What surfboard?

[Hollywood]

Looking for general advice, ride nobile 666 but looking for something to play about in the waves with, would like to use it on lighter winds but also if hte wind does kick in.

 

Considering shinn wave (can be ridden 60 / 40) , airush chop top or should i just grab a directional and go down that path in which case what sort of size should i begin with?

 

Any advice gratefully recieved.

 

take it easy

[DesRes]

You gotta decide what you want to do...

Do you want a kitesurf board that's good in waves but will take little adaption from what you are used to or do you want learn to surf and do something a little purer.

Standard surfboards can be picked up fairly cheaply, go strapless and learn to gybe. Anything @ 6' will do, epoxy are stronger, wider will help you through the turns.

My 1st board was a 5' 6" NSP Fish, did a smashin' job...

[soggy]

if its just to use along side the twin in lightwinds then might be an idea to get a strapless secondhand surfboard, as they will be very cheap and a strapped board would be more aimed at taking out in strong winds in big waves.

[WesFlexAir]

I know this is kinda off the subject but still kinda on it!

does anyone know how to gybe a dircetional board properbly?

I've windsurf for a while, but how do you move your feet around on the board to keep everything moving?

[denziltrevaskis]

I know this is kinda off the subject but still kinda on it!

does anyone know how to gybe a dircetional board properbly?

I've windsurf for a while, but how do you move your feet around on the board to keep everything moving?

 

i can't do it with straps,that's why i always ride strapless, which makes it very simple

 

what helps me there (apols if you know this already) is to make sure i turn the board with my strong foot forward. this is my left foot.

 

so - if i'm riding port tack, left foot forward, i carve round to toeside then shuffle me feet around.

 

if starboard tack, right foot, i switch feet around first and heelside carve out of it

 

as for balance, i find a bit of speed and a bit of rail in the water helps, kite not too high (gives you something to brace against)

 

take the fins off your board, put it on the carpet and spend a whole evening doing gybe footwork. helped me out a bit:)

[DesRes]

take the fins off your board, put it on the carpet and spend a whole evening doing gybe footwork. helped me out a bit:)

 

Wonderful stuff Denzil, how did you get away with that?

 

As for gybing may I add: Speed is your friend, lean forward and bend zee knees through the turn...

[bigrolf9]

Surfboards don't really offer lightwind performance due to their rocker, what looks nice and would fit the bill is the Airush Choptop 09, but they are coming in at £600http://community.flexifoil.com/images/icons/bawling.gifsomething to do with the pound being weak and a 15% increase in board price. The nobile skim board option is fun in light wind and when powered, a cheaper option aswell. Other skim boards are out there with foot strap and a more directional shape.

 

I really fancied the 09 choptop but £600 is steep! I think slingshot have a similar board coming out, not sure about its light wind performance .

 

I ride a Surftech 6'5 Stretch quad pretty much 90% of the time, not for light winds though.

 

Hope this helps.

[garybrazier]

The Underground Freewave 5'4" is a great as a transition from twin tip. I got mine 3 months ago and haven't ridden anything else since. Also real easy strapless as it has all over deck pad. Only prob is finding one.

[wenglish]

just out of intreast would a cheep pop out work? something like a bic?

[Gomas]

NSP boards are heavy as f**k you wont get lightwind performance out of them at all.

 

If your after a board to mess around on strapless, a cheap second hand surfboard would do nicely and perform well, you should be able to get one for £100-£200 depending on condition. £200 would get you a pretty mint board, £100 and its going to be ropey.

 

I use an old summer fish (6' by 20 wide) for waves, its great fun for lip smacking small waves, but if your thinking of hitting bigger waves, you might want to get a strapped kite specific board.