Surfboards for Kiting

DROCK999 · Since 31 May 2007 852 Posts Left Coast Opinionated

Lately I've been looking at getting a surfboard and putting straps on it for my coastal days. Looking at boards in the 6' range. Just wondering if anyone on here has any advice, information, or experience with using surfboards for kiting (like is staying upwind alot harder).

DROCK999 · Since 31 May 2007 852 Posts Left Coast Opinionated

seriously, nobody has any light to shed in this area.

mschulz · Since 29 May 2007 530 Posts Reno, NV Addicted

Go to a shop and rent / demo one. See for your self it you like it. My thoughts are that is a little harder, but it is fun.

genek · Since 21 Jul 2006 2165 Posts East Po KGB

With all the good kite specific surfboards out there I'd recommend just going for one of those. It'll probably be more durable.

Surfboards are for sure the way to go at the coast. It's a lot easier to handle the waves and whitewater and you can't beat riding a good wave on a surfboard. Learning to jibe will make you a lot more comfortable out there too so practice that in the flat water first. You can ride a twin in the surf if the waves suck, otherwise surfboards hands down.

Gman · Since 11 Feb 2006 4911 Posts Portland Unstrapped

good advice - just grab anyboard you can get your hands on - skim, longboard, shortboard, wakeskate, cafateria tray - doesn't matter its all fun and you'll be cruising around your first session - transitions, jibes, shovits etc may take a bit longer Laughing

scottnorby · Mon May 12, 08 6:26 pm

Ride what you would paddle surf into a wave.

Kite companies are trying to cash in on so called 'kite specific' surfboards.
Please.........don't be a toter getting dragged down the line on a gay little wannabe surfboard that has a kite company logo on it.

Surfing deserves the respect of paying back the shapers who pioneered all the years before kiting.
Support the surfing industry and buy a good surfboard.

I would recommend epoxy for the durability and added flotation.

Or just buy a $50 yellow beater on craigslist and figure it out.

DROCK999 · Since 31 May 2007 852 Posts Left Coast Opinionated

Second question I have is about putting straps on a board. I'm probably going to get a super cheap 6' board instead of paying $700 for the slingshot board and I want to put a front footstrap on it. Just wondering on how I would go about doing this. I really don't want to do the 3M sticky pads. Can I just take a foot strap and screw it on or is it more complex than that?

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

NSI is way to go Thumb's Up

http://www.kiteboardingmag.com/article.jsp?id=43621

DROCK999 · Since 31 May 2007 852 Posts Left Coast Opinionated

sentone · Since 10 Feb 2006 66 Posts

pros and cons.........getting a junk used beater is a start......but it might ruin the real deal.....do you ride the river or the coast......river waves are not the same as say a beach break.......or in my case reef points......if your gonna ride surf boards as a light wind big float thing then youll ride lots more than you think.......a 6-2 and a 11 rocks for me in 14 less than that i go to work......if you surf and have waves near.. rideing a wave board is well ...the next step sure it takes time most great things do.....im bais i ride surfboards 97% of the time ride twin tips when the water is to thin......getting back to the beater.....thruster....3 fins i hope...back foot over or slightly forward of the rail fins......tape your stance about shoulder wide is a good start.......find a old windsurfer remove straps ......rout a 1|4 in slot almost thru key word ALMOST.....push foam over some fill with resin stuff in strap let set over night basicly you just made a insert ......i think nsi has stick on males never tried um but no routing involved......thats a cheap way to go if your sitting on the fence........used boards are everywhere......i would recomend a used wave kite board.....built for the hits ,,,dents ....bashes that will soon come ...epoxy with hi pressure foam deck......is a start.......as for high priced wanna be surfboards......well i believe the right tool for the right job.......i ride SS SST in light winds or places deem to fluky to ride all winter.......and when it real THE SS SRT 5-11 in my opinon is untouchable........as far as being a totor.....when ya get some stones up come on over....i might even tot over and pick up the pieces.....or not.......

barfly · Since 31 Mar 2005 1216 Posts Portland BRACKISH

good points and info sentone. finding used surfboard is a good place to start and maybe forget about the straps for now. If you don't surf a lot or don't jibe yet, getting used to where you put your feet on the board will be enough of a task. also, depending on the size of the board, the location of where you want to put your feet will vary. Once you know the placing, you can stick, glue or screw that first strap on.

also, its hard to support the idea that kite companies are pimping kite surfboards as if there is no value. I rode a used Lost 6 0 surfboard until it snapped, now I'm riding a 6 0 Webber epoxy surfboard, & have riden a SS SST enough to know the difference too. The SST is noticably more durable - so I guess you get what you pay for and there's nothing wrong w/that imo. The first two are basically disposable, the kite surf specific is a board that should enjoy a long life Very Happy

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B · Since 29 Apr 2008 18 Posts Hood River

Kite companies are trying to cash in on so called 'kite specific' surfboards.
Please.........don't be a toter getting dragged down the line on a gay little wannabe surfboard that has a kite company logo on it. (per scottnorby)

it's so confusing! jimmy lewis has been shaping surf, windsurf, and kiteboards for a long time, so if I buy a kite specific surf board from jimmy lewis, am I on a "gay little
wannabe surfboard" or am i supporting a surf board shaping guru? Razz

scottnorby · Tue May 13, 08 2:58 pm

Yeah great points.
I am just talking sh*t.
I just love surfing with a kite.
Not kiting using a surfboard.

Some of the kite specific surfboards are definitely built for kiting. Inserts are a huge plus if you want to put on a front footstrap.
And most kite specific boards are much more durable.

I just feel that if you have to be powered the entire time you are riding a surf board you are riding too small of a board. And if both of your feet are strapped in you can't adjust your back foot to get through mushy sections etc.
If you are leaning back and railing the entire time then it's not really surfing.
And if you couldn't paddle the board into a wave and surf it then you are just getting toted down the line instead of trimming.

I love to ride my 6 foot kite specific board ---it is a great board when the waves are over shoulder high and have shape. One front footstrap makes getting out a lot easier in bigger surf.

But in most windblown and mushy wave conditions I have the most fun on my regular surfboard which is a bit bigger (6'4" swallow tail) with no straps.

B · Since 29 Apr 2008 18 Posts Hood River

just a little guff,

but i totally agree, when on a wave you should be surfing and using the kite to pull
when needed

Cheers Smile

tautologies · Since 24 Aug 2006 602 Posts Oahu Addicted

having buckled and broken quite a few surfboards, I really think what you choose matters. I would say do not get a polyesterboard. Get an epoxy. Surftech works, but ding much easier than most kite-surfboards. Lots of good boards out there though (and some not as good!!!).

Most of the kite specific board can easily be ridden strapless when you get there. If you use a surftech definitely get a layer of carbon under the footstrap. Having used surftechs, they do get beat up...and if you add the pads and straps and carbon you normally will end up with a board that is more expensive then getting a board that is made for use with a kite.

There are some great, and some not so great boards out there. I ride the 6'1'' from Naish, which to me is a good board for slightly bigger waves, with regular single concave thruster and pin tail. It is a slim board so it does hold power if you areconcerned with that... If you want something for smaller surf or less power consider the 6'6''..

LF (Rawson) has an interestesting board that I would like to try out (seems like a pretty fat tail though), and Airush has one. It should be said that surftech has a lot more options though...so read up on shapes and their effects and qualities and make the dive...getting the right board for you is a constant battle...and it does not end easily...as I said I am happy with the 6'1'' CR, range and feel, but that is no guarantee for you...so read up, test a few if you can...or simply just go for it.

One note though, be a little careful with boards that are "over-engineered"..I mean if you come over a board with 5 fins, deep channels triple concave and / or an really unusual shape (the whole package)...they might look cool, but don't get it as your first board...there is a reason why many surfboards look sort of simple and similar....it works.

good luck and report back when you've had your first sessions...
a.

boardrider · Since 05 Apr 2006 1034 Posts Ventura, CA XTreme Poster

Contemplating a 6' x 18.5" x 2.5" EPOXY swallow tail thruster as my first kite-surf board. Good deal - 250$ new - Thinking about throwin' the NSI pads on, making the grand total @ 360$.

Are EPS surf boards too fragile to use W/O a carbon layer under the heals as tautologies suggests doing ? - If yes, should the board builder put the carbon on, or is it a DIY thing?

Other experiences w/ epoxy surf boards ? Should I throw down the X-tra 300$, and just get a kite specific board for better durability ?

I'm 5'10" and 180 # and will surf sandy beach breaks & some rocky reef breaks.

Thx - C

jahmbi · Mon Jul 28, 08 11:42 pm

WOW SURFBOARDS 4 KITING Twisted Evil

WHAT A NEW CONCEPT...GET YOUR YOUR SHIT TOGETHER AND PULL YOU HEAD OUT OF THE SAND .. STUPIP TOPIC.. HAVE YOU ACTUALLY BEEN KITING FOR MORE THAN A MONTH OR ARE YOU JUST A BORING POSTER Evil or Very Mad

TROLL