How hard is it to learn on a surfboard as compared to a TT?
Have been up and riding for a month or two but am curious to try one out.

Also as a cheap alternative, can you add foot straps to an old beat up surfboard? say 6'2 or is that too big
Cheers

Swapping between the two can be confusing if you're new, TT's are all about backfoot pressure and surfboards are all about frontfoot pressure. Also be aware that it's a totally differen't mentality on a surfboard making your way out through the break. On a TT you will charge out and strapless you will pick your way out, slowing down for the broken waves as opposed to just bunny hopping them.

I reckon it's great to have both options and take the right one out for the day. If the surf is all blown out, wind directly onshore I'll take out the TT and practice my boosting mowing the lawn. If some nice waves, cross on shore or cross shore winds present themselves crack out a surfboard and do a down winder. Stick with the strapless surfboard for one or two frustrating downwinders and you'll have it by the end.

I find a surfboard a pain in the ar$e. It slaps around all over the place in the chop, and because the fins are so much bigger its far too easy to do one turn and end up cutting up wind so much that you stall the kite. Like Brohan said it's damn near impossible to turn direction without falling off and getting back up again in your desired position.

Look what I am trying to say is that I suck and I obviously need more practice.

Hey, I started on a surfboard and find it a lot easier than a TT. The trick is to move your feet, you can't glue them in one position for the whole ride like you would on a TT.

eg,
Me: 75kg, 6'1"
Kite: Griffin Argo 9m
Board: 6'5", 19 5/8", 2 3/8"

I stand 4-6" further forward than i normally would surfing. My front goes much further up the board than normal so much so that I had to wax further up the board. My back foot goes just in front of the tail pad/ just in front of the fins. Then you use the rail more than the fins to drive against the kite and travel up-wind. If you use the fins/back foot too much you will just create too much drag and stall.

When you want to turn you have to move that back foot back over the fins to steer the board like you normally would on a wave using your speed more than the pull of the kite to get you around the turn. If you are too aggressive with the kite when you turn you will just get pulled of the board and face plant the water, which sucks. You have to gently bring the kite up and over to the new direction.

To actually move your front foot you have to wiggle it up and down the board, compared to the back foot which you can just pick up and plant it in its new position.

When starting you want to have a regular stance on the board so that you have full control of the board when the kite pulls you up and to make it through the white water.

Hope this helps.

I use strapped SB - I do not surf - took some time to get it together.. What really helped was starting on a small surf board (sub 5 foot!!) which it is easy to dominate - once you are into heavy leans and get the timing right with the kite get onto a regular size board.
I weigh around 70 pies and use a 6' SB on an 8 (over 20 Knts) or 10M in less.
So if you surf you will know the drill when it comes to body movement and angle.

I have added straps to an SB - Q-cell & glassed in the screw plugs setup for my stance on either side of the stringer...
Position - was not that scientific - measured a couple of boards in shop - I used 4 hole plugs to allow for some adjustment.
Would also suggest adding an extra layer or two of glass around foot strap area for strength.
So do-able if you are familiar with fixing boards....

Also consider trying local kite shop - might have a shed out back with a few old boards cheap, which will do the job w/o the hassle, or the cost of a new kite SB...

Cheers
AP

Has anyone here demo'd (or own) a slingshot T-Rex? I would be interested to read a review, seems almost like a bit of a surfboard / TT hybrid.

puppetonastring said..

IMO theres way too many kiters out there on surfboards.
If you are chasing the park& ride experience of a paddle-in surfer then - for sure - a surfboard is the only option. A TT will never ride a wave like a surfboard.
But the huge majority of kiters out in the waves riding surfboards would/could be having far more fun sticking to their TT. Way more versatile, way more functional (on all but the best waves at the best times) etc etc etc.
And besides to get the true advantage of a SB you need to know how to surf - as in paddle in style. How many of those 'super cool - I only ride a surfboard' kiters out there know how to surf.

It wasnt all that long ago I was publicly shamed when i suggested at the 1st "wave comp" I ever visited that I thought wave riding would be on surfboards.
I was told - with any no. of expletives - how stupid I was thinking that way when kiters had all the advantages TT offer in the waves and that surfboards were strictly for paddling.=.
Swings & roundabouts boys & girls.
My bet is in 2 years the no. of TTers doing the City to Trigg will increase from the current 2%>5% to more than 50% - leaving a way smaller % of kiters limiting their fun by riding a surfboard when 1) they cant surf & 2) the waves are too crap to surf even if you could.

A time & place (and conditions) for everything.

Well said puppet.

I wonder if mutants will come back into favour?????

Funny!

Here, today, we had about 6 of us on the lake and it varied from all of us on TTs or all of us on directionals and any combination in between.

Eventually, I'll learn how to ride proper waves but for now, the directional is great when the wind drops and I can't get enough air to have fun on a TT - any size of TT.

How do you get up on a surfboard without straps? I feel like I need to have my feet locked into the board when im taking off, especially when there's whitewater rolling in. As soon as I let go of the board to dive the kite it washes away!

(this is in the noob section )

As gcdave said, the longer u wait to go, the harder it gets in the current. Heels quickly on the board and they don't need to be in the perfect spot - you can move your feet when you get up. Just need to balance correctly. And whilst getting the kite and your body in place, keep your heels on the board to control the board (toes are sticking in the air a bit). And it's even easier to turn the board that way if needed. When you're getting up, you 'roll' from your heels onto your feet.

Getting on a strapless board is all about bringing your body's balance above the board. Squatting as low as possible getting on the board, and once the weight is over the board, stand up. Use your kite to bring you over your board, once you're on top, push your feet forward and downwind so the board starts moving with you. Once you got some speed, edge.