If you're into lighter winds and glassy fun get either a wide, flat TT or an F-One Bamboo Fish.

I am just under 80kg, 6'1 rider.

My TT is 135*48 cm with minimal rocker. Fantastic light wind weapon.

My F-One Fish is 5'4"*48cm. It goes upwind almost as well as a raceboard, goes in light wind about as well as the fat TT. I generally use a kite 1-2 sizes smaller than anybody else.

It is not a surfboard but it does carve well if you work on your technique. I have not used any of my other boards since I got the Fish. I ride in and out of the straps with lots of foot switching. So much fun.

I would avoid a pure surfboard unless you want to go in the surf. The rocker of surfboards generally makes them slow, especially in lighter winds. Strapless is fun. It feels great to be able to wander around the deck at will and carve turns on the rail (which the Fish is great for).

skims are pretty fun and a new challenge

Would also go bigger kite and stick with manouverable board. Consider a good delta such as the F-One Bandit range and you'll find that you don't have to go huge to get good grunt and can still enjoy a quick responsive kite. I dropped down from a 12m helix to a 10m B2 and get out in the same winds. There are plenty of Xbow 12m's struggling in 11-14 knts when I'm out on the 10.

Thanks for that,

Confirmed my feelings, thought most might say board is better option though. I think I'd rather the big kite for my style as per djdojo's post. I'll consider a monster board and kite later down the track. Been looking for an excuse to get my hands on an Edge boost machine so this might be it....Only problem is the price, $2350 for a 13m hmmm. I guess they have great reputation so can ask those dollars.

Also been keen to hear how these Switch kites are looking like/performing from some more unpaid kiters-might have to find out myself, just over $1000 for a spanking new 14m Nitro (their high aspect 5 strut model) with bar. Thats $500 less than the only second hand edge on seabreeze....

Decision time.

Thanks again

Prefer bigger kite and keep same board ( for me cardboard wave 148 cm). Prefer to have same feel under foot. Will take thrusters off and put in small tt fins in light wind. On my 17 m core if can't get going time to surf or get father browny points in store for when wind up. Real light wind sb or big tt but rather do something else to be quite honest. Now and then good for a meditative smooth kite though. Tip don't get out 17m in wintervsqualls on 5 m swell. Crazy shi!