I went straight to a surfboard after lessons. The only negative is the time it took me to learn to gybe and switch feet. I think if I had gone for a twin tip first, then surfboard I would of maybe progressed faster as could have spent more time riding rather than stacking it on the turns! But I got there.

I learned to kite on a surfboard without straps. I never felt like I was struggling. I think if your goal is to ride a surf board, especially strapless, you might as well start at the beginning doing it. Once you're used to a twin tip, I would think it would be a hassle to switch to a surf board. One thing I liked a lot about learning with a stappless board was just throwing my feet on the board and diving the kite to go, no messing around with straps. Anyway, I don't see any reason not to switch whenever they feel like it.

I think the biggest problem surfers face coming into kitesurfing (apart from strapping a harness and kite on) is having to ride switch. They are so used to riding goofy or natural all their lives, that it feels completely abnormal to switch. Having a skiing/wakeboarding background I have never had a problem with riding switch but do know some people that struggle with it.

I too have just recently started riding a strapless surfboard (have never surfed in my life), and after three flatwater sessions am able to gybe comfortably well, although I would like to become more confident before venturing into the surf on the sb.

My advice would be to learn on the TT to get them used to riding switch, then jump back on the surfboard......

strapless though!

its all about having complete control of the kite not the board.

when they can kite and find they are no longer looking at the kite then its probably a good time to transition over to a surfboard.

its a whole new learning curve when you get in the surf on a SB with no straps and your dealing with breaking waves, swell, large chop and moving water. if your still learning to use the kite and introduce all these other factors is gunna be hard no matter how well you can surf.

Peterc150 said..Riding switch could be the big barrier for them though.

This may sound bizzare to some, but I had the exact same problem for months.

I then tried land kiting, and because on land with a mountain/land board the wheels create more friction onto the grass, accidentally turning the board from goofy to natural just did not happen. So I learnt to lean back, avoid the "poo stance", and learnt to go both ways on land (both natural and goofy) and managed to learn somewhat what upwind was like.

I then hit the water again and it just clicked! I was able to go both ways without a problem since.

Peterc150 said..
...
How soon should/could they start riding a directional kitesurf board with footstraps?
...

Why not just try it and find out? Your mates might be good at it. When kitesurfing started most of us used strapless surfboards until we could get 3-strap directionals. Some guys just whacked a couple of straps on a crappy old surfboard. TT came along 2-3 years later.

I took the plunge straight after lessons mate, no struggle at all. never surfed, got a plain old surfboard, strapless inherently, and had no dramas getting up and moving. Took the advice of one of the best wave kiters in Oz and never looked back. twin tip is fun because I still have heaps to learn. the only drama for me was being afraid of losing the board at a busy st kilda beach. they 'go with the flow' a lot more than a TT. so I used a leg rope but got tangled a few times. frustrating as f* for that first session but outweighed by the ease of collection after losing grip. I went out in about 14kt on a 5'11" fish and a 12m kite, dream learning wind for a surfboard, you plane so easily. just do it, leg rope first time if you like, I'm going to bail mine next session onwards. You'll love the speed and the carve man, I certainly did. nowhere near as hard as I though to get up either... let me know if you want to be directional noobs together, it's transition time for me next session! Good luck man.

pattiecannon said..

but kitesurfing is 80% kite 20% board IMO.

This. Otherwise, this sport'd be called boardsurfing