Hi all,

I'm a long time windsurfer. From back when **** was fluorescent!

But I spend a lot of time sailing, and having windsurfing gear on a yacht is not practical at all. So it's time I switched to the dark side.

I can't see the benefit of a twin-tip board over a Kitesurfboard. Could someone please explain why I would need one?

I'm used to bump and jump and easy wave riding. And it looks to me that most places that have smooth water like the Pond here in WA are so busy that I wouldn't want to ride there. I'd rather be out blasting on my own away from the crowds. Like I do with windsurfing.

Sorry if this has been asked a billion times.

Stew

Tt's are better for jumping and tricks. They can also be smoother in chop and more fun for bump and jump in cruddy conditions. Obviously you can go forwards and backwards. More easily fit it into the boot of your car. You can also blast the shallows. Oh yeah. They can take the Knocks. You don't have to worry about smashing fins off which means you can ride closer to rocky areas.

If you want to rip down the line like a surfer. Then stick to a surfboard.

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Stewbo said..
Hi all,

I'm a long time windsurfer.

Beat it troll.

Stew, it's handy to have both TT and surfboard. But launching a kite from a boat can be challenging if that's what you're considering.

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waveslave said..

Stewbo said..
Hi all,

I'm a long time windsurfer.

Beat it troll.

beat me to it

You don't need a TT at all. TT's weren't invented when many of us started kiteboarding. We did just fine. A mate recently resurrected a 15 year old directional board, shortened it and fitted a hydrofoil. It looks pretty good and works fine.

Many of the original kiteboarders started on bog standard surfboards and did all sorts of horrible things to mount straps on them. They worked fine until the deck peeled off. I used a 9' longboard with no straps and a non-relaunchable kite. Modern epoxy kite surfboards work very well and last reasonably well.

I still have two TT's in the rack and get them out once every year or so. They're fun for jumping, and can be fun on shallow reef surf. I only need a foot of water to ride safely so I can tuck in on small waves and take them quite close on a reef.

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ColoColo said..

waveslave said..

Stewbo said..
Hi all,

I'm a long time windsurfer.

Beat it troll.

beat me to it

listen to it! here come the drop knuckle scrapers ! Alot of people enjoy both ( myself almost 13 years windsurfing and 3 ish kiting ) very valid question considering board riding skills are most likely already established? or is that what offends you? Grow up seriously?

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raggy said..

ColoColo said..

waveslave said..

Stewbo said..
Hi all,

I'm a long time windsurfer.

Beat it troll.

beat me to it

listen to it! here come the drop knuckle scrapers ! Alot of people enjoy both ( myself almost 13 years windsurfing and 3 ish kiting ) very valid question considering board riding skills are most likely already established? or is that what offends you? Grow up seriously?

Beat it troll. ^^^

Thanks for the legitimate advice that was brought to the discussion. Much appreciated. I think I'll go for a board rather than a twin-tip. I was speaking to some work mates that ride both and they said I would be best off going just for the board as well. Plus I enjoy a minimalist approach to most things.

I won't be launching from the boat. I'll take the dinghy ashore then launch from the beach. The types of boats I sail on are only just big enough to repair a surfboard on deck. No chance I would be able to rig and launch any other type of gear.

One more question. Where do I buy those wetsuits that have the board shorts over the top? :) Now I'm trolling.

I think it will be easier to learn kite surfing on twin tip. Your feet are firmly attached, it is shorter, easier to get ready for water start, smaller number of variables to get right and control at the same time.

If you ultimately want to use the surf board only than you may skip the twin tip but the learning curve may be steeper.

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Stewbo said..

I won't be launching from the boat. I'll take the dinghy ashore then launch from the beach.

I've got a better idea.

You are on the boat,,,

put the kite bag on your back with all the stuff you need,

and paddle your new surfboard to the beach.

Easy.

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waveslave said..

I've got a better idea.

You are on the boat,,,

put the kite bag on your back with all the stuff you need,

and paddle your new surfboard to the beach.

Easy.

What if u have 50+ km of razor sharp rocky coast with 10-12 medium beaches filled with tourists?
Also, question for OP. Why would i need surfboard accept for lightwind maybe?

Cost of surfboard = $500
Cost of twintip = $500

Surfboard = 1 tip
Twintip = 2 tips

Two tips for the price of one

Everybody loves a bargain

Twintips you don't need to learn how to jibe/tack.
Twintips can hold a sharp edge much better (for jumping).
Twintips can hold down power much better, particularly with a lot of rocker.
Twintips have got (in my opinion) a better windrange. Surfboard are slightly better in low wind and you can surf smaller waves, but with a twintip you can be completly overpowered and still ride.
Twintips are smaller & more portable.
Twintips can be ridden in shallow water.
Twintips generally have fancy(er) artwork.
Twintips are pussymagnets.

Because foooookinnnnn kite loops !!!!!!

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THE PIN PULLER said...
Because foooookinnnnn kite loops !!!!!!

Hey pin puller. Looks like you pulled your pin and shot one past the goaly going by your avatar.

haha she a windsurfer as well to add to it he has good breeding in him at least :-)

Gday Stew , welcome to the kiting side of the forums . As a few have mentioned a twintip is definitely what you should be starting on and when your confident with staying upwind perhaps progress to a directional board . I used a 6'6 Naish Skypirate directional bord when I first started in 2000 and it was all good to get going but trying to stop and turn back the other way was very frustrating because when your first learning steering of the kite is your main priority and for me it was really difficult to try and gybe the board and turn the kite together, there was too much happening at the same time . As soon as I got a twintip it was so much easier and I progressed so much faster because you don't have to gybe the board when you want to go back the other way. Hope this helps and good luck

If your riding a surfboard why do you need a kite?

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THE PIN PULLER said..
haha she a windsurfer as well to add to it he has good breeding in him at least :-)

Are you like rambling to yourself or what dude?????? you can get that **** medicated eh?

G`day Stew,
As a fellow windsurfer/kiter, I agree with Teabaggin. Starting on a twin-tip is easier to concentrate on kite control to a certain extent,
But coming from a windsurfing background, I doubt you would have much trouble with a directional board either.
One of my favourite boards in my quiver is an 'Airush Sector'.
Great little board for light winds and long downwinders, good in small waves too.
As you get more in to kiting you realise there are many more options available in boards compared to windsurfing.
But in saying that, I still love the stoke I get from windsurfing too!

I might add here that unidirectionals offer much more planing and are more stable downwind and have footholds rather than footstraps. It is therefore nowwhere near as hard to go downwind, switch your stance and then powerup again crosswind as it is jibing/toesiding with a twintip.

If you kite with a proper surfshortboard then you have so much flotation that you can just go wind, depower the kite, switch your stance and power up the kite again.

I am similar background and never liked the twin tip.

I had trouble learning on a twin tip but as soon as I got on a surfboard I was up at going.

On those flat windy days with a kite and surfboard it takes me back to my sailing days on a 3/4 with the spinnaker powering you a long.

I have a vanguard style surfboard now at it is the closest thing to perfection waves or no waves

You could always use a twin tip like a surfboard ....

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offshore said..
I am similar background and never liked the twin tip.

I had trouble learning on a twin tip but as soon as I got on a surfboard I was up at going.

On those flat windy days with a kite and surfboard it takes me back to my sailing days on a 3/4 with the spinnaker powering you a long.

I have a vanguard style surfboard now at it is the closest thing to perfection waves or no waves

surfboards can almost float under their own power so its no surprise that you can get going much easier on the surfboard than on a twintip.

Twin tips are a lot lighter and smaller so it makes it a lot easier to travel with one than a surfboard.