Hey there all,

Im a keen surfer but got into kiting a year ago. mostly twin tip but recently dabbled with a directional. Im traveling next year and want to surf and kite, but don't want to lug around too much kit, thinking of trying a tuflite style board (will travel better - sick of having boards trashed by airlines) are there any that are awesome for kiting without being compromised as a surf board? Sorry if this is a dumb question, I know I could kite on any of my surf boards I guess, but just interested to know if any are better than others i.e. shape of rails, staying upwind, etc.

Cheers, B

www.seabreeze.com.au/forums/Kitesurfing/Review/Dedicated-kite-surf-board-v-HPSB/

Thats a similar thread which might have some ideas for you. Good info there.

I demoed a 5.2 Naish Skater kite surfboard the other day,

My review is in Gear Reviews,

I travel a lot

sometimes taking 3 kites and a twintip and a surf kiteboard and 2 bar and lines [1 backup]

Plus laptop phone and clothes

And streamer if Im going somewhere cold

What a hassle

I like to do Downwinders in the surf and I like to Boost,

But I don't like the feel of a kite surfboard when I boost,too big and cumbersome in the air

and the 6'2 kite surfboard I got started cracking around the rails from boosting and landing heavy after only 12- 15 sessions, piece of junk

I know your not supposed to land heavy but I do sometimes

The Skater is designed for the surf and for boosting and is small,feels great in the air and curves unreal

And be easy too travel with because its short and narrow,not that much bigger than my Twintip,

Could take the straps off and surf it if your a good enought surfer,

Or could go the bigger 5.6 skater

Only downside is it has full deckgrip,bit harsh on the chest and stomack

but could wear a 1.5 mm rashy wetsuit,no more rash

The other option is to go a Firewire Vanguard but I dont think they come with inserts for straps

They are designed pretty much for surfing but feel good kiting,

I tried kiting the 5.6 Vanguard 3-4 times,was unreal

They range from 4.8 to 6.2 I think

But I dont think they are as robust as the Nasih Skater ,not built as strong ,not designed for heavy landings

Both the Naish Skater and Firewire Vanguard are planning hulls not the typical surfboard shape

So are therefore much shorter and narrower but can have similiar volume as a much longer surfboard shape, so are just as easy to paddle

Am seriously thinking about getting the Naish Skater

Only the cost is making me think twice

But only need to buy one, should last for years

Not like a kite that needs replacing every year or so

Go and demo both

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golfgomba said..
www.seabreeze.com.au/forums/Kitesurfing/Review/Dedicated-kite-surf-board-v-HPSB/

Thats a similar thread which might have some ideas for you. Good info there.

Thanks for the reply. Ive had a look through, I can see that a lot of readers may think 'yawn' same old question!! but I guess I was asking more form a surfers perspective than from a kiters! The question of what surf boards are good to kite seems old, but I think I was thinking more from the other side, the question is more are there any directional kite boards, that are awesome for actual surfing? or boards out there that are being marketed specifically as epic hybrid, use to surf 'pure' and also a hardwearing board for the kite as well?

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gokid said..
I demoed a 5.2 Naish Skater kite surfboard the other day,

My review is in Gear Reviews,

I travel a lot

sometimes taking 3 kites and a twintip and a surf kiteboard and 2 bar and lines [1 backup]

Plus laptop phone and clothes

And streamer if Im going somewhere cold

What a hassle

I like to do Downwinders in the surf and I like to Boost,

But I don't like the feel of a kite surfboard when I boost,too big and cumbersome in the air

and the 6'2 kite surfboard I got started cracking around the rails from boosting and landing heavy after only 12- 15 sessions, piece of junk

I know your not supposed to land heavy but I do sometimes

The Skater is designed for the surf and for boosting and is small,feels great in the air and curves unreal

And be easy too travel with because its short and narrow,not that much bigger than my Twintip,

Could take the straps off and surf it if your a good enought surfer,

Or could go the bigger 5.6 skater

Only downside is it has full deckgrip,bit harsh on the chest and stomack

but could wear a 1.5 mm rashy wetsuit,no more rash

The other option is to go a Firewire Vanguard but I dont think they come with inserts for straps

They are designed pretty much for surfing but feel good kiting,

I tried kiting the 5.6 Vanguard 3-4 times,was unreal

They range from 4.8 to 6.2 I think

But I dont think they are as robust as the Nasih Skater ,not built as strong ,not designed for heavy landings

Both the Naish Skater and Firewire Vanguard are planning hulls not the typical surfboard shape

So are therefore much shorter and narrower but can have similiar volume as a much longer surfboard shape, so are just as easy to paddle

Am seriously thinking about getting the Naish Skater

Only the cost is making me think twice

But only need to buy one, should last for years

Not like a kite that needs replacing every year or so

Go and demo both

Thanks for that reply,, I will check those out for sure especially the Vanguard - had fire wires before.

I guess the reason Ive put what seems like an obvious question out there is that like you I've travelled with heaps of gear in the past and its a drag, but this year Ive not only got into Kiting hard out, but also had a baby!!! so when me mother and child hit the road next year, I still want to take kiting gear, but I really don't want to miss those 4-6 foot offshore days, surfing pure without a kite!! Hence An epic board to surf but then from a secondary perspective I can take the kite out on, stay up wind, and not get the bangs and prangs of regular surfboards while cramming kites in the board bag!!

Essentially she is gonna flip if I take more than 1 board, and 1 kite!! so trying to set myself up for the maximum of possibilities on this criteria - wind and waves!! Ha such a first-worldproblem its almost embarrassing!!

Thanks for your input.

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Benza said..

golfgomba said..
www.seabreeze.com.au/forums/Kitesurfing/Review/Dedicated-kite-surf-board-v-HPSB/

Thats a similar thread which might have some ideas for you. Good info there.

Thanks for the reply. Ive had a look through, I can see that a lot of readers may think 'yawn' same old question!! but I guess I was asking more form a surfers perspective than from a kiters! The question of what surf boards are good to kite seems old, but I think I was thinking more from the other side, the question is more are there any directional kite boards, that are awesome for actual surfing? or boards out there that are being marketed specifically as epic hybrid, use to surf 'pure' and also a hardwearing board for the kite as well?

I bought a slingshot verve 2, 6'1" a few years ago for that very reason, needed a board to kite and surf on, and does a pretty good job at both. It is made of ply laminate and epoxy which does make it a little heavy for surfing but for kiting it is bullet proof. Just did a surfing trip in Sumatra and used it every day except 2.

Get a Custom made surf board that is close to what you would normally surf on , and ask the shaper to just put extra glass , footstrap inserts if you need them and it should be exactly what you need.

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jeff2 said..
Get a Custom made surf board that is close to what you would normally surf on , and ask the shaper to just put extra glass , footstrap inserts if you need them and it should be exactly what you need.

Benza, you look for utopia....
some threads on this subject are on SB.

Jeff's advise best get a custom you just need to decide which type of board gets compromised.
depending on where your going will you be likely to kite more or surf more.
Ben Wilson has a range of boards aimed to provide the 1 board option maybe worth a check.

keep us posted on the selection.

I no expert but I am pretty sure most of the time you would want your kite surfboard to be a fair bit smaller, and possible stronger than your usual surfboard. Sounds like by having one you will be compromising both. Sliding in one extra tiny kite board when travelling isn't that bigger deal usually in the scheme of things when travelling, when you consider everything else you take. Plus then you got a backup if you do bust or lose your kiteboard. I always think better to have more than you need rather than not enough. But each to their own.

HAVE A LOOK AT A dhd wHITE NOISE SURFBOARD, bEN wILSON mODEL

+1 for Ben Wilson, they've got a few boards that would suit exactly what your after

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JacobMatan said..
+1 for Ben Wilson, they've got a few boards that would suit exactly what your after

Anyone here ridden the white noise?

Great guys, really appreciate the input. All good points, sounds like BWS is the way forward, or try and sneak another boards in when the missus isn't looking, ha!

cheers!

Vanguard is the real deal

I took one to Fiji and Indo this year, surfs and kites great, demo one for sure

Whatever you get make sure you get the volume right, firewire site has a good calculator

+1 for Vanguard for the best of both sports and lasts longer than my pu boards. Get the kitesurfing construction Vanguard if you want it stronger but it's almost double the weight. The FST construction will hold up unless you plan on big boosts then go the heavier build. Get the FST Vanguard with a deck grip and you will be laughing at the guys struggling with the massive coffin bags.

Dowls is right it's always a compromise.

The best you can hope for is a board which is at the lower limit of your paddle volume. Then try to find a good strength/weight trade-off.

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Jedibrad said..
Vanguard is the real deal

Why??

It's just a firewire with the nose chopped off.

Made in Thailand like the rest of the pop outs!

I got a couple of Mayhem Mini Drivers in Firewire that I surf and Kite on selling them soon. 5'10 and 6'ft.

I don't think you could paddle the new skater they are only 1 7/8 thick unless you weigh 27kg. BWS Rawson or DHD are really the only option if you want the best of both worlds. I just ordered the new 5'4" screamer and there's no way in he'll I'd ever think if paddling it and I'm only 79kg. There is no perfect board some thing has to give. So decide what you can live with less of.

The Vanguard is anything but 'just with the nose chopped off'. Daniel Tomo has been tweaking the design for years, it's got straightish rails both in outline and rocker and bottom curve between the fins only, I think it's no fluke that it's a great kiteboard as well as it is super efficient thru the water and goes upwind better than any surfboard and I'll put money on that. And for surfing, really fast, heaps of hold, great barrel riding board. I'm on a deal with them, but would ride one regardless.

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Jedibrad said..
The Vanguard is anything but 'just with the nose chopped off'. Daniel Tomo has been tweaking the design for years, it's got straightish rails both in outline and rocker and bottom curve between the fins only, I think it's no fluke that it's a great kiteboard as well as it is super efficient thru the water and goes upwind better than any surfboard and I'll put money on that. And for surfing, really fast, heaps of hold, great barrel riding board. I'm on a deal with them, but would ride one regardless.

Ha! what a load of malarky.

Are you reading that straight out of the firewire marketing manual?

Look I'm sure it's one of the great boards of Thailand and Thommo no doubt rips.

But my local shaper also rips, and has been tweaking his designs for years too! His boards also go upwind, ride in the barrel etc etc. But I get to go surfing with him, hang out in his shop talking design, and pay a top bloke for his hard earned. Sometimes he even shouts me a beer!

You could always try the Airush boards in active construction. They are the carbon ones. Much lighter than standard kiteboarding but still strong. Only slightly heavier than a normal surfboard. I rode one for a couple years as my short board. Could fit the bill nicely.

Thomo makes great shapes, but I wouldn't personally buy one in a Firewire construction. The V3 Thomo would be a great all rounder, it still has the regular nose.Honestly if you want a cheap great all-rounder just pick up a regular surfboard with a decent (not pro-spec) glass job. If your a decent surfer and kiter you should be able to find a middle ground. For me it's around 5'10 to 6'1 long - 18 1/4' to 20' wide, obviously depending on the shape and how full the rails are etc... But yeah it's totally possible to find, that's all I've had for years.

BWS White noise for sure. I have one on my shopping list

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bene313 said..

Jedibrad said..
Vanguard is the real deal

Why??

It's just a firewire with the nose chopped off.

Made in Thailand like the rest of the pop outs!

Dude you asked "why" so I told you...

Why did i bother to answer you?? Because several kite brands indeed, have boards that simply have the nose chopped off, with the vanguard it's not even about the nose, more the features i mentioned.

You'll notice i didn't bag anyone else's recommendations. The Katana's you ride look great, White Noise yeah i want one!!

BUT!!!

Read the original post, it was about travel…. no nose is way better for planes, fits in the back of a taxi,









one 5'6" vanguard and two kites in a bag will win every time

I travelled 5 weeks this year and had 3 surfs not on the vanguard

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Jedibrad said...

bene313 said..

Jedibrad said..
Vanguard is the real deal

Why??

It's just a firewire with the nose chopped off.

Made in Thailand like the rest of the pop outs!

Dude you asked "why" so I told you...

Why did i bother to answer you?? Because several kite brands indeed, have boards that simply have the nose chopped off, with the vanguard it's not even about the nose, more the features i mentioned.

You'll notice i didn't bag anyone else's recommendations. The Katana's you ride look great, White Noise yeah i want one!!

BUT!!!

Read the original post, it was about travel…. no nose is way better for planes, fits in the back of a taxi,









one 5'6" vanguard and two kites in a bag will win every time

I travelled 5 weeks this year and had 3 surfs not on the vanguard

Some pretty legit photos there to back up the argument....

Nice waves, pacific and or indo?

I did the coffin lug for 10 weeks this year, definitely jealous of a vanguard kiter/surfer I met in Lombok near the end.

But I'm just not sold on construction, and if I snap 2 weeks in I'd be devo
First world problem though!

I also am not sold on the construction, hence my question - what is so good about them? Anyone thinking of kiting a firewire should first have a read of this thread and the countless other comments online of people breaking them surfing, let alone kiting:

www.seabreeze.com.au/forums/Surfing/Shortboards/snapping-firewire/


Vanguard got a reasonable review here until the reviewer snapped it:

http://www.surfinglifeessentials.com.au/board-guide/2013/boards/tomo-vanguard-by-firewire


One board travel quiver? I really do want to believe the hype. Nice photos though Jedibrad.

^^^
Ridden any fw urself or just blatant keyboard bashing?

Firewire dont make the RF series any more. Maybe its time u demo'd their new range

Good thing about firewire is you can demo a board. Construction wise, if you don't choose the kiteboard, I personally would only go with FST, which would be equivalent to a 6oz glass job. So you can still get breaking stories, but I see custom boards snap regularly. Re Tomo shapes, I still have a couple. (hand shaped by him not firewire). I took a 5'4" x 18" (Tomo darkstar) to Indo this year. Paddling in can be a bitch on the big days, especially if it gets a wobble in the wave. The boards do have a lot of versatility, but you can't beat a specifically designed gun when it's pumping in Indo. Having said that, if the question is for a 1 board travel board, you would have to put a Tomo at the top of your list to try. Do a search on here re Tomo surfboards and firewire. It's been covered before.