Just looking for some advice on what I should look for when choosing my first kite surfboard.

Here's a bit about me and where I kite.

Weight: 82kg
Height: 6ft ish
Wave size: just bay chop or Small to Medium waves.
Experience: Currently using an old strapless surfboard that's 6ft, can gybe that 50% - 60% of the time and can ride toe side okay ish (lose a lot of power when I do?).

(let me know if you need any more info)

Have been looking to maybe get a 2nd hand Wam but I don't know what size. Anyone else have any other suggestions for a board?

Thanks for the help.

bigtone667 said...
Hi Brohan, a lot of the guys I kite with use normal surfboards. Makes it much cheaper than buying a "kite" specific board.

I use a North Nugget and rate it the best piece of equipment that I have. I can get up in light winds (10 knots), surf it, jump it and go like a maniac in heavy winds.

Hey Bigtone, just cruious, when you're going in 10knots... what size kite are you flying? 17m?

Brohan said...

...
Experience: Currently using an old strapless surfboard that's 6ft, can gybe that 50% - 60% of the time and can ride toe side okay ish (lose a lot of power when I do?).

...

You need to get much better at riding toe side, and you should really get better at gybing. Riding a surfboard is almost completely pointless if you're not rock solid on toe side. The whole point of a surfboard is to carve blisteringly fast turns onto waves and you can't do any of that if you can't ride really well on your toe side.

Gybing is arguably less important, especially if you're really good at toe side. For me gybing (and the foot swap) adds hugely to the fun and versatility of a surfboard.

As far as boards go, I am the same size and weight as you and I ride a 5'4" F-One Bamboo Fish. It rocks in light winds and small-medium surf. It is quite wide and flat so it can be a bit bouncy during transitions, especially with a little chop and poor technique.

Love my 5"8 WHIP in mushy slop

I bought a 6ft 2011 Wam today, I can go up wind a lot easier and I can gybe more often. Thanks for the info guys.