Select to expand quote
smook said..Ozone Kites Aus said..Adam''KiteRepair said..ActionSportsWA said..
Hi Smook,
I'm not questioning your experience, however, a kite surfboards volume has nothing to do with how it rides. Volume is very important in a surfboard as you need the volume to float you a bit higher to make the take off a bit easier and give you a little more paddling power. As you don't paddle to take off on a kite board, the volume is irrelevent.
Surface area, tail width and shape, rail shape, rocker, tail lift, length, width and channels all effect the ride. The Kipuna from Axis and the Spleene surfboards are all testimony that volume doesn't make a lick of difference. So long as you are planing, the volume matters not.
Surf boards, SUP boards and wind surfers all rely on volume to help when you are not planing. When these boards are planing, the volume becomes inconsequential too.
FWIW
DM
Volume may not be as important as when paddling in but it still plays a huge role. Not as much for powered riders but alot of us are riding a kite as small as possible so that we can be on a board as close to what we paddle. Enabling the ability to surf a wave as proper as possible while attached to a kite.
This doesn't discredit low volume boards but that doesn't mean that volume makes no difference. It still makes a world a difference to a rider looking for it.
Totally agree with Adam on this volume thing. For the last 6 years I've ridden surfboards in surf 99% of the times I've kited, and I've experimented with boards like the Axis Freewave, and Smook low volume 21.7ltrs traditional shape. They just don't work well for me and what I call proper (kitesurf assisted) wave riding. The Axis in particular feels boggy for me, this could be compounded by its basically flat bottom, I don;t know the volume but it would have to be about 15-17ltrs max. The Smook is a beautifully made board, but the low volume means I need to have more kite up than needed compared to a higher volume board.
I've got 2 Blacksheep boards that have become the two favourites, they are both around 25ltrs and I weigh around 75kgs. I've experimented with dozens of boards over the last 6 years and have found that 25ltrs is the magic number for me. You can see from the 2 they are very different in outline and every other dimension, yet they are both 25ltrs and work extremely well for riding waves with minimal assistance from the kite (smallest kite possible). The Evo shape is 5'1" and great for small waves up to head high, the traditional shape is 5'5" and suits everything else and I also have a Delta Designs revamp that is 5'7" and excellent too in larger waves and is also around 25ltrs. This is my 3rd Delta and I got rid of the others because they were too big, the others were 5'9" and were vamps (without the V on the tail)
![](https://www.seabreeze.com.au/img/photos/kitesurfing/15042997.jpg)
Yes I was bit shocked when told volume dose not matter And agree with above But for my conditions and my type ridding I go for lowest volume/ Lts and use my kite. For me I won't to hit it as hard as I can and have no issues with bigger kite from 6 to 12 m V4 or V5 they all turn fast Use my 12 m a lot in INDO and one eye and at home waves Re above yes it is low Lt board but it is custom board and have made 25 + Lts for number of riders but they all seem tobe same type riders use the kite All down to your preference and your conditions you ride in
![](https://www.seabreeze.com.au/images/forums/icon_smile.gif)
+1
If I want to ride a wave like I'm surfing then I'll go surfing. When I'm kiting I wanna smaaaaaaash that section as hard and fast as my kite (and ability
![](https://www.seabreeze.com.au/images/forums/icon_smile_big.gif)
) will allow (with the exception of surf over double head). I find having a lower volume board than I would paddle, with fairly low rails and a pulled in tail works a lot better in this instance.
Lucky for me that's the type of board the majority of the Australian population were surfing in the late 90's early 2000 so I'm just using a few of my old boards that I just didn't want to part with. I look at them now though and can't beleive I used to be able to catch waves with them
![](https://www.seabreeze.com.au/images/forums/icon_smile_big.gif)
However, I do like ove my 5'1 evo but as soon as it's nuking or over head high I can't lay it on rail as hard as I would like to (great for boosting though).
Each to their own and as long as you're having fun you're winning at life!