Hi guys,

I was thinking of buying a surfboard and attaching some straps to it for the low wind days (<12kn to say). Not too sure how big the board should be though. Im still learning and I would like to use it to cruise around, this being my first directional board.

Good idea, bad idea or any good will piece of knowledge?

Thank you

Wouldn't bother with straps
But you can jump on pretty much anything to start with and see how you like it
i've kited my minimal but it's a bit of a bitch to turn, something around 5"6' and bit fat with a few dings from gumtree I reckon

Thanks Rails, i reckon it would be good practice to cruise without straps.

Thank you for the advice!

It depends on why you want a surfboard.

If you think you're going to get more bottom end and ride planing in lighter winds then chances are you will be disappointed. Most true surfboards have too much rocker so they push more water and are slow. That sucks power and makes it harder to ride in light wind.

If you want to doob around and have fun and work on light wind skills and not ride planing then any old surfboard will do. The cheaper the better because you will destroy it as soon as you start riding with power. A bit if thickness for buoyancy won't hurt, but doesn't help much either.

If you want a dedicated light wind board then you want flat, wide and short. Other than that the design doesn't matter too much. A flat, wide, short twintip is about the best thing for light wind if you have limited skills.

By far the best way to use light winds is to simply dick around on the board you have. Light wind riding is more about rider skill and the only way to develop skills is to practice heaps. Find yourself a length of nice empty beach and get out and do mini-runs in the shallows. Ride out a bit. Carve a turn. Ride in. Repeat then walk back when you run out of beach. Make sure you're not endangering/pissing off beach walkers and other kiters.

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Gorgo said..
It depends on why you want a surfboard.

If you think you're going to get more bottom end and ride planing in lighter winds then chances are you will be disappointed. Most true surfboards have too much rocker so they push more water and are slow. That sucks power and makes it harder to ride in light wind.

If you want to doob around and have fun and work on light wind skills and not ride planing then any old surfboard will do. The cheaper the better because you will destroy it as soon as you start riding with power. A bit if thickness for buoyancy won't hurt, but doesn't help much either.

If you want a dedicated light wind board then you want flat, wide and short. Other than that the design doesn't matter too much. A flat, wide, short twintip is about the best thing for light wind if you have limited skills.

By far the best way to use light winds is to simply dick around on the board you have. Light wind riding is more about rider skill and the only way to develop skills is to practice heaps. Find yourself a length of nice empty beach and get out and do mini-runs in the shallows. Ride out a bit. Carve a turn. Ride in. Repeat then walk back when you run out of beach. Make sure you're not endangering/pissing off beach walkers and other kiters.

Couldn't agree more! This is spot on

So many kiters think that light wind equipment is a magic wand and that with the ''right'' gear they will suddenly enjoy lower wind conditions. It took me 2-3 seasons to start enjoying sub 15 knots winds and another 2 season to enjoy sub 10 knots conditions.

I had many 50-65 kg students over the years complain they bought / were sold a kite that is too small for them (typically a 6 to 8m kite). Every time I heard this I would grab their gear and got going comfortably upwind often without having to sine the kite while riding, and I've got 20-30 KG extra!

With the gear you already have, at your weight, you should comfortably ride upwind in 18 knots, and at least keep your ground in 15 knots perhaps by moving the kite from time to time. This will be easier (and safer) in shallow waters. Once you get more competent with this, try it in deep waters.

Make sure your lines are properly tuned (all 4 lines the same length with trim strap at full power) so your kite doesn't back stall at all and learn to sheet out on the upstroke especially.

The interesting thing about light winds is it highlights ALL your weaknesses (kite control, understanding of how the kite flies, board skills, pressure distribution, stance, edge control, timing, coordination)...which is why it can get frustrating very easily and a lot of kiters don't bother. It's much easier to blame the conditions and/or the gear instead

Christian

Some surfboards keep coming up as light wind options and none of them more than North Nugget. I wanted one in the past but could not make myself buy a new one and there wasn't any second hand. Ended up buying a 6 ft 2 kitsurfing board with 29 litres of volume. Thought to myself, it is only 2" in narrower than Nugget, only 3 litres less volume, only a bit longer, right? Wrong.

Needed more wind to use it than my 135 x 44 twintip (I am almost 110 kg). Needed good 18 kn for it to be usable (partly because not being very experienced kiter). Couple weeks ago bought a second hand Nugget - last Saturday I was the only kiting person left, having a blast at 13 kn (with 17m Zephyr kite). Still suck at gybing 1 out of 20 success ratio, but stayed upwind and went fast. - no issues.

Some equipment is legendary good and usually for a good reason. Board should last you a long time - buy what consistently gets really good reviews. If I bought new Nugget 18 months ago I would have had a new board and some change left compared to two second hand boards (one of them hardly ever used).

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cbulota said..

Gorgo said..
It depends on why you want a surfboard.

If you think you're going to get more bottom end and ride planing in lighter winds then chances are you will be disappointed. Most true surfboards have too much rocker so they push more water and are slow. That sucks power and makes it harder to ride in light wind.

If you want to doob around and have fun and work on light wind skills and not ride planing then any old surfboard will do. The cheaper the better because you will destroy it as soon as you start riding with power. A bit if thickness for buoyancy won't hurt, but doesn't help much either.

If you want a dedicated light wind board then you want flat, wide and short. Other than that the design doesn't matter too much. A flat, wide, short twintip is about the best thing for light wind if you have limited skills.

By far the best way to use light winds is to simply dick around on the board you have. Light wind riding is more about rider skill and the only way to develop skills is to practice heaps. Find yourself a length of nice empty beach and get out and do mini-runs in the shallows. Ride out a bit. Carve a turn. Ride in. Repeat then walk back when you run out of beach. Make sure you're not endangering/pissing off beach walkers and other kiters.

Couldn't agree more! This is spot on

So many kiters think that light wind equipment is a magic wand and that with the ''right'' gear they will suddenly enjoy lower wind conditions. It took me 2-3 seasons to start enjoying sub 15 knots winds and another 2 season to enjoy sub 10 knots conditions.

I had many 50-65 kg students over the years complain they bought / were sold a kite that is too small for them (typically a 6 to 8m kite). Every time I heard this I would grab their gear and got going comfortably upwind often without having to sine the kite while riding, and I've got 20-30 KG extra!

With the gear you already have, at your weight, you should comfortably ride upwind in 18 knots, and at least keep your ground in 15 knots perhaps by moving the kite from time to time. This will be easier (and safer) in shallow waters. Once you get more competent with this, try it in deep waters.

Make sure your lines are properly tuned (all 4 lines the same length with trim strap at full power) so your kite doesn't back stall at all and learn to sheet out on the upstroke especially.

The interesting thing about light winds is it highlights ALL your weaknesses (kite control, understanding of how the kite flies, board skills, pressure distribution, stance, edge control, timing, coordination)...which is why it can get frustrating very easily and a lot of kiters don't bother. It's much easier to blame the conditions and/or the gear instead

Christian

Best explanation of light wind kiting I've read yet. Thanks Christian.

It's not the equipment as such, but the skill.

I've learnt the hard way, to enjoy a sub 12knot day is to have a flat and wide board, with a kite that at least is able to generate some power (15metres and up!). I weigh 80kg.

But I still have to sine and sheet out/in the kite to generate power, reduce shoking the kite and hopefully (wishful thinking some days) create aparant wind - the cricial part in generating continous movement.

Light wind really does teach you how to maximise the use of your equipment, so don't expect too much Jenna unless you get a surfboard that has very little rocker and lots of float - and you'll probably need a 12m or bigger kite.

Thank you very much guys. This is the advice I was looking for.

My biggest kite is an 11m RRD Passion and still do fairly well in 12-13kn plus (Im 50kg), but have to work it anyway, and Im far from having good low wind skills, but working on it

I didnt think about it, but its true what Christian said that light wind highlights your weaknesses and lack of skills. Ill keep it TT for the moment.

Not sure if your still around gero
I can drop off a cabrinah board that I pass around to locals with or without straps
I can leave it a surf n sail tomoz
When you've finished drop it off

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jennavzla said..
Hi guys,

I was thinking of buying a surfboard and attaching some straps to it for the low wind days (<12kn to say). Not too sure how big the board should be though. Im still learning and I would like to use it to cruise around, this being my first directional board.

Good idea, bad idea or any good will piece of knowledge?

Thank you

If you want straps put on straps.
i had the nugget and it bounced around so bad.
Sold it and put straps on this as shown.
Rode much better than the nugget and lasted two seasons.
It finally snapped but I jumped it all day long.
Just do it.

I just bought a nice shiny new 2016 nugget and can't wait to give it a crack. And I've got straps. If the straps prove a pain will take them off, but am looking for some good air time on it.

This is a useful thread! I was going to get a bigger twintip to go with my 12 m, but I will save myself the money money now. I dont think I sheet out on the upstroke, which is probably why I choke it and sink when I have to sine it hard it in light wind.

Go buy a big skim board for $50, cheapest option and probably the most fun.

Cool thanks, so a finless skimboard will be ok? Big as in 41"? I guess it will be like wakeskating, so hard but so fun :)

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kemp90 said..
Go buy a big skim board for $50, cheapest option and probably the most fun.

Kemp90, sorry for the ignorance.. but would using a skimboard let you go upwind without any fins or it would be best for a downwinder?

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jennavzla said...

kemp90 said..
Go buy a big skim board for $50, cheapest option and probably the most fun.

Kemp90, sorry for the ignorance.. but would using a skimboard let you go upwind without any fins or it would be best for a downwinder?

That's ok. I understand.
The more edge you put on it, the more grip, it will motor upwind if you let it. But It will slip if you arnt edging. It can be a little tough on the starts. But you get the hang of it really fast and it's fun in small surf. Worth a go.
I had a go on a kids skim board the other day and was going with a 11m and 12knots. But it was quite thin and felt like it would snap if I edged really hard.

Those red back boards are the go.

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Bronnieren said...
Cool thanks, so a finless skimboard will be ok? Big as in 41"? I guess it will be like wakeskating, so hard but so fun :)

I guess that would be a good size. Why they are so good in light wind is cause they have stuff all rocker, and are fast.

Thanks Kemp90 that is really helpful!

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cauncy said..
Not sure if your still around gero
I can drop off a cabrinah board that I pass around to locals with or without straps
I can leave it a surf n sail tomoz
When you've finished drop it off

Cauncy! Thank you so much, unfortunately I am not in Gero anymore, but will go up to Dongara in 3 weeks. Would love to go kiting if there is any lucky wind by then.

just posting because i want to see a thanks kozie for once :)

The north nugget is a great suggestion.

The BRM Paipo or Shinnster would also work.

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jennavzla said..

kemp90 said..
Go buy a big skim board for $50, cheapest option and probably the most fun.

Kemp90, sorry for the ignorance.. but would using a skimboard let you go upwind without any fins or it would be best for a downwinder?

OR you can take the fins out of your twin tip - there instant skim board for beginners with foot pads

nothing huh....

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Kozzie said...
nothing huh....

Thanks Kozzie.

Many, many replies but no real help with dimensions.

lol.

I'd say a board to suit you should measure 5ft 12inches.

Do I get a thank you ?

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waveslave said..
Many, many replies but no real help with dimensions.

lol.

I'd say a board to suit you should measure 5ft 12inches.

Do I get a thank you ?

For a 50 kg person the small North Nugget (depending on the year of production 5ft or 5ft-2in I believe)