Hi

I've recently started kitesurfing on a surfboard, till about 6 months ago I'd always ridden twintips and had never surfed before.
I had absolutely no idea about size and style of board to get. In the end I went with two different board styles out after checking out several boards from Cabrinha, Axis & Liquid Force. I purchased a fish & shortboard blank from Surfblanks Australia. One of the guys who I work with shapes his own boards and was more than happy to finish the shaping and glass my two boards plus install the hardware. Both boards are glassed 6oz top and bottom.
Fish
Size: 5'7" x 22" x 2.1"
Fins: FCS II Performer quad fins
Square Tail Shortboard
Size: 5'10" x 18" x 2"
Fins: FCS II Carver 5 fin setup (to experiment with different fin setups)

Being a newbie I'm using the fish the most at the moment, I'm riding flat water and small chop, it seems very easy to ride, once I improve my surfing I'll use the shortboard more frequently or even get another couple of boards built.

Fish Kiteboard

I bought a shinnster this season. No point posting a picture as you all know what they look like.

Its the first time I've ridden anything other than a TT and I've had heaps of fun on it already, even though I still havent managed to get the gybe down pat. 50% of the time I wobble around and fall off but I'm sure i'll get the hang of it the more I do it.

Fish Kiteboard

That should be an awesome light wind board.

Most most used strapless board (light wind and small waves only):



I also have a strapless CSC Nugget for higher winds and medium waves.

Iv'e got a 5'2" Naish Skater

Would put a photo up if I knew how

I ride it without straps

Goes unreal

Put up bit of a blurb on it on the Gear Reviews

Had this a couple of months now but have yet to get it out in good conditions but very happy with its overall performance, it's really light 3.2 kg inc fins & pads.
No heel dents yet but I did drop it on the rocks at Old Woman - so a major repair there & then put my bar thru one of the rails .

Yeah, I know .... things usually happen in 3,s.

You sound like a voyer ..........

These are a couple of boards I've been using, for me it is more important to have a board that I can use for both kiting and surfing, this is the perfect travelling surfing quiver for me, 88kg.
(Oh,and throw in a gun for some juice!)
5'6" Vanguard 28.8lt
6'2" Spitfire 38lt.
I think getting your boards right is far more important than worrying about having too many kite sizes. better for surfing and cheaper in the long run.

This is my pu 5'9" x 19 1/2 x 2 1/4 it's a custom Scott James Surfboard. It's been I the water from 15knts with a 12 and just over 30 knts with a 6m. Great board but now in need of multiple repairs the pu boards flex well feel great in the water but they just can't handle the stresses of jumping.

Another shinnster fan here!

I don't have any pics, but here's a little Instagram vid of it;
www.instagram.com/p/9Ntssjx1In/

I've changed the deck grip since filming this. I ditched the little pads between the front and back ones and waxed the middle. Also added some raised hand grips on the sides near the front pad. Haven't actually managed to do a grabbed air yet, but working on it....
The shinnster is pretty much my go-to board now. I haven't ridden the TT in ages...

I also ride an axis pure wave 5'7 in the waves. Great board, but a touch small for me. So will eventually look at something around 6'ish

KIT33R said...

Phoney said..
I bought a shinnster this season. No point posting a picture as you all know what they look like.

Its the first time I've ridden anything other than a TT and I've had heaps of fun on it already, even though I still havent managed to get the gybe down pat. 50% of the time I wobble around and fall off but I'm sure i'll get the hang of it the more I do it.

I'm a Shinnster convert too! Just keep practicing. The jibes and tacks will come.

Add one to your Christmas list
I have

[;

)]

this is my 6 foot Katana custom surfboard. I had it made about 5 years ago, but it's too small for me to surf now so I've been kiting it fr om last season.

I've reinforced the foot areas with about 3 layers of 6 ounce carbon fibre. I've also put carbon fibre rail tape around the outside and wrapped the tail( more for looks than anything else). I did all of the work myself in my shed with supplies from fibreglass and resin supplies in Welshpool WA period

The board goes awesome now it hasn't been stiffened up to much By the carbon fibre but it feels solid as.

It's quite as loose board, with a single concave at the front going to double concave through to the tail period

Recently had two custom boards made by Brett Warner. One is 6'2 based on the Bullet with a rounded pin tail, the other 6' based in the TNT with a rounded squash tail. Both have had the rocker reduced slightly just in from of the fun boxes. Both have 2x6 glassing on top plus a layer of carbon (I break everything ) and 6+4 glassing on the bottom. Large fins as I'm 94kilo.

The TNT is for thrashing about on smaller messy stuff and jumps, the Bullet with a double concave, pin tail and sharp rail is for big waves.

5'10 bws+stretch+mulcoy
My stomp pad is too thick, if i did it again i would get one as thin as possible.
Got the optional inserts but haven't used them so perhaps shouldn't have bothered, i'm cocerned they may weaken the board.
i really like swallow tails

Brazilnuts said...
they keep deleting my post... but never buy a Axis honestly they are the worst board i ever used just the true dont spend one dollar on it

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