HI all. I am looking for a surfboard that can double as directional kiteboard. I read that some but not all types of surfboards are suited for that. I am intermediate level in both, 80 kg. Any advice and recommendations much appreciated. For learning and in small/medium waves conditions. Cheers.

Hey mate

i'm not the best at the search function, but this topic has been done to death over the years. My surmisal to help you out:

- good at one, will equal avg to poor at the other
- getting something that goes ok at both, will mean still dissatisfied in both - you'll want a better board in pumping surf mostly.
- need way less volume (usually 18' or less wide, and 2' thick) in the kite board. You just can't paddle it (for example I can use a kids high performance PU board easily with kite and enjoy until I snap it, and I'm 90kg)
- if you get the surfboard vol and dims down to your minimum practical, it will probably be just ok in light winds with kite
- some of the cut off Thommo boards like vanguard evo and nano etc do seem to paddle ok and are smaller, but you'd probably still be oversized with kite.

if the goal is to learn strapless, just buy $200ish second hand surfboards that you can paddle ok, and then flog them learning on kite as well. Squash or Rounded pin maybe better (speed when kiting) - I prefer thruster, but everyone different. You'll probably have to nurse it a bit / less on rail due to too much planing surface, but all still fun and easier to learn tacks n gyres etc at first.

oh, and expect to go through a few..
hope that helps

thanks mate, much appreciated!

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flrn said..
thanks mate, much appreciated!

Good example boards and advice in the other threads you posted in too.

Happy hunting

Look at foil paddle surf boards, which have slightly more volume over kitesurf boards.
Typical 6' kiteboard is 30 liters, while prone foil boards around 5'6" are 50 liters.

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LeeD said..
Look at foil paddle surf boards, which have slightly more volume over kitesurf boards.
Typical 6' kiteboard is 30 liters, while prone foil boards around 5'6" are 50 liters.

Are you suggesting kiting/surfing a 50L prone foil board? That would be an absolute pig for both.

Typical kiteboard round here would be way less than 6' and 30L, that's more like you're typical surfboard dims.

"Intermediate" surfer.
Possibly a funboard around 7', so 45 liters.
Add a 10 lbs. foil to the tail.......
Typical shortboard would always float 10 liters more than a thinner and narrower directional kieteboard.

I think you've misinterpreted the OP, crossover surfboard / kite board.

Previous replies have already provided the best advice, ie kite on the smallest/lowest volume surf board you can comfortably paddle.

What size board does an intermediate surf?
80 kg., advanced would be on around 35 liters, maybe 5'10" for small to head high surf.
So, intermediate would be on bigger, maybe?
I'm sure OP is not on 35 liters for his small wave board.

I found the solution to all this.

Good quality fish softboard with real fins. Can surf it can kite it job done excells at both.