Try a mutant like the RRD toxic wave, very best of both worlds.

have a look at his article - it answer the your question and more

www.seabreeze.com.au/Articles/Kitesurfing/Ben-Wilson-Wave-Riding-Tips-Part-1_1500204.aspx

hope that helps - he has a dvd instructional as well

Brucex

We are the dedicated kitesurf surf crew in SA. I can't even ride a twini anymore, its too weird, like riding with an anchor tied to an esky lid. Don't get me wrong, I know its not like that but after riding with a purely designed directional strapped kitesurfboard in waves, don't look back.
I also started with a surfboard to get the gybing down, its like learning to surf with a big mal, perfect, so get an old surfboard and start riding, but once the surf is 3 ft, you are going to want something smaller.

Straps or no straps, I ride both, but I prefer straps, nothing beats the hardcore agression that straps provide, nothing.

Cut loose and free your spirit, get a pointy board and get into the waves, you know it.

Yeah baby YEAHHHH

In answer to your question I am 70 kg too and ride a 5'9" Rocket Fish, I have a 5' Freestyle fish and waiting to pick up my 5'10" 2009 Kontact board which replaces the rocket fish from 2008. I would suggest that a kitesurf board around 5'9 - 6' max depending on wind strength. As for surfboard anything 6'6" would be a good start, one with a bit of volume and floatation, say 2 1/2 " deep and 19 - 21 inches wide, but that's just a guide, just don't go too small with the surfboard.

Dazza

Cheers everyone for all the info.

Thanks for all your help, can't wait to get out there...

Picture this all you natural footers on strapped directionals boards with one thigh bigger than the other......

Wind sideshore from the right - Sandy Pt Vic if you must know. Bashing out through the surf heelside (I've never seen anyone climb 8 foot foam walls going toeside btw except maybe Kitehard)

Alright you've made it past the foam and there a nice wall building in front of you. You try to gybe on the face and dance your feet around to get to your natural stance, but the chop, speed and adrenaline have other ideas and you get slammed and miss the wave of the day. This has happened alot.

I'm seriously considering going back to a twinnie, if a board like say the Hammer 144 is all they say it is. A quick 180 ollie and you're set to ride that mother down the line........

Thoughts ?

Beerbong,

I NEVER switch stance always heel or toe (yes I'm natural and yes my right calf and thigh are bigger/stronger than my left as a result)-as a long long time surfer/skater/snowboarder (who sucks at fakie) there's no way I'd switch stance-just go out toe side-it's as easy to get out through it toe as heel (just takes practice-look at Ben W. he has no issue and he's often unstrapped).

And as Hunter S says-that initial top turn/reo from toe to heel as you drive up the face and turn off the lip as you pick up the wave is EPIC:





Get a grip-keep at it-it just takes time.

Forget about the spin tips in the waves-it's NOT kiteSURFING.......

Kitehard said...

Hey Picker,

Have a look at the 2009 Airush Converse 6' surfboard. This is an unbelievably good board.

I rode it on head to head and a half clean down the line waves at an undisclosed location around Exmouth. This board blew my mind. Perfect speed and control, loose and so forgiving yet precise in handling. I had such so many euphoric moments on this board that I will never forget. Honestly this is the finest surfboard I have ever ridden on a kite.

Please try one and you'll know what I'm talking about.

Click the link and scroll to the bottom of the page.

Good winds,



kiteboardingschool.com.au/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=21&Itemid=48

Looks like a great board. Was it the waves or the board that were so memorable?

Kitehard said...euphoric moments

However, that'd be a big investment first up-I say get yourself a cheapy surfboard (if you don't already have one) and give it a go-you can then work out if that style of riding is for you-then take a look around at what's available.

I highly recommend John Amundson's designs- http://www.amundsoncustoms.com/

He shapes GREAT boards and is a very cool guy.

just get yourself a cheap surfboard off e bay. learn to ride it on lake or bay then hit the waves. straps not needed. i just use same size board as i surf on. no need to spend a $1000 on a dedicated kite surfboard.

Bump.

I'm thinking of a board that I could potentially take the straps off and try paddling into a wave, but would 97% of the time have straps on with a kite. Then as I progress I might try strapless, but that's for later on.

I'm 108kg most of the time, 6'2" tall. What length board should I be thinking about?

I started off with the dual purpose (paddle and kite) board concept in mind.

Personally I think the dual purpose board idea is flawed, as the two activities are very different. I found my surf kiting improved when I bought a kite specific surfboard

The main differences that affect board design are
- the need for more floatation when paddling - influences board width and rail thickness
- the speed that a board can travel at when kited
- fin angle - surfboard fins are usually more toed in than kite surfboard fins

I do kite a surfboard strapless sometimes when the wind is light but I change the centre fin to a small one. This makes the board much better behaved when kited.

Just my opinion

I think you should not even consider getting a kite surfboard until you are really really solid on toeside (it only needs to be on one side). If you can charge all day and ride upwind on toeside then you can jump on a kite surfboard and get some use out of it straight away.

Ideally you should have some surf experience with a twintip so you know how to get out through waves and stuff.

Once you've done that you can borrow a few demo kite surfboards from a shop and really try them out and see which ones you like.

I didn't like the Rocket Fish but had a great time on an S-Quad so I bought that. Even though I could ride it straight away it still took a while to get the straps set up to my liking and get everything happening that way it should.