NSW
147 posts
Hi all am a newb, has anybody out there ever kited with a sailboard hull, am a landboarder with board sailing skills.
Can one use a big hull as in a race board, or is it best to use a sinker or semi sinker, have used the search function for info, but none available.
are the hulls pigs to handle when breeze gets lumpy, any info greatly appreciated
NSW
1716 posts
Nothing wrong with a 7- 8 foot surfboard. Lot's fun on light days.
NSW
15 posts
I thought along the same lines when moving from sailboarding. Having tried, my advice is avoid it, go straight for a surfboard or twin tip. Sailboards seem to need the sail force near the middle to be tuned properly.
In light winds on a sailboard you'll need to stand way up the front making it hard to steer and hold a rail. In heavy wind you can stand way back but end up with a large unpredicable nose section that can flip you up and end up hurting a lot as you get dragged into it. Even a mal is better if you really want some bouyancy- infact they are a lot of fun in lighter wind.
VIC
702 posts
it's not about the size, it's how you use it...
NSW
625 posts
Agree with Casuarina. Saiboard need mast foot pressure to promote forward movement where as with a kite you need to get the pressure on the rail/edge. Sailboard rails would be too soft for this.
As a sailor/kiter I recommend a surfboard over a TT as its far closer to sailboarding. I certainly get more use with it that my TT
WA
563 posts
Agree with superlizard... but what are we talking about again?? LOL!
SA
1390 posts
Are you going to be using the same kites as you use for land boarding. You may find them a bit to small as it takes a lot more power to pull a board through the water and keep it on the plane.
My sugestion for you is to go and get a lesson as kiteboarding can be very dangerous as you are playing with a lot more power. I have seen some landboarders come down the beach and try and kite and would say that they have some of the worst kite skills i have ever seen as a lot have been self taught and realy know sweet f all about kiteboarding. Did you know you need to wear a harnes, leash,how to self rescue launch and land properly all the safety releases on the kite what the right of way rules are how to body drag upwind to get your board and the list goes on.
At the end of the day one or two lessons wont cost you the earth and will give you a good idea of what gear you will need etc and have you up and riding in a lot less time. Well worth the cash IMO.
VIC
702 posts
put it this way, i also did landboarding and sailing before taking up kiteboarding...
- yes what waxman said - can't use your land gear (just not fun)
- can't use big sailboards - also not fun - same like trying to snowboard down the mountain using a boat...
- with your landboarding (with foil kites i assume) skills, you need 1 or most 2 solid lessons and you will be ready. So your landboarding skills will definitely come in handy.
- don't try to improvise with messing around with some foil kites and salvage hull boards - you'll just get really annoyed. Only use proper kitesurfing gear, and you will never want to do anything else in life. It's hundred times more fun than landboarding (at least for me)
NSW
147 posts
breezers thank you for your advice which I have taken on board is greatly appreciated.
Have 4 foils and 2 lei kites a 6 and an 8
cheers
