bettyboarder · Thu Jul 23, 09 8:31 am

here's my light wind board.... Very Happy

Bettyboarder · Thu Jul 23, 09 8:31 am

actually made a board a few years ago...it's super easy like Mike said...cost me like $50 or something

http://www.nwkite.com/forums/t-10891.html&highlight=doolittle+custom

scottm · Since 12 Jun 2006 108 Posts Stoked

tstansbury · Since 06 Jun 2006 649 Posts Rowena and P.C Addicted

second the finless glide as the best lightwind board. you can feel the difference without the fins.

Hein · Since 08 Mar 2005 1314 Posts Possessed

I could ride this with a 9 when the Glide herd was riding 15 and 17 m kites.

pdxmonkeyboy · Thu Jul 23, 09 11:17 am

Ok, so perhaps the glide can get up and going better than some skims.

That said, which is going to be more fun- mowing the lawn at warp zero with no wind to pop off the water or riding strapless on a skim, improving your balance, and trying shove its and all the other stuff you don't need to be lit to do?

Those that haven't ridden a skim yet should really really really give it a try.

shred_da_gorge · Thu Jul 23, 09 11:23 am

Most folks I know who live in light-wind-prone areas (i.e. Padre) ride Spleene Doors or similar (Litewave Wing, etc). I picked up a North Phantom and ride it with a 14m. The design ingredients are a very lightweight, very wide, fairly long deck with sharp rails, minimal flex, and little (if any) concave, and fins paired about middle and heelside. When going upwind is a challenge riding this design flat instead of edging actually seems to point it better. It's counter-intuitive.

The Glide has outboard fins, so rides toe-side better as this 'door' design is a pain-in-the-quad to ride toe-side. My friend loves his Glide but he's of smaller stature; I'm 6'3"/180 lbs and found it a little harder to make work than the larger planform in super-light winds (compared it to Door and Wing in same session). IMO I'd think the Glide would be more fun to ride as it's closer to a freestyle board design, if you can make it work for your prevalent wind conditions.

I have friends who ride surfboards, skimboards, and longboards, but I'm not experienced riding strapless so I'm telling you what I do know. These production boards aren't cheap, and I haven't tried riding them finless, but I know they're proven to work in next to no wind. Since riding in light wind isn't very exciting (when you're used to heavier wind), you may be able to find them on the used market once you're familiar with model names to search for. (I've contemplated selling mine but get to Texas and Florida so I keep it just in case).

Good luck!

gorgebob · Since 25 Jun 2007 259 Posts Portland, OR Shop Owner

Heres a blast from the past . 215 in length , six fins, cool Airplane graphics. My first ride at Flores Lake. Its too big to show in a smaller format. Sorry.