Does anyone have one of these boards that they can rate? As a 6'4" it would be feasible to remove the straps, and use it as a second surfboard. However does the extra length interfere too much with snap, and rail to rail turns??
All the other options are too small to ever paddle into a wave- i.e the slingshot srt the naish crossshore, the north rocket fish, and even the 6'2" airush converse ?
p.s. how many boards are too many !!??? I think I must be a sucker for the hype!!
Hi Joe,
I'm 6'3" and 85 Kilos and I have paddled the 6'2" Airush Converse up at Exmouth in small 2-3 foot clean waves and it paddles in well despite it's small size (my normal surfy is a 6'6" Delta fish).
I can't comment on bigger surf, but I was honestly surprised at it's performance in such small waves and am keen to try it again in similar conditions to get a second opinion.
It's a good board for smaller waves and light winds say up to 18 knots, over that I ride the 6' Converse which is great fun, but too small to paddle ..... I think, maybe I should try it too!
Good winds,
i'll give my 2 cents worth
get a kitesurfboard made for kitesurfboarding and get a surfboard for surfing
imho you either compromise one or the other, depending on the primary purpose of the board
of course this is the ideal scenario, money not the limiting factor
light people may also get away with one board for both, but at 85kg my kite board is 5 11,narrow and thin, and i dont want anything bigger to kite on, no way could surf it
surfwise for me its 6 4 to 7 0 depending on surf size
wear and tear an issue, particularly heel pressure on the deck when kiting, whether surftech upto that in the long run cant say, PU boards arent
hi guys, thanks for the input.
I guess when all the major kite manufacturers don't make a kite surfing surfboard bigger than 6'2"( with the majority making them under 6 foot) that is saying something in itself...
Why would a longer board (i.e > 6'2") do badly in kitesurfing conditions ? too much rail? too slow to turn?
I ride a 6 8, yeah chuckle chuckle, but at 110 kg I like the extra length for decent waves, it's not so good in 6 inch slop. My normal paddle surfboard is 7 1.
I believe the general rule would be that a kite surfboard would be 5 to 7 inches smaller than your paddle surfboard.
2 cents worth.
Hey Hilly,
that figure seems to be about right- i ride a 6'3"- 6'5" in the surf (88 kgs, and decreasing...) so a 5'10" -6'0" would suit.
Have you tried anything shorter than the 6'8" ?
Also, if you have tried shorter, do you notice much difference when back on the 6'8"?
i think shorter for kiting as you are powered
dont need the volume or length to paddle in to waves
like tow in they started big and now much shorter and narrower (and heavier)
kiting i find thin board hold more wind, smaller is more nipper and turns sharper, need some volume or might as well ride a mutant, therefore need to find the balance
i would ride smaller boards to surf on but got have something that supports the weight and can reasonably paddle and catch a wave
Tried heaps! the shorter the board and/or more rocker the greater the drag so it feels like the kite is dragging you along. I prefer a less powered feel. Each to his own though.
If I could have 2 kite boards I would get a 6' 4" as well for powered days.
My tow board is 6' which is great in really solid 6'(back) plus but under that it sinks. The rocker is different, very fast, which you don't really want on a kite board (I know I have used it) in smaller waves you tend to miss the good bits and catch the kite really fast.
Hey hilly,
do all kite surfboards have more rocker generally than a surfboard because they don't need to rely on drive for their speed?
I know every over-rockered surfboard I've had lacks drive, and feels like a dog, because it has too much drag. This wouldn't matter for a kiteboard as there is always traction.
I suppose a flatter kite surfboard will accelerate faster, and feel more alive, than a more rockered one??
Rocker is really personal taste . Most kite surfboards I have tried have slightly less than surfboard rocker to get on the plane easier. Surfboards don't really plane having a wave to push them. Talking fine adjustments here. Try a few different ones see how you go.
