zarb said...

I am in the market for a new shortboard for surfing, and I eventually want to also move to SB for kiting. I have a wild dream that I might be able to save money and have just the one board for both.

Is there any desirable traits for a Kiting SB that will hurt the characteristics of a normal surfing shortboard? The surfboard will be something for use on 1-4ft waves, as I already have a shortboard for larger waves, so it will be more of a fish shape. I have been looking at boards around 5'8", at least 20" wide, and more than 2 1/2" thick. I assume if I want to use it for kiting I would have to go with epoxy for the durability?

Hey Zarb, This can be done for sure but the problem being a board that is good for surf board kiting could be too heavy small wave surfing.

Underground did make a board for this purpose, - Underground Pohutu (i think it was) Not sure if it's still being produced but you could use this as a starting point.

What I did was re-inforced the deck of a epoxy short board with two layers of 4oz, I can kite and have surfed on the board but it's just a bit too heavy too be considered a good small wave board.

Maybe a custom epoxy is the go.

I have the BWS drifter at the moment which is a poly board with extra glass. To be honest it is a little heavier than I'd like, but it is a sick board. Will get a custom soon that does both kite and paddle. Your options are as follows:

1. BWS board - made for dual purpose
2. Shelf surfboard - made for surfing and you will eventually wreck it kiting
3. Custom made for kiting and surfing - offers a few more options with sizing and materials

The problem with a fish is that it will not be that great for kiting. A more refined shape goes better for kiting because with the kite you don't need the paddle assistance and speed generation that a fish/hybrid shape offers to paddle surfers.

The rule of thumb is that the volume of a dual purpose board should be at the lower end of your paddle ability. So just enough volume that you are comfortable to paddle on. I would suggest that 20 inches wide will be too much, although it will depend on your weight.

Some recent threads:

www.seabreeze.com.au/forums/Kitesurfing/General/Surfboard-quiver-dual-purpose-kite-and-surf/

www.seabreeze.com.au/forums/Kitesurfing/Review/2012-BWS-Josh-Mulcoy-surfboard/

www.seabreeze.com.au/forums/Kitesurfing/General/KITESURFING-BOARD-want-to-get-into-the-waves/