Snowboards for snowkiting

undertow · Since 15 Feb 2008 371 Posts BeaversBurg Obsessed

Im looking for a new snowboard this year and would like to get one that would be a good one for the mountain and more importantly one for snowkiting. Any one try out one of those kite specific snowboards, and have a review? or have a good downhill board that they like?

I know there isn't any brand vs brand? but its only snowboards Very Happy

Chooch · Wed Oct 14, 09 5:13 pm

IMHO its gonna be really hard to find one borad that do both great. I would base it all on your amount of sessions snowkiting vs on the mountain. If you are on the mountain most of the time get a good dh board. Heard really good things about the Lib Tech boards as a good crossover.

If your gonna be snowkiting a lot and on the mountain a few times then get something snowkite specific but DO NOT get a board with zero or reverse side cut. Its gonna suck on the mountain and I really didn't like them behind the kite eaither. Check with Pepi on the new LF snowkite boards. I think they still have a good amount of sidecut, should be the best snowkite board for crossing over.

genek · Since 21 Jul 2006 2165 Posts East Po KGB

I've heard some people liked riding the Liquid Force snowboard, but haven't ridden it myself. It has a bit of sidecut (unlike some of the kite specific ones without any), but less than a typical twin-tip snowboard.

If looking for a normal snowboard to take snowkiting I'd recommend finding a twin-tip that has as little sidecut as possible. Something over 800 sidecut radius might be decent. I use a Lib Tech TRS and it works fine. Just probably have to fight it a bit more than a snowboard with less sidecut.

blowhard · Since 26 Dec 2005 2026 Posts Windward

something else to think about is getting around on a snowboard in case of the wind dying
consider the Splitboards by Voil'e
really in the back seat for the deep pow
haven't tried behind the kite
but would guess it to be pretty awkward especially backside

Sol-flyer · Wed Oct 14, 09 5:24 pm

You can use any snowboard for kiting as long as the bindings are modified. Try to find low-cut backs, or flexible backs. This will allow the board to sit more flat on the snow instead of on an edge. Flexible boots help also.

For boards anything with less sidecut radius will be effective, But the kite specific boards with no sidecut and/or rocker give the ride a simular feeling to water riding. Loading and poping feel the same, And it is easier to do some of the same tricks for water/snow.

but like chooch says, unless your planning on riding behind a kite more, Its best to just stick with a conventional snowboard.

tekko · Since 20 Feb 2006 376 Posts White Salmon Liquid Force

Liquid Force Teamed with Sheldon DeCosse of Decosse Customs to come out with a kite specific snowboard for this year.

Sheldon has been making custom skiis and snowboards for the top riders in the snowkitefilms.com movies for a few years as well as working with US guys like James Brown of Drift Snowkite mag.

The Liquid Force DeCosse Alliance 159 is a kite specific snowboard that also RIPS on the MT.

These boards are designed and built to ride like a kiteboard behind a kite, set your edge and go. Load and pop with low kite, etc. Any of the guys at Snowkite soldiers got to see this first hand as that was the fist day I tried the prototypes.

Most conventional snowboards are directional sidecut and stance. Except for park boards, which are true twin, but have deep sidecuts. Either of these classic snowboard shapes with make setting an edge and riding a clean line difficult. You edge, the board goes up wind in a tight arc (sidecut=turning=why snowboard is so good in park for quick turns) making tight arcs like a serrated edge, rather than a nice clean edge. You are always kind of fighting the edge.

So.. does it ride downhill?? HELL YEAH!!! SUPER FUN Maybe not the board for everyone, but even at my 240lbs, this board rips downhill and cuts trenches in fast carves!!

The board is a true twin 159 with more of a big mt sidecut but symmetrical. What this means is that you can ride it and freestyle it like a true twin, but still go mach speed holding tight, low to the snow super fast carves!!

I don't want to spew too much...

I have a couple of these boards for demo now and will have a bunch of them throughout the winter. You can PM me or get in touch with Gorge Performance or 2nd Wind Sports to get a demo or learn more.

I will bring them to the Gorge Performance movie night tomorrow!!

registered · Since 12 Jul 2005 1319 Posts tsunami Sandbagger

snow boards are awesome but can leave you slightly more help less if the wind dies off in the deep pow in backcountry spots(the good places).

Like Blowhard said a split board is a good idea But they are set up to be in the backseat for mountain downhilling. So you would need to buy the voile kit and split a standard snow board where you can set it up to ride both directions equaly as comfortable.

The responsible choice would be skiis with a rondanee setup , then you truely have the freedom and piece of mind to kite to all the places you can and skiis seem to be more naturally aligned with all the directions you need to rotate...

Ask Noah he is the Man....... go Noah....

You get a long ways from the road and car quick and its a good idea to set youself up for some safety.

In places like skyline and haggin ect. the terrain is as big as you dare to explore with the winds that are available.

I am a snowboarder mostly but I am always weighing the consequences of going over the next ridge and further away Wink

get some good gloves like the blackdiamond dry tool gloves is a hell of a tool as well.

So a kite specific snowboard is great but there are better rides for different places in my opinion.

undertow · Since 15 Feb 2008 371 Posts BeaversBurg Obsessed

Thanks guys for all the imput, I intend to split my time equally on the mountain and kiting. Im leaning towards checking out the LF boards at Pepi's.

George

JeremyP · Since 14 Apr 2009 5 Posts Kook

Check out the

Venture Helix and the Bataleon Goliath both are great crossover boards

kiteboard117 · Since 02 Mar 2005 450 Posts PDX McLovin

By no means am I the most experienced snowkiter in the world but I have found there are a few things i really like having on my snowboard for kiting. Having a twin tip is the number one thing for sure, but also the boards i have ridden with hold increasing sidecuts have been so so much better. Magne-traction is one, burton and never summer have them too. Compared to water grip in snow is a lot more variable, having an edge that grips better on hardish snow increased my control a ton. It doesn't help i have been riding dust on a glacier but you are going to get windblown stuff anywhere the kiting is good. I think i prefer the never summer one for regular snowboarding but snow kiting they all kicked ass in my experience. Overall the board you are the most comfortable on is going to be the most fun, just don't get to caught up in crazy ass snowboard marketing.

Link

undertow · Since 15 Feb 2008 371 Posts BeaversBurg Obsessed

LMFAO that video was great. Thanks for the tip I'll be checking out that magne-traction as well.

pkh · Since 27 Feb 2005 6549 Posts Couve / Hood Honored Founder

Fun vid Tucker! Lets hit Whistler before the Olympics show up!

genek · Since 21 Jul 2006 2165 Posts East Po KGB

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

Wow
Too techo for me ?!?!?!?!?!
I started with a K2 Eldorado on the mountains . I then bought a Burton custom x , actually had to order it and wait . While waiting I bought a Solomon 450 and just love that board . I have used both the X and the 450 with my kites and they both are good ?!. I don't have the resources to try all the products so I won't miss what I never had anyway . I had no idea that I would like the 450 over the custom x until I rode it . The k2 was awesome until it started delaminating , after like many years of use .

What's the point ? I forget .

jmarkutah · Since 27 Jul 2008 12 Posts

I have ridden an 171cm twin tip Burton snowboard and it was ok. Last year got a Velocity Twisted board and loved it though It is useless to ride at the resort. Much easier on the ankles allows you to ride for longer sessions. I would stay with a kite specific board if at all possible. I find myself using skis more and more. They are much faster and with fritschi freeride plus binders I can easily hike out if the wind quits or walk over to my kite and set it up without getting in and out of bindings. Or hike to the top of the hill with skins to find wind. I never thought I would be on skis again after getting into snowboarding, but with a kite, skis rule!

Bazzer · Since 22 Oct 2009 4 Posts Skyline, Utah Kook

First, everything works.... obviously going twin tip works better than a straight up directional, as you will end up riding reverse at some point. That said, skis are the equivalent of a surf board when comparing advantages between designs.

I ride both... and since 2001 when I started Snowkiting full time, I have been BI - not sexually but board wise. I have found some conditions, especially frozen lakes, prefer skis to boards. If I am going farther from the parking area than I want to walk, I prefer to keep the weight on my feet, and instead of carrying snowshoes I have carried skins for the last couple years. I am equally biased to skis with AT bindings as I am to Split Boards. A split is the obvious ultimate snowkite board, for a board only rider.... but so many split designs are specific to steep & deep down hill runs which are not conducive to the average snowkite conditions. On this note you'll need to find your favorite deck and have it split.
Check out www.customsplitboards.com for details, they have split many shapes including the Twisted Velocity Kite Specific Snowboard. http://www.customsplitboards.com/index.php?pr=G_6

I have 3 favorite boards that have each performed amazing during their lifespan...
First, from 2002 -2006 the Steep Water Kite 179, the first kite specific board, 12 in production, and I have 3 brand new left to sell
Second, the Chasta APO model 160, kite specific, I had a new deck of this model each year for a few seasons...sweet and stiff standard downhill snowboard that worked excellent for kiting.
Third, I have ridden the Twisted 164, a kite specific reverse camber and Posi-sidecut board... by far this was the funnest all around deck I have ridden, while it worked fine in ice like the previous two models, it excelled in powder and alpine funk.

Well, That's enough of a book for now. Ride what you can get your hands on, it all works, and some work better, it depends on your budget and style. As a Kite surfing friend has previously stated when asked how many boards do you need... he replied, " How many can you afford? "

Long live Snowkiting, the ultimate of kite Sports!!!

Windzup,
Brian Schenck

www.TwistedKiteboards.com

pd kite · Since 18 Nov 2008 5 Posts Kook

YES. NOW SNOWBOARDS with camrock.

its basically a zero rocker board. get em fast only 100 boards/ model size. manufactured by Nidecker.

can't wait for snowkitin on it!