Need to be more specific than that mate,

Weight:
Height:
Style interested in:
local Conditions:
Surf or flat water:

My girlfriend likes both length and width...

Seriously go speak to someone who knows what they are talking about. Length, width,rocker continuous or 3 step,flex and where the board flexes, the list goes on.
It wont make much difference when your learning. As for length and width goes I wish board manufactuers would put Surface Area on their boards, like volume for windsurfers. The kite is the engine, the board is just the tyres.

ok said...

BOOOOOOOGIE-BOARD!

This guy is trying to get some serious information, take your trolling to another thread.

I reckon you'll do well to look for a first board that can later double as a light wind board. Any larger underground flx, cab prodigy, nobile 555 or similar reputable freeride board from 2008 or later will fit the bill.

Dimension wise, width should be 42-44, length more variable, 136-148 as a guide. Anything within this range will be fine for you.

In NSW a larger board will get a lot of use beyond your beginner phase. Later you'll add something about 132-135x40cm.

Excellent advice again from 'djdojo' yet again.
If you can afford a 2 board quiver then a light wind board now will give you lots of entry level advantages for quite a while. By which time you will have a much better idea of what will suit you as a second board.
Lots of good boards to choose from - one light winder we sell that performs really well (beware some dont) is the Shinn King George - 140x46 or, the best option for lightwind and for learning too, 144x49.
Not sure where you will find them in NSW?
If you would like me to find out give me a call.

puppetonastring said...

Excellent advice again from 'djdojo' yet again.

+1

The board you learn on will be quite different to the one you ride full time once you get better. Now a longer and/or wider board will be helpful, and if you can hang on to it when you buy a new board you get a "free" light wind board.

stabber said...

I have always found that stamina is more important than length or width.

Bull. don't you remember this one? "Long and thin - to far in, Short and thick - does the trick".

It's not about length or width, it's all about fit.

dave...... said...

My girlfriend likes both length and width...

Hmmm ... that would explain why she plays around so much .....

Seriously though: There is a rule of thumb touted by many of the board makers that 1cm increase in width is equavlent to 5cm increase in length.
A pretty broad generalisation Im guessing but it explains the trend to shorter wider boards lately - esp in the freeride category.
IMO manufacturers should include surface area along with length and width.

At around 75kgs - and with lots of boards to play around with - I am finding current model boards around 132x42 (give or take a bit) are way better than my earlier preference for boards which was always around the 137/138x39/40 mark. If these are roughly equivalent surface areas (the area I find suits me) then its way better to be riding the shorter fatter board.

I guess that makes King Rowdy right again (but hey when is he ever wrong )