I have a couple of buddies who are very good surfers who have just finished some kitesurfing lessons and about to take the plunge and go solo.
How soon should/could they start riding a directional kitesurf board with footstraps?
Conventional wisdom says they should get going well on a twintip then have a go on a directional.
Since these guys are great surfers, I wonder whether their familiarity with surfboards would mean they can get up and going on one quicker?
It would be easier to water start and they can stop and switch to change directions (not worry about gybing initially).
Can anyone provide some info on this?
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've been surfing 30 odd years and my whole reason to kite is to do it in the surf. I started on a twin tip beginning of the year and got straight up and riding in a lake. I've progressed from the lake and I'm riding a tt in the surf and love it.
I tried using a normal surfboard the other day, no straps. I sucked!! I think there is a ton of fun to have on a twinny and you will get up and going better, you will have more fun and you can still ride them in the waves.
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 second this, used a surfboard with a kite for the first time the other day, no straps on it, because I intend to ride strapless. I can go both ways and gybe after my first session. If you want to ride strapless, mays well do it from your first time.
To be fair though I do surf and skate though which would help with the learning...
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!
I really sucked on a tt and kept nose diving, so I gave a sb a go with just the front strap and it worked treat. I did this about two weeks after I was first able to get up. I now ride them strapless primarily because it is quicker to run it under your feet and get going.
I use a board with no rocker and four fins for light days and something with a bit more rocker and three fins for windier days.
(I went back and learnt how to ride a tt later)
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.
Great feedback, thanks. These guys will be in Port Phillip Bay before going out in big ocean surf.
Riding switch could be the big barrier for them though.
Once they are up and going on twintips I will try them both on a surfboard with straps and report back on how they go.
Select to expand quotePeterc150 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.
The right directional might help too...
I've never surfed, but got out on a Dialer (big, high-volume, fish) this year... I was going upwind, gybing successfully about 50% of the time at the end of my first proper session. Beginners luck, I'm sure 
No hassle in switching from TT to D... the problem is going back the other way, and thinking your TT has more board ahead of your front foot - face plant!
BTW falling off a strapless D. hurts...
Select to expand quotePeterc150 said..
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How soon should/could they start riding a directional kitesurf board with footstraps?
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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 have a similar story. I have surfed for 15 years, and switch is very unnatural to me. So much so that I go toe side instead on any board. I got up and riding on a strapless SB first go but have gone back to my TT to learn to fly the kite confidently and to go upwind. After which time I will pull out the surfboard again.
Definitely feels better as a surfer to go on the SB but I would recommend the TT for user-friendliness until the kite element is under control.
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.
yeh it's your call. but kitesurfing is 80% kite 20% board IMO. Some say 90% kite. but on a largish 144+ TT , after you get your transitions down your kite control will improve faster than on a SB.
1. you'll be facing it
2. you'll be trying jumps both ways because you're strapped heelside.
I have m8s who jumped straight on SB's and took way longer to get the kite down than the crew on the TT's. They are defo better on their SBs but they absolutely suck at TT's where as the TT crew picked up SB skills to a healthy level relatively fast once they jumped on.
Obviously every body is not like this but it's prolly this way for most weather they are a state champ or a skateboarder.
Select to expand quotepattiecannon said..
but kitesurfing is 80% kite 20% board IMO.
This. Otherwise, this sport'd be called boardsurfing
