Hello,

my fiance is getting back in to Kiteboarding, however, his board is the equivelant of wearing flare pants to a trendy nightclub - outdated!

Could someone please recommend a good board i should look at getting for him?

or if anyone is selling a seccond hand board that would be suitable, please let me know. it's his birthday this weekend and i'd like to get him one as a present!

Thank you so much!

Cheerfully,
Blair

To pick the best board we must know the following:

How much does he weigh, how tall is he?

What conditions does he ride in (surf/Flat water/choppy water)? What is the area (so we can determine average wind speed)
What is your budget?
Many excellent boards don't have to come from USA/europe and some cheaper ones are designed in Australia.(eg cardboards)

lots of good board companies out there but i'd check with your local kite board shop first, its good to go local for warranties and exchanges etc. so if you let us know you're region i can look up local shop and see the best they have...



Lucky boy.

He's about 5"10 and weighs about 80kg's.
i dont think he'd be riding in really rough conditions, but, obviously in wind so it wuld be choppy.
we tend to go down to Kurnell, but would probably travel up to the northern beaches too. We are in Sydney.

The budget is undr $600.. i know it's not huge..but i think it's workable.. especially for something 2nd hand.

His current kite is MASSIVE! (i think it's a 16?) he probably needs a 12.. so if anyone has one of those the are selling as well...

Thank you for your help!!

I really like the Shinn range.. I ride the Shinn Monk myself. good pop, nice in flat and choppy waters!

salt said...


If it doesn't work out with him , pm me :) :)

This is seabreeze, not e-harmony

Haydn24 said...

salt said...


If it doesn't work out with him , pm me :) :)

This is seabreeze, not e-harmony

HAHAHAHA

salt said...
Also- Click Buy and sell, see Kite boards section and filter results in NSW. as a start..
kite power is in sydney, who else?


you can custom design your own graphics Cardboards if you're super sweet and have time, I'd do that!

www.cardboarding.com/faqp.aspx

Although the FR board (the one you should choose) with custom graphics is $920

I'll check it out, thank you! :)

I think the slingy maybe a little stiff for the conditions - he maybe better off getting one of these 2012 brand new online for cheaper and more allrounder size suitable.. and the lighter air why he uses a 16..



Crazy Fly Allround 138

Allround is a very comfortable board with soft flex, great upwind ability and quite a lot of pop. It is constructed from three main elements, namely, finest selection tip to tip CNC Shaped Wood Core, Multi Axial Fiber Glass and ABS rails. These three elements of highest quality enable this board to deliver unbelievable performance on water. Allround construction is designed to fit a wide range of riders starting with beginners and finishing with intermediate riders. This is the reason why so many kiteboarding schools use this board. Brand new Razor fins with ultra thin profile enhance the speed and early planing.

This year's design features transparent paint with cool graphics and sick timber look. The board is equipped with Dual Density EVA pads, Quick Fix II footstraps , handle and new Razor fins.

Blair, it's very nice of you to be looking for a surprise present. But it's fraught with danger. You're fiance may have particular likes & dislikes, unless he is just a learner. Perhaps you know experienced kiters who have kited with him. They would be in a better position to advise.
good luck
Col

blairrabbit said...

COL said...
Blair, it's very nice of you to be looking for a surprise present. But it's fraught with danger. You're fiance may have particular likes & dislikes, unless he is just a learner. Perhaps you know experienced kiters who have kited with him. They would be in a better position to advise.
good luck
Col

Thanks for your advice Col.

I have called around a few places, and with the advice from today i think i know what i'm looking for. he's pretty new to the sport (he did it a little bit about 10 years ago and is just getting back into it again).

I think i'd be looking for something that isnt too stuff, an all rounder board about 136-140.

That sounds about right for his size and being a relative beginner. As others mentioned, have a flick through the buy and sell for those sizes or contact a near by shop. They should be selling last years boards for cheap due to the new releases so you might be able to pick up a brand new one for a good deal!

What a lucky partner..

towradgi said...
Hi Blair,is that avatar your high school formal photo? I always buy my own sporting equipment,its a personal,individual issue to me.Unless your fiance' is with you ,chooses it and you pay,then its probably better you buying something more personal for him.Sporting equipment sits in the garage alot unused,where as a watch or other personal items he wears regularly ,he will be thinking of you evertime he looks at it.Its just a guys/my perspective.

Er what? If my missus bought me a kiteboard I would be substantially more impressed than the usual !!!!!

blairrabbit said...

ice said...
what is the 'out dated' board he has got now

umm.. it's white with red flames on it and has prongy ends.. like a "W" on each end..

Wow. Sounds like a Jimmy Lewis pickle fork... Compared with that whatever you buy him will feel like heaven. Cardboards, as have been suggested, probably good bang for buck, or cabrinha chopstick, cheap and cheerful.

I'd rock into Kitepower as salt suggested below, find an ex-demo around 138cm, chat to the guys there about it, I'm sure they'll look after you.

If he really gets back into it, he'll be ready to upgrade in twelve months, and so will you.