Power Kite Forum

Little help with selection?

mougl - 22-10-2012 at 07:30 AM

Need help with board sizing/type/etc.

I'm 220 lbs, wind is typically low (10-15 mph on a decent day). I will be using an arc. Need a little advice on boards. I've seen 161s, 150ish boards, and more. I'm lost lol

Have a surfing//skimboarding//wakeboarding//waterskiing background.

Any help is greatly appreciated!!

martinipro - 22-10-2012 at 08:05 AM

Im fairly new at kiteboarding but at 10-15 mph i would go for a big board 160x50cm or similar. If the water is choppy choice becomes a little harder as big boards do not like chop.

Also what kite are you planning on using? I think you will need a big arc 16m+ and even then it might bot be enough. I am not familiar with arcs on the water though.

BeamerBob - 22-10-2012 at 08:09 AM

22-24 m will be the perfect kite. I got a 159 spleene door from tri dude that is my great equalizer with the 160 lb guys.

tridude - 22-10-2012 at 08:14 AM

Something with slight or no rocker, flat bottom i.e. door, LF wing, Jimmy Lewis LW, Spleene Session, Dimitri Pro............all these are at least 45 cm wide except for the session but are flat and fast, early planers...........

164x 50 door
159x 45 door
141x 43 session
161x 50 wing
147x 45 JL
135x 48 Dimitri Pro

I can highly recommend the 159 door and 135 Dimitri Pro.......if you have a fairly flat spot I'd recommend the 159 Door.....quite nimble for its size, above avg in chop and decent in waves.............great beginner board slash your low wind choice once your more experienced............

mougl - 22-10-2012 at 08:39 AM

So in my case bigger is better as long as little to no rocker and flat water. Kite of choice will be 24m ;-)

tridude - 22-10-2012 at 11:46 AM

correct Scott...........arcs love flat, fast boards..........with a 13m Venom nfleech and myself could get going in 14 kts with a my KGB board 140 x 41, minimum rocker and flat bottom...........:no::lol::bouncy::duh:

joedy - 22-10-2012 at 06:14 PM

Keep in mind that width is more important than the length when it comes to low-wind riding. A wider board will get up planning sooner than a longer, skinnier one.

It makes sense when you think about it; a wider board adds more to the overall surface than a longer one that only adds surface to the tips of the board (and usually one of the tips is mostly out of the water when edging.)

The Litewave Wing, the Spleene Doors and the Flydoors will give you lots of kiting days in the gentle Florida winds. I've seen all of these boards and while they're not exactly cheap, they are all well made and will last a long time.

I haven't ridden a Flydoor and I've always wondered if the 3rd fin in the middle adds considerably to the experience.

Occasionally, these pop up used, but tend to go fast in the used market.

Also, consider the Mako King. It gets lots of positive feedback from riders.

-joedy

tridude - 22-10-2012 at 07:03 PM

My 135 x 48 goes low but not as low as the 159x 45 door...........combo of the two are equally important.........for a beginner the 164 or 159 would be a great choice........the Mako King has much more rocker and concave which are not as ARC friendly..........

Kober - 22-10-2012 at 07:39 PM

I am about 200 lbs .... when using big board 164x50 I can ride upwind with my X19 from 8mph to about 18mph .... or about 12mph when using 14m pump up .... So as said above you will need 24m arc to ride powered ...

Jaymz - 22-10-2012 at 08:26 PM

I'm 175lbs and ride a Litewave Wing 153 in low wind usually with the Spleene X-19 or 12m Naish Cult. Nice powered session today in 10-13mph with the X-19/Wing.

Those over 200lbs go with the 161cm Wing

I find the LW Wing is more versitile then other low wind boards I've tried. The Wing may give up a knot on the low end, but the concave profile and flex in the tips works better then other specific low wind boards, in the chop, when jumping, or the wind picks up and others are going in for smaller boards.

Review here: http://www.thekiteboarder.com/2011/02/litewave-2011-wing-ana...