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BigR
Since 05 Jul 2005
372 Posts
White Salmon
Obsessed
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 Wed Jul 02, 08 2:26 am |
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| Quote: | | One thing I think that I think has hurt my kiting upwind ability in my transition from windsurfing to kitng is definitely the style used to go upwind. In windsurfing when you are cranking along on a shortboard/formula board it is all about just riding the fin, whereas in kiting you utilize the edge of the board much more than the fins. Hell the best twin tip board for going upwind that I have riding has essentially no fins. |
thats on a twin tip, but on a directional its all about riding the fins & going flat + dig back end on transitions
I don't think those chopped off / flat backend boards will work that great for jybing tho...they'll prolly go back to a little more shaped in the back |
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bustingbladder
Since 12 Jul 2006
387 Posts
Seattle
Obsessed
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| Fri Jul 18, 08 11:27 am |
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| Well after the first day of course racing, I think we can confirm that if you do not have a custom course board, forget about even entering. All the top Pro's had them and it showed. These things shoot up wind like nothing I have seen before. Not even a good directional has a chance. These things are sick weapons. "Wreckignize" or lose your ass! Great fun was had by all! |
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Chooch
Since 18 Nov 2007
1871 Posts
Wicked Pissah
Boston Tea Bagger
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| Fri Jul 18, 08 11:42 am |
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It really was amazing to watch from the sideline. There was a definitive line in the race, on the upwind side of the line were all the riders on custom racers, and on the downwind side of the line were all the standard boards  Never thought it would be that much of a difference |
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genek
Since 21 Jul 2006
2165 Posts
East Po
KGB
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| Fri Jul 18, 08 12:01 pm |
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How much of a factor you think the riders' experience makes? People with custom race boards are probably on average more skilled at racing since they're going the extra mile. I'm sure the boards help a ton, just saying that skills matter as well.
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gabe
Since 16 May 2005
491 Posts
Obsessed
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| Fri Jul 18, 08 12:09 pm |
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when you see how radically different a custom race board is from any other board, it totally makes sense.
it seems like any normal board would be similar to taking a mountain bike to a road race. |
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SalmonSlayer
Since 27 Nov 2005
648 Posts
Addicted
CGKA Member
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| Fri Jul 18, 08 12:44 pm |
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| bustingbladder wrote: | | Well after the first day of course racing, I think we can confirm that if you do not have a custom course board, forget about even entering. All the top Pro's had them and it showed. These things shoot up wind like nothing I have seen before. Not even a good directional has a chance. These things are sick weapons. "Wreckignize" or lose your ass! Great fun was had by all! |
When are you getting a race board Wally?
P |
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Kodiak
Since 01 Aug 2005
1114 Posts
Slidey
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| Fri Jul 18, 08 4:26 pm |
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| genek wrote: | | How much of a factor you think the riders' experience makes? People with custom race boards are probably on average more skilled at racing since they're going the extra mile. I'm sure the boards help a ton, just saying that skills matter as well. |
I was in the race boat yesterday, it was totally crazy out there. 2/3 races had clean starts. Unfortunately during the second race someone was coming across on the port tack and there were several kites that got tangled. I think Jake's ripped in half.
To Genes comment, I would bet you take a professional racer and put him on a twin tip vs. an amateur on a race board, and the amateur would destroy him.
Those boards give such a huge advantage. Then when you put them in the hands of pro kiters it is such a huge advantage. In the second race Ken had a bad start, it was amazing how fast he made up ground on everyone else.
The other thing to note is the turn, if you want to get super good at racing master the upwind tack. Ken and Sky did a couple write by the boat, it was amazing how fast and smooth they were with absolutely no loss of ground. the super cool ones were where people just carved super had upwind and esentially spun in an upwind circle, then just flipped their feet around. |
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kitebot
Since 20 Feb 2007
251 Posts
Obsessed
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| Fri Jul 18, 08 5:42 pm |
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| I was driving to the Hatch a week or two ago and saw the North guys on their proto kites with raceboards heading upwind so hard they were almost paralleling me on the highway. I wouldn't believe it if I hadn't seen it with my own eyes. I also saw them go out in mouse fart conditions where 13s were falling out of the sky all over the place they were practically out of site upwind in about 5 minutes. While I have absolutely no interest in kite racing the trickle down effect it'll have on gear for the rest of us could be huge. |
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Kodiak
Since 01 Aug 2005
1114 Posts
Slidey
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| Fri Jul 18, 08 7:17 pm |
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I am not sure really if this stuff will have any trickle down affect. Most of the boards are not really suitable for freestyle moves.
If you have never tried racing though I would recommend it. I used to course race sailboards and it was a blast. It is something that realy anyone can do, and just being out there with 50 other kiters is a ton of fun. |
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