9 Years ago started on a surfboard, then to a Air-rush Mutant, then last 5 years on a Jimmy Lewis Lithium Twinny (yes an oldy but a goody), now I want to head right back to surfboard style kiteboard (My days of crankin' out freestyle, wake-style best left to those young bodies that can handle the pain you take to get it right!).
Any Basic principles on choosing a suitable board considering the many options out there! Just doing my head in!
I'm a intermediate rider, in Mandurah WA, (you guys are right, WA is the best place on earth for kiters), have a fluid style (my mates say slow and gutless, I will go with the former!). Been up north wave riding last few weeks, and just loving it!
I still like a good solid rail as the chop and wind can be fierce here in summer.
Input from regular punters or affiliated persons I don't mind, as long as they use the board. Been through every evolution phase of kiting (Except boards obviously) since the two line foil kites were all you could get, so I can read between the lines.
Cheers Crew
Hi Eppo,
Cast your eye over the North WAM of 2011. The convertible nature of the board makes it appeal to a wide variety of conditions from small mushy waves to big fast breaks just by changing fin configurations.
Check out my review I did in the Reviews section. If you are after harder rails and something to handle the choppy crazy stuff, then look at the North Kontact, however, this board is a little on the extreme side for day to day use in normal 20 knots and 2-3 foot surf which is why the WAM may be a better option for you.
There are a few guys getting around on the WAM's now that should be able to give you a review without shop affiliation.
DM
I have seen some posts on a locally made board, They look good, have a great foot strap layout and don't cost a fortune.http://surfkitefly.com/ADVECTION_SURF_KITE_FLY/BOARDS.html
I ride a localy made 5'10 fish strapless and it is great fun in small stuf and handles chop very well, but it's just a normal surfboard so wont last forever, and also have a 6ft FOne custom which is awesome but a bit pricey but very light and strong and performs very well in bigger surf, it can be a handfull in heavy chop if your front foots in the strap the nose gets very bouncy the ride normally though is a lot like a TT with good pop and lands soft due to the concave bottom.
There are a lot of good options out there, north, slingshot, best, firewire(the new ones) all have a good product just depends what you like.
Keep your twinny, surfboards are over rated and a fashion statement at the moment, Saying that, Im a sucker for looking hip and cool too, so have started riding a surf board again last week after 10 years of surfboard- twintip and back like yourself.
Get a second hand WEBBER Tough light and put some straps on it or any old surf board will do and get that flash new thing next season
Look at the cardboarding.com Surf TT, what ever it is called.
It has the same planning area as most "high performance" kite surfboards without the pointy nose.
Rides back wards like a TT.
Being snowboard style construction can handle a few knocks and shallow water.
Wide point is up around the front foot so can handle long turns better than TT more like a surfboard. Rails are thin like TT so it cuts though the chop with minimal bounce.
I recommend it for kitesurfing.
Thanks for that guys great options, will follow up. What's your opinion on the air-rush chop top and convex? 5 10' to 6 2'?
Yes I wondered about bounce through chop - especially at 20+ knots. Surely more volume, more fin drive, thicker rails would equal more bounce, hence the thin tt rails cut through more.
I also heard you need to work out whether or not you want to stall and actually surf, or chase the kite a little powered up (like a tt) or somewhere in between. Somewhere in between would suite me so any suggestions?
Cheers again, love community based information as the internet provides.
any old surfboard will do way cheaper and easy to fix when u break it cos everyboard will die when ur harness hits it or bar.
'
Well less the pad that will be done later today. 
