Can anyone help or direct me to a source of information which describes the pros and cons of each of the design variables for kiteboards. I would like to understand the compromises we make in selecting one design feature over another. I imagine one way to collect the information would be in a table similar to below. This is just a very incomplete example and a way to clarify what I am after. It may be better to discuss first and summarise in a simple format later. Or perhaps someone has already made a nice simple summary and can share with us.

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Hi Rob
Putting numbers on to variables as in your table is almost impossible to do,
I made my first windsurf board in 1980 and my first kite board in 2000 and have been playing around with board designs ever since.
I have found its a combination of all those things listed, but more importantly, where the flat section, what typ of rocker, progresseve, or constant, concave from where to where on the bottom flex in which area, Iv seen current model boards for sale with most of the flex in the centre of the board, due to the factory having no idea but they are cheap.
Unfortunatly a lot of factors are fashion driven, as in one board wont sell because it hasnt got X concaves, or its got to be at least so long etc etc.
There are ideal board characteristics, that only have to vary slightly.

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RayQ said...

Hi Rob
Putting numbers on to variables as in your table is almost impossible to do,
I made my first windsurf board in 1980 and my first kite board in 2000 and have been playing around with board designs ever since.
I have found its a combination of all those things listed, but more importantly, where the flat section, what typ of rocker, progresseve, or constant, concave from where to where on the bottom flex in which area, Iv seen current model boards for sale with most of the flex in the centre of the board, due to the factory having no idea but they are cheap.
Unfortunatly a lot of factors are fashion driven, as in one board wont sell because it hasnt got X concaves, or its got to be at least so long etc etc.
There are ideal board characteristics, that only have to vary slightly.

Yes, It's almost impossible. Many variables are interdependant. The score in one box can change depending on what you select to include or exclude in your design from the other design variables.