HEY ALL...NEED SOME ADVICE
WHERE I LIVE I RIDE 90% IN THE OCEAN....CANT DECIDE WHAT TO DO ...GET A TOXIC WAVE MUTANT OR A REGULAR TT..IVE ALREADY GOT A COUPLE OF SURFBOARDS....WHAT DO YOU GUYS WITH HEAPS OF EXPERIENCE THINK IS THE BEST WAY TO GO...WHATS THE BEST COMBINATION??? SURFBOARD AND ??????
CHEERS
TJ
Hey TJ I have the Toxic and I have to say its a great fun board in the surf. Out of the box it wasnt so good and I wanted to get rid of it, but once I put better footpads and straps on and bigger fins its an awesome board in both wind waves and swell. I put new Airush foot straps on and the biggest fins I could find from Airush at the thruster end - sometimes I would like bigger.
it really rides like a surfboard on a wave and I am 95kgs and have ridden it with little to no kite power while on a wave. Having surfed all my life the toxic was a great intro to kiting in waves - its great to be able to ride both ways and not toe side all the time and it does come in handy during sticky situations.
Personally Im progressing towards a surfboard now but will always hang on to the toxic - its just heaps of fun! You can throw it around and just hang on - its a lot of fun and like I said - once upgraded works a real treat - I used to have the Hammer but prefer this as it has a more surfboard feel to it.
so whats the specs on your bottom??? length, width, concaves, etc... looks like it can throw some spray.
just messing.
p.s. to the first post, maybe you could get a normal twin tip and just ride an old surfy for waves??? if you want somethhing to do tricks and stuff on a think a twinny is the way to go however if you like slamming waves with a smaller board maybe get the mutant. if it were me though i would have a TT and a surfboard.
Hi TJ,
well it really depends on where you're spending the other 10%. If it's riding on the beach, I would suggest something with a really good anti-abraisive surface on the underside. If it's on dirt or grass, perhaps something with wheels. If it's on the road, I might suggest something with comprehensive insurance and some really good private medical coverage.
But seriously:
You like the surf style, I'm guessing, from what you say. So a mutant would be more to that style. But. A twin tip can be a great all over experience (could be why there's so many sold) and they're easier to pick up at a good price. Twintips can be good in the surf, to a point, but you already have surfboards that may be better, but a twintip is really at home in flat and chop. Which is why, seriously, I would go the twin tip for starters. You can get a good 2nd hand one cheap and readily, and if you don't like the thing you can get rid of it for what you paid if you're smart. A new bargain mutant will be harder to find, and harder to get rid of if you don't like it. Although you could get an older, dusty, mutant at a bargain price if you're lucky enough to be at the right place at the right time.
Horses for courses, really.
Get a surfboard.
I really like the airrush hammer such a sweet board but once you get used to a surfboard and adapt your riding, learning to gybe a surfboard becomes your best mate in the waves.
Check out the tuffies from Surftech.
What i did when i got mine was check the website then print off the page with the special on it take it to my local Surftech dealer surfshop, (Mocean in Alfred Cove) show them the print out, they contacted the rep and that evening i got a 6' Webber with pads n straps for $750 and it is joy. That price was $250 cheaper than the kite shop offered.
Check this http://shop.surftech.com/s.nl/it.A/id.3911/.f?sc=1&category=-101
He already has surfboards - he wants to know what combination to have. I reckon a mutant or Hammer type board would be a good option if that was going to be your only board so that you get a bit of both - surf and TT tricks.
As a combination, get a TT because you have the surfboards for days when there is good surf and cross shore winds and the TT for sloppy onshore conditions where you can get good ramps and pop. If you get a Hammer or mutant, they will be a dog on the flat water for your other 10%.
Get a TT that is flexible and has concaves to handle chop and big landings. Something like Cardboards Tempo or Underground.
Most of my riding is in the ocean and I have a cabby directional (surfboard) which is my preferred board, but I find that a wakeboard is the best TT style board for the waves.
Wake boards generally have more rocker that kiteboards, which is way better suited to wave riding, and concave / channelled bottoms make for softer landings.