When you feel like it

If you can ride switch stance on your twin tip, you're good to go. I found strapless easier to learn to gybe but harder in the chop. Loads of good instructional videos on youtube.

I've been windsurfing for many years (over 20), so I expected to be able to gybe and tack no issues. But I still find I need to refer to videos (and my tacks are still utter ****).

As others suggested you can start to ride surfboard on flats any time.
The difference starts when you hit the surf. It's been a long time advice: start on the waves when you can consistently fly the kite without having to look at it. It may prove better for the long run to spend one more season on TT with focus on flying the kite "blind", and learn at least basic jumps also "blind", (i.e. not looking at the kite...)

I've just started on a surfboard after around 3 seasons on my twin tip. I'm loving it. Main reasons were for better light wind kiting, to try something new and to practice on a directional before trying out a foil. I started on a decent 2nd hand surfboard that cost me $250 but it's too small and feels just as power hungry as my twintip so that was disappointing. I'm now on a $10 dump shop board and loving it! 6'7" I think ha.

If you're tight, poor or just like good value, pick up the cheapest surfboard you can find. That way you don't need to worry about it at all.

Go strapless. I was able to ride straight away. Gybes were hard on the small board but easy on the big board, got them happening in my first session - they're not pretty but they're functional. No flat water here really - Just lumpy wind swell ****.

I find even mowing the lawn in light wind is fun because it's more dynamic and I can still practice gybes, changing my foot position, tacks, etc.

Kiting a year and never ridden SB ? You've waited 12 months too long :)

In flat or small chop I think you could learn on SB from scratch - to be honest there isn't really anything to learn, you just put your heels on the deck, dive the kite, stand up and start riding.

Downwind transitions are also quite simple, especially if you already can ride toeside. Just let the board drift/ carve downwind, and at some stage bring the kite over to the new side. The timing really doesn't matter. Downloop if you fancy, or not. You'll soon workout how much to lean on the new tack to go upwind.

Riding in surf ? That's where the challenge is. Start small and build up a small you gain confidence. But time spent on the SB on the flat is time spent well - I wouldn't wait a moment longer.

Oh - absolutely no need for foot straps at all. They just force you to stand in the wrong spot to ride upwind basically. Upwind on SB requires you to move (your rear foot especially) forwards over the middle of the board. Depending on where the straps are, you'll either be in the wrong spot for riding upwind or riding waves. You can't have the perfect setup for both - it's a compromise and I just wouldn't even go down that route. IMO.

you can do it !

stat said..
Thankyou andrash, eddiemorgs and undermyumbrella for your advice it sounds like I should probably wait a while longer to give it a try,
possibly

i can ride switch comfortably, but definatly need a lot more time on the water to improve my skills. Most of you are saying to wait and get better on the twin tip for at least another season before giving it ago, which makes a lot of sense.

i was just curious as most of the kiteboarding my way is in the surf and it's a fair drive to botany or some other places to
kire for me.

thanks again for the feedback much appreciated ????

No mate , just do it if that is what you want to do. Not as hard as you might think and a whole new world

Did a fair few dwinders whilst doing a transition from tt to sb , kept looking at wicked ramps wanting to boost off, so back onto the tt as I find it more dynamic, takes too many stars to alingn here for riding a surfboard full time imho, so possibly worth looking at your location as a factor, as long as the winds in , I'm kiting, where some sb riders don't bother as there's little swell but the winds cranking

I feel like this was a troll and everyone took the bait.....

stat said..
hi guys
I have been kiteboarding for a year now and was thinking about trying to learn how to ride on a surfboard.

when is the right time to give this ago, etc ect,,,,,,,


i appreciate any advice given and Thankyou in advance

... the right time is NOW!!!!!

The time to start is when you have good control of your kite. Not a hard skill to learn in the flats, but as others mentioned, when you start to get waves it becomes more of a challenge as there are currents and white water to navigate. Having good board recovery skills is crucial, so make sure your body dragging is up to scratch. Also read up on what to do when things go pear shaped and you drop your kite in waves. It will help in your repair bill.