Ventura + Underground FLX + Surf Boards

Joshiebaby · Since 14 Oct 2007 569 Posts Vancouver, WA Addicted

Hello all,

Been a while since I have kited and looking to get back into it. I just moved south to Ventura, CA and loving the warm weather and chance to kite year round. Hope you all up north are starting to get some good spring sessions!

1) I'm looking to replace a 2006 or 2007 Underground FLX that I had (and lost). Haven't been keeping up with the evolutions in gear but a deal on the 2010 FLX: http://xtremebigair.com/stores/showdetl.cfm?&DID=18&Product_ID=1208&CATID=10

Wondering if anyone has been keeping up with this brand and if they are still handling the same.

2) Also looking to start surfing the waves in a bit (after I get back to kiting a bit) and was wondering about the progression of going from strapped to unstrapped whether most people learn to kitesurf on a traditional surf board or if they buy one boards that is build specifically for kiters with the straps.

Thanks for any input!

Josh

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

The UG u had is old school, narrow, small, and fast. Hold edge great, lots of fun. Newer boards tend to have more surface area, more flex.

Just sold my '04 wave tray cheap to a guy that saw an old picture of me on it.

Got another one in the shed. Don't really ride it anymore, but hanging on just cause it was so fun, anyways..

I bought a used surfboard to learn on. Cheap so you can trash it no worries. Get something smaller, thinner than you would normally surf. You're not paddling it, you don't want corky thick, a b it on the thin side.

Much easier to learn jibes and riding strapless, and once u get the hang, good chance you'll just stay strapless anyway.

Have fun with it, love it down there. Cheers, Marc

Oh, btb, You'll want a dedicated kite surfboard anyway, at some point, spendier, but built to stand the abuse of kiting, and shaping, fin setup, all a bit different than surf surfboards.

My point being I ended up getting a Slingy Celuritus and really like it. Way better than the surfboard I got, but like I said, u can find some really cheap surfboars.

chrissmack · Since 08 Jun 2005 526 Posts portland Addicted

bought my wife one of the UG boards last summer, i think from that same site. really nice board. i like riding it a lot, as i'm not wild about the big surface area boards that some companies have switched to. the UG is fast, has great pop, a fair amount of flex, is great in the stevenson chop. no complaints, other than it has the old style foot strap attachments (one screw per side) so surely they will require tightening frequently.