kiteforum.com/viewtopic.php?f=196&t=2384413

Interesting topic going around... any opinions? Hopefully you'll have tried both..

I haven't tried Raceboards yet as I am not interested in racing.

V

raceboards are easy to ride nowadays , definately not fragile and not uncomfortable . Sessions over 2 hours are no problems .

Very easy to ride in super light winds more so than a sector . Yes carving turns on the sector are much easier but i think in terms of delivery they are fantastic .

I own both a sector and raceboards and the sector doesn't come out of the garage now and i will sell it . I have my slalom board for that .

true but raceboards aren't redundant as quick as you think . Sure the top guys are on the latest but they should be . Skill plays a big part of it and any 2013 board will still be competitive for at least another 12 months if not more .

well yes then raceboards aren't designed for cruising but isn't this thread about raceboards becoming obsolete for course racing ?

which i don't think they are .

A race board is a race board for racing

For those that were hoping for some unreal light wind board because they seen this big ass thing they were disappointing.

And then for some other people and industry players thinking all the masses of kiteboarders would give them a go are probly also disappointed.
With kitboarders generally being a free and easy bunch and not to committed to anything except when the wind starts to blow it was a big ask to think a lot of them would commit to racing on a regular bases, not everyone in our community is cut out for the highs and lows of racing and lots dont have the time to do it.
And if nobody else in your area got one you can hardly race yourself!

That leaves the people who use them for regular racing and not to many of them are disappointed

But good if you're the only guy out there too race against... IMHO...

The Formula 70 class isn't going to die any time soon, it is fairly well established world wide with lots of events. It doesn't appeal to the majority of the kiting community as it does require quite a lot of time, skill and fitness to reach a competitive level. They go upwind well but the back leg burn hardly makes it worth the effort especially if you are just out for a tour/cruise. I don't think you will see too many guys buying raceboards for free riding. Also I think quite a few people got burned buying dud boards which is a shame. Since getting a foil my raceboard has been gathering dust, I'll only pull it out for an event.

Enter foiling... a completely different aspect of kite boarding. It's important to realise though that there are foils for racing (Sword, Spotz ect) and foils for freeriding (Carafino's, homebuilds ect..). I think free ride foiling will appeal to the majority of the kiting community as it is a great way to get out in light winds (sub 12 knots) with your 12m kite and be blasting around having a great time. For me the steep learning curve was part of the appeal of it. If you are sensible and stick to 10-15knot days when learning it is no more dangerous than learning on a raceboard (do wear a helmet tho). The feel of kiting in silence and being able to go upwind/downwind touring botany bay all day with ease is the appeal to foiling. Having a race foil means I can train for racing by trying to go as fast as possible or just take it easy and go for a cruise (something that I would never do on the raceboard).

To me at the moment there seems to be a huge influx of brands making racefoils but the big market will be in making an affordable, robust freeride/freestlye foil that appeals to the rest of the kite community.

Anyway I now have a raceboard going cheap

+2 for the foil (although I've never had a race board, I did consider it)

Built my 1st foil last year -went through the learning pain. Gifted first foil to a mate - made a second one. Currently building the 3rd one.

I hate big kites - and with the foil I use my 8m kite when other are slogging on 17metres. To me it's the best thing to happen to kiting since kites got depower in 2006 or so. I really look forward to the 10-15 knot days now!

Mostly I like just cruising around - you can pretty much become a kite "tourist" and cover huge ground (or water) at amazing angles to the wind - up and down with no chop bounce and almost complete silence. I don't care that I might look like a chimp on a unicycle - in my mind I'm the coolest mofo on the water

INTHELOOP said..

A Sector is not a race board!

Theres the proof in the 'race boards becoming obsolete' discussion. Not only are Sectors obsolete already - they are not even race boards anymore.
I think there was a time, just a year or 2 back, that they were THE raceboard you just HAD TO have.

Total respect for the serious race boarders & foilers out there but I seriously think that if racing is going to gain any wide appeal amongst the kiting community there has to be a TT class at regular race days for the huge no. of kiters who would love the thought of going hard & fast occasionally but arent serious enough about it to do the hard 'race/foil board' yards or spend the big 'race/foil board' $'s.
Doesnt have to be too serious, or a true racing class. Just an opportunity for a great social day out with a different bent on your riding & the chance to bolster the interest & audience participation in the serious side of racing.
And a way to keep our community coming together rather than growing apart.

swinginginthewind said..

doycle said..
Anyway I now have a raceboard going cheap

+1

Not that I got out on my race board much - but the foil, am on it very chance I get.

As Johnno said I found the learning curve is way harder than any other board I have tried but the rewards are awesome. Upwind performance like no other, scarily fast downwind speeds and smoothness that means you can ride for a lot longer.

Still have a lot of learning to go but highly recommend it.

I was impressed by your skills in light winds the other day on your 7. I think your going to give the "pros" a good shot at the race this year.

terminal said..

puppetonastring said..

INTHELOOP said..

A Sector is not a race board!

Theres the proof in the 'race boards becoming obsolete' discussion. Not only are Sectors obsolete already - they are not even race boards anymore.
I think there was a time, just a year or 2 back, that they were THE raceboard you just HAD TO have.

Total respect for the serious race boarders & foilers out there but I seriously think that if racing is going to gain any wide appeal amongst the kiting community there has to be a TT class at regular race days for the huge no. of kiters who would love the thought of going hard & fast occasionally but arent serious enough about it to do the hard 'race/foil board' yards or spend the big 'race/foil board' $'s.
Doesnt have to be too serious, or a true racing class. Just an opportunity for a great social day out with a different bent on your riding & the chance to bolster the interest & audience participation in the serious side of racing.
And a way to keep our community coming together rather than growing apart.

They have been holding twintip slalom races at some PKRA events and it seems to be popular - even with some of the top freestylers.
There are occasional 'open' slalom races with short legs in strong wind, where the it tends to equal the many different types of boards out - like in the slalom race in this.

they aren't twin tip slalom races they are slalom races and the guys winning are on race/slalom boards.

I fully agree that twin tip racing is fun and anybody can do it. If you really enjoy racing on twines or in general plus you like speed and going fast then a race board or similar is a lot more fun :)

dude fuerte is 40knts

The reason why I initiated this post was that I went onto Kiteforum.com and was a little surprised to see the popularity of foils.

I started foiling last year in November and cannot get enough of it. It is completely addictive, so I cannot agree with those that say foiling is 'mowing the lawn'.. but I will concede that the learning curse is harsh and very steep - I am proof of that. It was hard to start but I am super stoked to have done when I did.

Still almost no one on the Goldie except for another dedicated mate.

But the point was that this 'craze' is going nuts overseas. The suppliers cannot keep up with demand.. what does that tell you?

V