Kiteboard Size Vs Skill

[Jamer89]

Hi,

 

I know this is going to sound similar to you guys as being 'another kiteboard size' thread. I have searched and read through a few old threads. Your help would be much appreciated.

 

I have recently just started getting out on the water, a few years ago I did a fair bit of landboarding etc. I completed a 3 day kitesurf course and enjoyed it and been out a few times since. I brought some more kit, A 10.5m and 12.5m Ion2's and a Airush kiteboard 140 x 40.

 

I'm a big ish guy at 6ft and roughly 16st.

 

What's peoples thoughts on my kiteboard size for a beginner?

 

I always seem to get to the point of starting to 'get up' out of the water to find that the starts to sink in the water. Now I know this is probably down to skill in keeping the power in the kite while getting going. But would a bigger board help with getting going?

 

Getting slightly frustrated I can't seem to even get going for 10+ metres. Is this just 'practice' makes perfect?

 

Again your help and experience would be much appreciated!

[mick]

Alrite dude. Well a 140 aint too bad but a lot depends on what kite you're using in what wind strength. Generally its all going to come down to practice and conditions of course. Just keep struggling cos it'll all click. Every single guy on here has been thro the same pain cycle many many times.

[ben7890]

I'm about the same weight and height, and I would say you would need a good amount of wind with that combo. A bigger board will help lower the wind requirements, but practice will help more

[ben7890]

P.s. what wind speed are you going out in?

[cowboy54]

Just keep moving the kite, board should be plenty big enough. Just sounds like as mick says either not enough wind for kite size or you are expecting the kite to get you going on the first dive.

 

Try bringing the kite back to about 2 o'clock if going to the left and dive the kite back the other way will give a bit more power when starting. Just keep the kite moving till you get going

[mick]

You know what. As most on here can kitesurf acceptably, we don't realise what we are actually doing. I struggled for a long time till I realised what we do to get going. A noob will just haul the bar in. A kitesurfer doesn't. A noob will expect the kite to drag him out of the water. A kitesurfer doesn't. True ? Well, a kitesurfer requires far less wind to get up and go and the reason is simple. a. We don't choke the kite by pulling the bar in and b. we give something back as we waterstart. Its not about being hauled out, its more about curling up onto the board before we are standing. Think about it. A noob will try to stand with straight legs where a kitesurfer is on bent legs.

 

Here endeth the reading according to mick.

[coupey]

Definitely do the 2 o'clock thing, and point the board massively downwind.

[Maro]

I came from landboarding and when learning to kitesurf I too would sink. This was mostly because my stance was poor due to bad habits I had picked up on the landboard. I would bend at the knees too much and thus cause me to sink.

[mick]

@ Maro. You say about bent knees but when the wind drops or we suddenly need to float, don't you find by bending the knees, we keep the board planing?

[broraboyan]

Your kite 12m will need about 18mph for you to get going and it will go to about 25mph before you'd need to change to the 10.5.

[Jamer89]

thanks to everyone for the comments and suggestions.

 

Sounds like I need to make sure I have enough wind for the kite I have out at the time, also sounds like I need alot more practice at the process of picking myself up out of the water.

 

Mick I agree with your comments while I've stood and watched for many hours, you guys make it look effortless at the transititon of getting up out the water. Anyne got any good training videos or anything?

 

Maybe I also need a slightly larger kite for the lighter winds due to my weight. Maybe a 14-15m? What sort of wind speed do people suggest for that sort of size.

 

Cheers

[balugh]

+15 mph with your 12m is ideal. As Mick has pointed out you don't need to launch yourself out of the water. Once you're up it takes very little power from the kite to keep you rolling. There's a simple exercise to dial yourself in when you're about to go out. Sit on the beach or, more safely, in shallow water and work on diving the kite until it pulls you to a standing / riding position. This 'stand up' is exactly the same as doing it with a board on your feet in deeper water. It helps with the muscle memory when you're actually working on your board starts and also helps gauge the wind strength and kite power on the day. I often see people overcook / superman doing boards starts but almost never doing stand ups in shallow water. Must be a self preservation gene or something. Anyway, as indicated above don't be afraid to move the kite more. If you go out on a windy day (+20) you will likely be able to dive the kite from 12 o'clock and ride off. If it is less windy you might have to fly it past 12 before diving back the direction you want to go. The 'stand up' will help you gauge what you need to do on the days you're out. The great thing about this sport is that conditions are different pretty much every time. If you're getting up but sinking back into the water don't be afraid to start back at the beginning...settle back in...get ready....and incrementally add a bit more power in the kite on your next attempt. What you're searching for is that 'stand up' lift out of the water and then a nice constant pull through the harness once you're up. If you still don't have enough power when you're up then move the kite through another sine wave to add more. If you watch he experienced kiters they'll often do this a couple of times then park the kite at 10:30/1:30 as they roll along.

 

Also as indicated get that tip of your board pointed down wind....when you're riding and have some board speed most people will naturally tend to start carving up wind but, except in really windy conditions, you need some board speed for this and what you want is some longer rides right now. Have fun...everyone pretty much had the same learning curve.

[paulie_amoose]

Get the board on your feet and aim 45 degrees downwind when you water start. Stay on that course & you will keep riding.

[mick]

All great points as per usual. One thing I think noobs forget is that the kite power goes thro the harness and not your hands. I always say the bar is for steering and depowering not for hanging off. Also important to remember maybe is that if we have to sine the kite for power, it goes back up to the top a lot easier with the bar pushed away or a little depower pulled on. This was singley my biggest failing as a FB kite flying. I was choking the life out of the kite by pulling on the bar.

[SonnyRider]

Ah, the joys of lighter people saying a 12m is fine at 15mph for someone weighing in at 16st

 

You will need a 14m for 15mph winds for your weight, the board is maybe a little small. But with the right technique you will be fine.

But technique takes time and practice

 

When I started I had a 12m, I believed what everybody else was saying, because they were kitesurfers. They know. They do know, but only for their weight, they have no comprehension of the difference the extra you need for our 'heavy' weight.

I kept the 12, but got an Ozone zephyr, that combined with a larger board a King George 140x46 was the turning point for me. Admittedly I was 17st at the time, so my needs were more than your current needs

I also got a 14m Catalyst, for the days when the wind was too high for the zep

 

Get a 14m, that will cover you from 15 - 20(maybe more depending on which kite you get), the 12 will cover you from 19 - high 20's(maybe)

 

Everything else they are saying about getting up and pointing the board down wind is correct, but a 12, sorry a 12.5 is not big enough for you at your current level FACT

[balugh]

Hmmm...bigger kite / board would be easier. I'm 105kg / 16st 7lb. I didn't like big kites so spent most of my first year on a 10m Vegas (not very big) and a Spleen Door (which is pretty big, 154x40 I think). I rode that combo in lots of lower wind conditions...

[AliB]

140x40 is definatly a small board for your size. Im a short arse and weigh 65kg, and used to ride a 138 x 40 in straps, and now ride a 138x 43.

 

you will need much more than 15mph to get going on your 12.5m consistently.

[broraboyan]

140x40 is definatly a small board for your size. Im a short arse and weigh 65kg, and used to ride a 138 x 40 in straps, and now ride a 138x 43.

 

you will need much more than 15mph to get going on your 12.5m consistently.

I think I need another board:eek:

[cowboy54]

140x40 is definatly , esall board for your size. Im a short arse and weigh 65kg, and used to ride a 138 x 40 in straps, and now ride a 138x 43.

 

you will need much more than 15mph to get going on your 12.5m consistently.

 

Sorry I disagree that you need a larger board as even though lighter now I was up to 107kg and riding a 137 x 41.5

 

For 15mph it will be a struggle on your 12.5, rather than fork out on a larger board now go with all tips given to you and pick ays when the wind is around 16 knots+

 

Later when up and running you can have the money for changing kites or board then

[AliB]

and i could ride a 120 x 38... i used to.. doesnt mean its the right board, and definatly doesnt make life any easier.

 

when i've taught i've always had the option of boards to use. Big and square is always the best. even when teaching small youths and ladies.

[Andy-j]

get your back foot under your ar$e and point your front foot at the kite!

[Bainbridgejeh]

Point the board down wind and get some speed up before edging back upwind

[plummet]

You need MORE Power!

 

Sub 20knots yourl need a 17m, 20-25 knots 12m, 25-30 knots 10m.

 

Then the difference between landboard and kiteboard is weighting of your feet. Landboard is more 50/50. Kiteboard is 30/70. 70% on the back foot. Keep that front leg straight stomp on the back leg. Also steer the board with the front leg on the water verses pushing that back out on the land.

[kitesurfandy]

well almost agree but you can have just as much more fun in low wind on a skim board and smaller kite

 

17m woud be needed 12knots as i would be still on my 11edge and twin tip in 17mph winds ,in lower winds skimboard

 

not the size of the kite but how fast it turns to generate power ( but there is low wind limit for a smaller kite as , you will know your self the kite will fly till to the piont that the kite will just stall at a certain wind speed )

[redmark]

if you are getting enough power to pull you up out of the water, you should have enough to get going. Its all about knowing what to do, but nobody can tell you, you need to figure out where you are going wrong ie edging to soon, not letting your bar out on the upturn so it climbes quicker and keeps you afloat till you power down again theres many factors.