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Rider: 108kg, Intermediate/Advanced
Style: Freestyle
Weather: 8 - 14 knots

My Comments: Hi All,

I am living in Sthn Califronia now and I have been riding a surf board as a light wind board for this season and I am looking for a bit of variety. In Sthn Cal most of the riding is in 8 - 15knots of wind so good twin tip days are few and far between during a season.

After spending a season here I am looking at adding a light wind twin tip to my quiver so I can keep my freestyle skills developing through the season rather than my surfboard skills and to add a bit of variety when I am kiting.

Can anyone provide some recommendations on good light wind boards. I need something with good pop that will enable me to do both hooked and unhooked tricks. Weight is a reasonable consideration as well as good soft landings as i have heard light weight boards due to their size can be rather hard on the landing.

Any advice would be welcome. I fly an Ozone Zephyr as my light wind kite and I am looking at adding an Ozone edge 19m or a Core XR3 19m to my quiver to deal with the Sthn Cal wind to get me going in that 8 - 13 knot range given my weight.

Slingshot Glide (if they still sell them) .....

Litewave Wing. I tried several big boards and this is the only one that didn't feel like a big plank.

Take a look at the Axis Ultra. It weighs next to nothing and has really good freestyle abilities for a reasonably large board. The 144x45 size will add a good amount of low end for you but you can still throw it around with ease. Landings are soft too. It's a far departure from the normal light wind boards you see around.

North Spike Textreme if you have the $$$
Otherwise the Nobile XTR

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Drury said..
Take a look at the Axis Ultra. It weighs next to nothing and has really good freestyle abilities for a reasonably large board. The 144x45 size will add a good amount of low end for you but you can still throw it around with ease. Landings are soft too. It's a far departure from the normal light wind boards you see around.

+1

also larger Axis Vanguard models

Dedicated light wind boards suck for anything but lawn mowing

W18 shinn speedball good fun!

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kitebt said..

In Sthn Cal most of the riding is in 8 - 15knots of wind so good twin tip days are few and far between during a season.

That totally blows....errr I mean doesn't blow....err I mean sucks.

Shinn King Gee 150 x 50. feels just like a smaller twin tip so you can still do tricks , doesn't feel like your mowing the grass on a toilet door

Second to the King Gee and W18/W20 Speed Ball as well. We have had great reviews on them. For freestyle though I still rate the Axis.

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Drury said..
Second to the King Gee and W18/W20 Speed Ball as well. We have had great reviews on them. For freestyle though I still rate the Axis.

Have you tried the Axis Twin Wave?

Would like to see a review

@ice

I've only had a few punts around on it (and keep in mind I ride boots 90% of the time and 10% strapless surfboard so not really the best reviewer of this...) but it felt really good to me. The shape of it is really interesting and it rides very nicely. I found it mega fun to do massive flowy carves looping the kite downwind on and can really see it being a huge asset in less than ideal surf conditions, or in good surf conditions that someone still wants to boost massive in. Also would be a ripper of a downwinder board!

Found this review here which is quite positive --> www.seabreeze.com.au/forums/Kitesurfing/Review/REVIEW-Axis-TwinWave/

Feel free to call Kitepower if you have any more questions about it!

Although I haven't seen or had a ride on a Slingshot Glide... Every one of their boards I have ever had and riden has been the Shizzle.. Cant compare them too anything, so if you can try one! They're no gimmick type fad....

shinn king gee, also witnessed the crazyfly cruiser in action, which looked the goods on and off the water

King Gee 150 x 50. best LW TT by a country mile.
Also, u can ride them under smaller kite's in case you have a kite in the shop and need to mix up some sizes just to get out.
Many toilet doors just submarine if you're kite is less than 14m. You may get a knot more LW out of the bench top TT's but the KG is a lot more fun the rest of the time. 8kts+ and a 17m. no wukkerz

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Drury said..
Take a look at the Axis Ultra. It weighs next to nothing and has really good freestyle abilities for a reasonably large board. The 144x45 size will add a good amount of low end for you but you can still throw it around with ease. Landings are soft too. It's a far departure from the normal light wind boards you see around.

My only concern with the Ultra is in regards to the board size and my weight. No doubt it is a good looking board and I only hear good things but at 108kg on a 17m is it really going to give me that much more capability in light wind?

Thoughts? Anyone heavier guys used the Ultra to good effect in light wind?

When my Shinnster turns up I'll write a review

King Gee

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kitebt said..

Drury said..
Take a look at the Axis Ultra. It weighs next to nothing and has really good freestyle abilities for a reasonably large board. The 144x45 size will add a good amount of low end for you but you can still throw it around with ease. Landings are soft too. It's a far departure from the normal light wind boards you see around.

My only concern with the Ultra is in regards to the board size and my weight. No doubt it is a good looking board and I only hear good things but at 108kg on a 17m is it really going to give me that much more capability in light wind?

Thoughts? Anyone heavier guys used the Ultra to good effect in light wind?

You'll want the 148x47 size. I think this will be plenty for you in the lower wind range. This or the King Gee will be perfect options for you.

New Ocean Rodeo Origin Light looks like a great board for SoCal.

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KIT33R said..
When my Shinnster turns up I'll write a review

I have the Maui and it is definitely not a twin tip, but it is quite fantastic to ride. Like a very elemental surfboard with pretty good light wind characteristics.
I have used it in 10 knots to 35 knots without any dramas.

I really do like the look of the Ultra. The channel design on the board seems to be unique compared to other light wind boards. Probably making it behave a little more like a regular twin tip.

I am still concerned about the size of the board for a light wind board at my weight. The Ocean Rodeo board looks interesting as well. It certainly seems to me like the industry has taken a real leap in 2014 in the light wind board category.

The biggest problem here in LA is that there is no where to really go and get demo gear.

What size is your regular twin tip? Keep in mind that you could go something absolutely massive and you might get an extra knot or two on the low end but you might be sacrificing a lot of fun factor...

I have ordered a King Gee....I should get it tomorrow in time for the weekend wind. I will see how it goes but watch this space as if it does not work I may be selling it when I get back to Australia in December for the summer :)

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kitebt said..
I have ordered a King Gee....I should get it tomorrow in time for the weekend wind. I will see how it goes but watch this space as if it does not work I may be selling it when I get back to Australia in December for the summer :)

what size?

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CodeRed said..

kitebt said..
I have ordered a King Gee....I should get it tomorrow in time for the weekend wind. I will see how it goes but watch this space as if it does not work I may be selling it when I get back to Australia in December for the summer :)

what size?

150x50

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kitebt said..

CodeRed said..

kitebt said..
I have ordered a King Gee....I should get it tomorrow in time for the weekend wind. I will see how it goes but watch this space as if it does not work I may be selling it when I get back to Australia in December for the summer :)

what size?

150x50

How did it go? Did you get it out?

You should look at a Flysurfer Flydoor XL. I'm a similar weight to you (115kg) and this is the only TT that will get me going in under around 13kts, and I have tried a lot of TTs. Although it's a big board (170x50) it is surprisingly light and agile for its size. I have a 3 year old model, so I would guess the latest version is even lighter & better.

Buy skim board they are good light wind toys

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RickyDee said..
You should look at a Flysurfer Flydoor XL. I'm a similar weight to you (115kg) and this is the only TT that will get me going in under around 13kts, and I have tried a lot of TTs. Although it's a big board (170x50) it is surprisingly light and agile for its size. I have a 3 year old model, so I would guess the latest version is even lighter & better.

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bigtone667 said..

kitebt said..

CodeRed said..

kitebt said..
I have ordered a King Gee....I should get it tomorrow in time for the weekend wind. I will see how it goes but watch this space as if it does not work I may be selling it when I get back to Australia in December for the summer :)

what size?

150x50

How did it go? Did you get it out?

Unfortunately my order was delayed for delivery until October 13. I will certainly write a review once I get out and give it a go. With that delivery date I should get a couple of sessions in before the Santa Ana's change the wind pattern. Stay tuned.

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kitebt said..

RickyDee said..
You should look at a Flysurfer Flydoor XL. I'm a similar weight to you (115kg) and this is the only TT that will get me going in under around 13kts, and I have tried a lot of TTs. Although it's a big board (170x50) it is surprisingly light and agile for its size. I have a 3 year old model, so I would guess the latest version is even lighter & better.

bigtone667 said..

kitebt said..

CodeRed said..

kitebt said..
I have ordered a King Gee....I should get it tomorrow in time for the weekend wind. I will see how it goes but watch this space as if it does not work I may be selling it when I get back to Australia in December for the summer :)

what size?

150x50

How did it go? Did you get it out?

Unfortunately my order was delayed for delivery until October 13. I will certainly write a review once I get out and give it a go. With that delivery date I should get a couple of sessions in before the Santa Ana's change the wind pattern. Stay tuned.

yeww! 11 days to go, my new one should be here about then also, but prolly won't use it too much as i need the LW day's off to recover.
It's been on 4days a week over here