50 posts
from your experience do shorter boards or longer boards track upwind better?
does the width make a difference to upwind ability?
my shorter board tracks upwind quite abit better and i thought it would be the other way around for some reason
WA
1094 posts
Depends on how windy it is, a smaller board will hold an edge easier if its windy.
A bigger board will plane easier and result in being pulled off edge easier if its windy.
Same as if you trim your kite when its overpowered then suddenly your going upwind better rather than being pulled off edge.
VIC
5125 posts
In order of importance:
1 rider skill
2 flat rocker
3 wide
4 stiff
5 length
6 fins
Rider skill is always the most important. You need to be able to feel the pull of the kite and the board and to be constantly trimming o get the best upwind angle. Reading the swells and carving upwind also helps.
Size and being pulled off the edge is not important with a modern kite. You just push the bar out a little and go even further upwind.
Too long can be bad because the board flexes and that make for too much rocker.
Fins are not really important at all. They just compensate a little for poor technique.
VIC
427 posts
All other factors aside, a more square board will enable you to edge harder upwind, whereas a skinny board with rounded ends will be better downwind.
But that's not the only criterion for upwind performance, e.g. if you can ride a skinny board faster in choppy conditions, you might end up gaining more ground per time.
NSW
554 posts
You should mention whether it's a TT or a directional you're talking about.
If it's a directional once you get over about 5' 6" extra length doesn't really add to upwind ability, it's more for it's surfing characteristics.
What is most important is flat rocker, tail width, less toed in fins, width , in that order. Of coarse, as others have said, a board that is brilliant upwind in the light stuff will become difficult as wind gets too strong for it's range.
cheers Col
