Wakeboard V's Kiteboard

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harry potter
harry potter
VIC
2777 posts
VIC, 2777 posts
11 Dec 2006 1:14pm
Just wondering if anyone has any ideas or can shed some light regarding the use of wake boards. It would seem to me that there are many wakeboard companies with years of research and development under their belts at making good quality products ( Most of which are cheaper than the high quality kiteboards and in my experience much better build quality and finish )
My question : what are the main differences in the board design if any and what are the problem associated or are we just being taken for a ride by the kite companies.
Any advice or experience would be appreciated !
YoMoFo
YoMoFo
NSW
240 posts
NSW, 240 posts
11 Dec 2006 1:26pm
Weight rocker and flex, wakeboards have more rocker are a bit heavier and stiff az, kiteboards flex and are az light az piss, all depends on the style u ride, i reckon wakeboards give heaps better pop on wakestyle tricks. you dont c pro cable riders using kiteboards do ya
sunseeker
sunseeker
QLD
1203 posts
QLD, 1203 posts
11 Dec 2006 12:47pm
Kite boards get up on the plane much quicker and are designed to do so.

With a wakeboard, power (cable or boat) isn't an issue so they generally have more rocker and are easier to land a jump. Also you can get away with a smaller board for wakeboarding.

Kiteboards have 4 smallish fins and wakeboards generally have 2 large fins. This makes kiteboards easier to edge upwind.
Rail profiles are different, outline shapes are different. All depends on if you are buying an all round board, wake style board, freestyle board or wave board.

There are more differences that I won't go into.

I know echostorm started kiting on a wakeboard and has just switched to a kiteboard - he might be able to give some differences from experience
JAKE123
JAKE123
QLD
314 posts
QLD, 314 posts
11 Dec 2006 12:50pm
some people recon u cant go upwind properly on wakeboards. i have tried a couple of different ones and i recon that u need a wakeboard with a bit of lentgh to it, say 130+ to be able to go upwind with ease. and also try to get minimal rocker.
Bart
Bart
QLD
34 posts
QLD, 34 posts
11 Dec 2006 2:03pm
I ride and enjoy both. Wakeboards are very forgiving, good pop and soft landings. I have no problem staying up wind or getting up on the plain (even in light wind); however with the extra rocker it is difficult to hold an edge when really overpowered (even in bindings IMO). The fin debate is open to interpretation, given when kiting your mostly on the edge, you could argue that fins are mainly for tracking on take off and landing.

However, if I was only going to have one board, I would go with a kiteboard.
echostorm
echostorm
QLD
1245 posts
QLD, 1245 posts
11 Dec 2006 3:23pm
quote:
Originally posted by sunseeker

Kite boards get up on the plane much quicker and are designed to do so.

With a wakeboard, power (cable or boat) isn't an issue so they generally have more rocker and are easier to land a jump. Also you can get away with a smaller board for wakeboarding.

Kiteboards have 4 smallish fins and wakeboards generally have 2 large fins. This makes kiteboards easier to edge upwind.
Rail profiles are different, outline shapes are different. All depends on if you are buying an all round board, wake style board, freestyle board or wave board.

There are more differences that I won't go into.

I know echostorm started kiting on a wakeboard and has just switched to a kiteboard - he might be able to give some differences from experience



Not yet mate ive only been out on it once and it was 12-13knots on a 12m kite. That said I would have buckleys plaining on my wakeboard (132 liquid force rhythm) compared to my new kiteboard (140 Liquid Force Element). Surprisingly i managed to do a few boosts and ride a few waves. The newer wakeboards generally have a similar fin setup as kites (4 fins). Unlike the oldschool monofin at each end. But really at the end of the day it is all relative to the type of kite or wakeboard you are riding. For example my wakeboard has more flex then my new kiteboard and I found landing jumps on the element to really jar my feet and knees compared to the soft landings on the old wakeboard.

To answer your question you really need to know the style of riding you are doing, the condition of your knees and feet, the locations you are riding in, the types of air you are doing and your skill level to determine your ideal board type be it wake or kite. ATM I prefer my wakeboards forgiveness on my knees and ability to ride down the face of a wave and my kiteboards ability to hold the right angled edge to stay upwind and plain easy. I can offer a better answer when i take the new board in heavier wind and do bigger boosts however my feet and knees are still sore from sundays low wind knee jarring session with my new board.
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