Exarch Posted February 12, 2008 Report Posted February 12, 2008 i'm buying a kite for my GF's birthday and naturally she will need a board. for snowbaording i know the things we are looking for are length, width, forgiveness (for a newbie), etc. however how does that translate for kite surfing? as she does not know about the kite i just cannot walk into a shop with here and say hey why don't you try on some boards? because they are in no way related to your present at all...... thoughts? Luke Quote
schmik Posted February 12, 2008 Report Posted February 12, 2008 Try ringing the guys at cardboards. You can pick the graphic and they will advise you about size depending on her weight and experience. mike Quote
skiddz Posted February 12, 2008 Report Posted February 12, 2008 Liquid Force make Ladies boards, and they come with women's bindings. The Aura with stilleto straps is $969.00 But for a beginners board, I think you'll be looking at maybe a 133cm (ish), soft flex, medium sized rocker. Quote
Exarch Posted February 12, 2008 Author Report Posted February 12, 2008 are board choices driven by height at all? Quote
koma Posted February 12, 2008 Report Posted February 12, 2008 Board choice is driven by: - weight - experience - riding style - kite size - water conditions - pretty colours - price Quote
Baggsy Posted February 12, 2008 Report Posted February 12, 2008 i put pretty colors at the top of my list !! Quote
Guest Anonymous Posted February 12, 2008 Report Posted February 12, 2008 ok, what board for a guy.... 90-95 Kg... Hasnt got a clue... Would ride agressively at times pushing for speed and height, but often prefers to ride with a coffee in hand... Under a bloody big kite, think 15 metre plus... In nice low winds, and smooth seas... Who likes graphics that punch you in the retinas and make you smile.. And something priced above middle of the range but not fully sick pro gear... what board ? Cheers, Nas. Quote
koma Posted February 12, 2008 Report Posted February 12, 2008 ok, what board for a guy.... 90-95 Kg... Hasnt got a clue... Would ride agressively at times pushing for speed and height, but often prefers to ride with a coffee in hand... Under a bloody big kite, think 15 metre plus... In nice low winds, and smooth seas... Who likes graphics that punch you in the retinas and make you smile.. And something priced above middle of the range but not fully sick pro gear... what board ? Cheers, Nas. Umm.. well you've described yourself as flat-water junky that likes to boost big so you want something stiff with a heap of pop. ~138-140cm in length and ~42cm width given your desire to fly in low winds mixed with your 90-95kg weight range; assuming minimal-nil kiteboarding experience (shorter if your a bit more experienced or have a personal preference for short boards). That said riding on a stiff board means your 'chill out with a coffee' style riding might be a bit rough and uncomfortable. As for graphics... if you want that much punch you might wanna go for a Cardboards board. Quote
Guest Anonymous Posted February 12, 2008 Report Posted February 12, 2008 Very informative. Thanks Koma. Cheers, Nas. Quote
Jason Posted February 12, 2008 Report Posted February 12, 2008 You can still go to your local shop and they can advise you as to what you are looking for. Hopefully between the shop riders knowledge and how well you know your gf you should be able yo come up with an answer. Quote
Guest Anonymous Posted February 12, 2008 Report Posted February 12, 2008 yeh but Jason, if everyone did that there would be no point in having a forum like this. My question would be to Exarch, is a kite surfing outfit something that she is really going to get into ? Its excy and there'd be nothing worse than forking out all that hard earned on a surprise, only to find she uses it twice then gets all coy about it. Nas. Quote
Exarch Posted February 12, 2008 Author Report Posted February 12, 2008 sounds like i am after something soft that will cater for 60kg preferably in pink with sparkles Quote
Guest Anonymous Posted February 12, 2008 Report Posted February 12, 2008 Dont take it personally man. But its not like a Mitsubishi Lancer. Its an extreme sport surprise. Thats the reality. Its just a question you really have to ask yourself. Quote
schmik Posted February 12, 2008 Report Posted February 12, 2008 Hibiscus Pink She Likes To Play Punk Drummer http://www.cardboarding.com/content_gallery.php Sorry..... no sparkles! mike Quote
Exarch Posted February 12, 2008 Author Report Posted February 12, 2008 @notAnotherStack --> she loves kiting with my gear soo i thought it would be a great oportunity to get her up and running with her own. @schmik --> the hibiscus looks great, that would be right up her alley. Quote
schmik Posted February 13, 2008 Report Posted February 13, 2008 You can send them your own graphics too. The sky is the limit. mike Quote
MilesMan Posted February 13, 2008 Report Posted February 13, 2008 yeh but Jason, if everyone did that there would be no point in having a forum like this. Then it will go back to spoon feeding the masses with over inflated prices and second grade equipment. Cardboards make some good boards and after riding a few they feel nice under the feet. The only thing I don't like is their bindings which I found with more use became to soft allowing my foot to pivot on the board instead of keeping my toes pointed to the edge. This wasn't something I noticed on the demos, but after buying one and using it for a season the bindings really soften up quite considerably. With the new boards the bindings are noticeably stiffer and seem better construction. Quote
SoutherlyBuster Posted February 13, 2008 Report Posted February 13, 2008 I am happy with my Cardboard board as well. Just make sure to check that the foot strap fasteners are tight every once in a while, mine came off once during a session, but fortunately the bolt remains captive, ie does not sink to the bottom of the bay, a fellow kiter lent me his Alan key and all was fixed. On the choice of the board I just talked to Lachan (Mr Float), his recommendation was spot on. For the pros (not me) you can go to the Cardboard site and dial in what you want to favour, ie upwind capability,tricks etc. All was too technical for my knowledge so just went with what my supplier said. Does that mean Nas, we will be seeing you out at Altona / St Kilda soon? More carnage as Schultzie puts it as the new bees come on board . Welcome, looking forward to seeing you out there. Regards, SoutherlyBuster, Norman Freund, Sanctuary Lakes, VIC, AU Quote
Guest Anonymous Posted February 13, 2008 Report Posted February 13, 2008 Does that mean Nas, we will be seeing you out at Altona / St Kilda soon? Not likely SB. I dont go much for entering the salt water. Conditions arent heavenly enough often enough for my liking....to kite surf regularly enough to justify the purchase of such equipment, every day would have to look like this... I do however love the environs of it. Just wanted to put a theory to test, koma's list of board buying priorities, and he rocked you must agree.. and as a bonus, gain some knowledge ( I thought pop was a kite thing..? or is it just a board thing ?) and strike up some fascinating discussion. How awesome are some of those designs. As a creative kinda dude, some of that work has a high drool factor. Plus you can send in your own design. That in itself almost makes me stand up. I wonder if kite makers will ever take this idea on. Wouldnt that be cool. Exarch... awesome... when you discribed her as newbie, I took it you meant a complete kitesurfing virgin. Sparkles shouldnt be a problem. Maybe some of those coloured dangly rubber things to hang out each end of the control bar. They come in sparkled form also I believe. all the best. Nas. Quote
Australian Kiteboarding Posted February 13, 2008 Report Posted February 13, 2008 Hi All, The only way to buy a board and know it is going to be right is to try it before you buy it. Graphics, dimensions and stiffness etc etc is all nice to know but I know I have been wrong about boards in the past and have only found out by riding them that they are good. For example, I predecided that the 2008 Airush Switch would be a piece of crap based on it's flex and composition. I rode one a few weeks after we opened and got the shock of my life. It was a dream to ride for freeriding! I couldn't have been more wrong. Find a good store in your area and go and ride a few different boards. Ignore brands, colours, and all the other stuff and ride it. Use size as a guide to decide roughly what you think you need, then check with the seller about what they recommend and go out and ride it. Ride several boards and don't be too hasty about your purchase. When you find something that really makes you smile, BUY IT! We have a range of 10 boards on the beach everyday for demo and sell only a handful of boards, but the ones we do sell, the customers love to bits, because they are the right board for the individual. Two different riders try the same board in the same conditions and one loves it and the other hates it. Comes down to your own particular style, so take others opinions with a grain of salt and decide yourself. Good winds, Darren Marshall AKS Quote
Jason Posted February 13, 2008 Report Posted February 13, 2008 Look, I totally understand the issues here. She is just getting on the board and can't tell the difference between them because at this stage they all feel like a plank. If it's just a pretty pink board you want I have a Catapult butterfly here you can have for $500. But thats not the way to do it. Yes ask the questions on the forum but more information is required before you can get accurate answers. Weight wind range flat water, chop or surf kite type agressive or reserved rider etc....... Quote
youngbull1 Posted February 13, 2008 Report Posted February 13, 2008 Ha i thought a board was a board. my first experience was with a wakeboard, heck I thought it was fine till I got to ride a kiteboard. You do not know what you like till you try it. A good shop has demo's and know's other customers that will lend you a board. Or bum of other people till she gets the ropes, or just go buy her a board suitable for your location ( flat,surf,choppy, ect ) her weight and kite size. She will not notice the difference. Quote
Exarch Posted February 14, 2008 Author Report Posted February 14, 2008 sounds like a better way to approach this, will wait and see how she flies and then worry about a board. until then she can use one of my three EDIT: oh and i really like the idea of streamer things out the side of her bar, that would be halerious Quote
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.