Hi guys. I'm looking 4 some advice on gear. I'm an x-windsurfer (late 80s early 90s) turned recent kiteboarder. I was in my home state of tassie over easter and hoping for some kite action but was met with 25 - 35 NW gusty winds nearly every day all day! not to be disappointed though coz i dragged out my old 'waitata 2' slalom board and a 6m mylar sail and tried to remember how to rig it up again! i forgot i even had that gear! anyway i had a BLAST!!! enjoyed it SO much that i want to get back into the sport. im currently in sydney for the next 12 months and this is probably the best spot to buy gear coz there aint much on offer down south.
ok so what i want is a nice floaty fun board i can use in light wind but will also get up and go. someone suggested a formula board?? what rigs are you guys running now and where is the best place to buy in sydney. the more advice i can get the better. can't believe i've been missing out on so much fun for so long! kiting is great but not when its that windy! thanks guys. nads.

There are SOOO many variables... How light is the wind, <12 knots in Sydney What do you weigh? A lot depends on your weight. I'd think a nice big freeride board would be the way to go (maybe 120-160l). If you want something a little smaller, go for something like a freestyle wave board (may be 100l+). They are a lot of fun and real easy to sail.

Pugs

hey thanks dudes. yeah im a fat ass at 95kg so that slalom board of mine sinks when im off the plane. some sort of fun board sounds the go. most of my sailing will be in tas after i head back next year where the wind range is 5 - 45 knots at anytime! but id like to get out in botany bay too. ive seen some guys up the runway end getting bgreat reaches. thanks fot the info but.

Hi Nads,

I am riding a 160l Mistral Explosion, its ok in non-planing conditions and fantasic on the plane but really only suited to flater water. is ok in chop but alot more difficult to hold down compared to a much smaller board. PS I am 120kg and can ride this board easily on or off the plane. I use an 8.1mtr sail which gets me planning in 14 - 15 kts. Its the perfect big guy/fat guy kit.

quote:

---

Originally posted by hardman

Re Light wind gear, you need to be careful about formula gear, while it is the earliest to plane, it can't really reach across the wind, it is designed to sail high into wind, and deep down wind, it is an intense sailing experience all the time, a more light wind recreation slalom board may be better, one of the other threads on here has some great recommendations.

---

hi hardman, was curious why you say formula boards aren't designed to reach?

nads. why not just get a 120lt or less slalom board if you can already sail and just kite when the winds under 15 knots.

Hi Nads,

Hey were u the 1 sailing a deviot and had ur piccy in the paper?

Some of us in Tas use the 129L Mistral Screamer it is a great board for the sort of winds we get down here and it is very fast. It would be ideal for someone of your weight.
Due to its large wind range if it is too windy for the screamer then any small board 100L or less does the trick.
Where in tassie are u going to be sailing?

Cheers

Jimmy