Hey all, first time caller longtime listener from Canada
I'm looking for some advice on a good starter Surf board. I weigh 92kgs or so, and would like something to use in light wind, small mushy chop etc, so I can learn the new skills required for the surf board.
I had a 09 North Kontact, 6'1, and didn't like it. It had less float than my Twin tip. And after reading more about it, I discoved that this was more an intermidiate board.
I'd like a larger, floatier board that will get me up in lighter winds (like maybe when you're just mowing the lawn on a TT). Something I can learn to turn, learn the proper kite control, basically just learn some good basic skills of the surf discipline.
Any suggestions / ideas would be greatly appreciated.
Cheers from Canada
Fonterello
I believe it's more about surface area then volume. A flatter board with a lot of surface area will get you going as good as anything. A low volume board is also easier to edge which builds up apparent wind in low wind conditions. The BRM paipo is a good example of what I'm talking about.
Look at North Nugget or Cabrihna Secret Weapon, both good options for light wind / small waves
If you want something good in the surf for light winds I personally think you need surface area, volume and a quad fin setup. The trick is getting as close to a surfboard feel without sacrificing too much strength. Pick up a lot of the major brand kite boards and they are way too heavy. You need the volume to let you float while waiting out a wave break or to keep the board on top of the water for water starts in really light wind. I would say in the 6"1' length boards you'd be after 26 litres and in the big surface area 5'6" you'd be after 32 litres. I put some larger foiled quad fins on my cab s-quad 24l and it turned it into a light wind machine.
The Firewire Sweet Potato goes good. Get TimberTek if you don't need straps and want a lighter board.
www.firewiresurfboards.com/kitesurfing/quiver_boards.php?boardid=kitesurfing
Sweet Potato
The Sweet Potato or “SP” dramatically changes the ratio between the length and width of a board while still allowing the design to perform at a very high level. Designer Dan Mann explains, “The bottom contour creates considerable lift and the deep double concave ‘spine’ divides the board in half, isolating the fins, rocker and bottom on one side of the board at a time. This allows the board to get planning really quickly. The Sweet Potato is great upwind and is an excellent choice for people transitioning to a directional board with its wide outline and stable feel. Its design makes it a great choice for practicing transitional tricks and small wave ripping. The boards come in a 5/4/3 fin configuration providing you options for changing wind conditions. (FST contains inserts for straps TimberTEK contains no inserts)
Model Number Length Width Thickness Tails Fins Volume
FPT-502R-03-KIN 5'2" 21" 2 3/8" round (with inserts) 32.2 L
TPT-502R-03-KTE 5'2" 21" 2 3/8" round (without inserts) 32.2 L
Select to expand quoteeabmoto said..
I believe it's more about surface area then volume. A flatter board with a lot of surface area will get you going as good as anything. A low volume board is also easier to edge which builds up apparent wind in low wind conditions. The BRM paipo is a good example of what I'm talking about.
It's the rocker (and surface area) that defines how fast/easy the board planes.
Big low volume boards (doors) are flat with flat rocker and you can ride it in low wind.
Riding a fat surfboard full of volume with a big rocker is not too good for low wind.
Select to expand quoteFonterello said..
Hey all, first time caller longtime listener from Canada
I'm looking for some advice on a good starter Surf board. I weigh 92kgs or so, and would like something to use in light wind, small mushy chop etc, so I can learn the new skills required for the surf board.
I had a 09 North Kontact, 6'1, and didn't like it. It had less float than my Twin tip. And after reading more about it, I discoved that this was more an intermidiate board.
I'd like a larger, floatier board that will get me up in lighter winds (like maybe when you're just mowing the lawn on a TT). Something I can learn to turn, learn the proper kite control, basically just learn some good basic skills of the surf discipline.
Any suggestions / ideas would be greatly appreciated.
Cheers from Canada
Fonterello
Hey Thanks for all the responses,..... keep them coming. I really appreciate the suggestions. I kite in the Great Lakes, mostly flat water on a small lake, as well on Lake Huron that can get 5-6 days a year of 2 metre waves, but mostly I'd be riding in under .5 m mushy chop. Anybody ever try the F-one Malibu,????? I see its a little longer than others. I wonder of it's a good starter board to use in a light wind situation and learn new skills on.
Thanks
I used a 7,6 mini mal when I was in Bali a few months back,
was fantastic in light winds,
upwind was great and could ride the waves ok,
cut thought the chop unreal too,
was big long and wide, so was stable and easy to jibe
Was enjoyable to ride too 
i use a 5.10 dialer from slingshot. It is wide and float y. I don;t like the bolts on the straps but the board turns quick and I can use 2 meter kite smaller because it is so floaty. Any board that is wide will do it. cheers.
