Dedicated kite surf board v HPSB

Hi all

Interested in getting on a kite surf board - used a mates Naish global 5'8" and got on with it well

I also have an old 6'6" traditional shaped short board which I am considering going on but slightly concerned I will completely destroy it in a couple of goes!

Any thoughts on the merits of going for a dedicated board over a standard SB other than durability?

Cheers!

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EnglishCraig said..
Hi all

Interested in getting on a kite surf board - used a mates Naish global 5'8" and got on with it well

I also have an old 6'6" traditional shaped short board which I am considering going on but slightly concerned I will completely destroy it in a couple of goes!

Any thoughts on the merits of going for a dedicated board over a standard SB other than durability?

Cheers!

hi craig

not many responses to your query because this topic comes up every year and has been done a bit to death for most long time breezers - try the search option and hopefully a few relevant threads will pop up for you.

NOx is pretty much on the money imo with regards to your actual question near the end.
but other than personal preference, there is always wind and wave conditions and riding style that informs the decision for guys on surfboards as well.

in short this is how i would consider your options:
- old banger surfboard 5'6 to 6'3 depending on your body dims and the plan shape of the board, great to get around on strapless and learn the ropes. go a bit bigger and flatter when learning gybes, mucking around on flat water with transitions etc. careful of blowing out fins in the shallows or even from real powered carves as they just won't be used to it. as soon as you start punting airs or riding more aggressively in the surf, you are going to start snapping and creasing but who cares if they are bangers
- PU custom surfboard with a bit of extra glass, prefer a blue blank too, or a kite brand PU board eg BWS if you love the PU surfboard feel and strapless, and are going for the wave purist approach with the occasional punt (who can help themselves really?). probably will be a bit smaller than the one you start on as you will like the control at speed. i like wax, but i'm used to it...and i accept rewaxing all the time and the heel dents.
- kite brand kite surfboard shape, usually alot heavier than a PU board and the option there for straps. this means strapless airs feel **e but can be done in the right hands, but obviously with straps on some of the brands out there are pretty much bullet proof for charging around, smashing waves and launching in the waves. there is always this struggle between weight v strength v stiffness that i can never accept and just go back to PU - but maybe one day that will change. the R&D effort of the big brands is getting pretty impressive with companies like north getting the weight down and down, but i am still not sold on feel and strength - time and trying some new boards will tell
- custom kitesurf board that lets you refine things a little once you know what you want (see delta, stone, smook etc etc), but keeps you with the option of straps, has strength for jumps, but will usually have the same struggles with weight v strength v stiffness trading off imo. as an aside, weight is a definite positive (as are straps) if you are kiting in solid waves over head, head and a half, long period and with any chop - just ask any of the guys on a solid day at margs (insert NSW equivalent).

in summary, if you have an old surfboard that you do paddle surf occasionally, take it out and lazy it around, learn the ropes as a comparative feel to the global.
maybe go the 2nd hand kite surf board with straps for $500 (think older north wam, or global, cabrinha skillet or something?) and you'll be covered on both bases then.
then repeat...refine...repeat...refine and build a quiver (or surfboard graveyard haha)

hope that helps... jeez i need a kite.

Cheers guys - appreciate you taking the time to respond - I know this is te sort of thing that gets brought up regularly but it was generally straps v un-strapped epic!

I take the point that it comes down to construction and usability so given I have a short board from a local shaper which only cost a ton I will give it a crack

Cheers- Craig

a 6'6" would be too much board for a sumo as well...
you will really want something a fair few inches shorter.

Yeah I had a look through the buy and sell but couldn't see anything in NSW

There are a few offers on at one of the shops in Sydney and another shop has secod hand stock but they still want the best part of a grand for second hand 2013 boards!!

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Spark said...

What are you boys riding these days?

I got Katana to shape me a 5'7 x 18.5 x 2.25

Have not kited it yet. Its just enough for me to paddle as a back up board.

Last season I only kited HPSBs. Gets frustrating snapping noses and fins though!!

paddle the one with the inserts too? or is that the kiteboard and the other is just your usual paddle?
the kiteboard looks pretty wide up the 1/3 of the nose, like the scud - maybe a bit wide for kiting on it?
great that you can push the limit to paddling it out when the wind isn't quite there yet...


have kited on my 5'10" scud in light winds... wouldn't bother in proper waves, too much volume and can't handle the speed (board or operator fault is debatable)
anything special going on under deck there? i'm always scared that the bamboo veneer will delam super quick from the extra heel loads kiting on it regularly. the AKS guys mentioned the new north boards have cork under the front foot because of its compress and rebound properties - pretty interested to see how they hold up in a year or so!

very nice luke, looks sick for some proper waves - what are the funny black things close to where your feet might go though?
love colin earles work, might have to call in for a freshie one of these days

i started riding the grubb on the right at new years, 5'10, and have posted the pick before - still going strong

the 5'6 not going so strong...wasn't built for kiting , but feels amazing

on the local shaper front, a friend of mine has been getting Von's and is stoked on the work going into them as well

go local!!! yeww

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mazdon said..
paddle the one with the inserts too? or is that the kiteboard and the other is just your usual paddle?
the kiteboard looks pretty wide up the 1/3 of the nose, like the scud - maybe a bit wide for kiting on it?
great that you can push the limit to paddling it out when the wind isn't quite there yet...


have kited on my 5'10" scud in light winds... wouldn't bother in proper waves, too much volume and can't handle the speed (board or operator fault is debatable)
anything special going on under deck there? i'm always scared that the bamboo veneer will delam super quick from the extra heel loads kiting on it regularly. the AKS guys mentioned the new north boards have cork under the front foot because of its compress and rebound properties - pretty interested to see how they hold up in a year or so!

The board with wax is my surfboard - 5'8 skud

the kiteboarding I have been paddling but only because the skud was out of action. Goes very well but yet to try kiting it.

there is extra glass on the deck. The nose does have some width which really helped paddling into waves and offsets the lack in volume. This board is based on dave's "go2" model I believe, so thruster and more refined than the skud.