hi guys ive been messing around with a 4 m kite for nearly 12 month now and ive recently been thinking about trying it out with a snowboard ! ive been advised that for my weight 74 kg i require a 158 - 162 board ! but the guy said that if ime using it with a kite that the kite would reduce my weight somewhat and i may get away with a slightly shorter board ! does anybody know if this is true ! thanks for any advice, mogsie

I tend to disagree. Think about it. You will have the kite adding to your weight. Especially if you are edging hard against the kite. This is why a lot of kite specific surf boards are much denser. People got tired of snapping their boards.

That size wont be bad for you even when kiting. Just make sure its a true twin-tip. Less side-cut is better for kiting.

yes ! i didnt think of it like that ! it sounds right ! so maybe a slightly longer board wouldnt be a bad thing either ! thanks for the advice ragden !

If you get a longer board then the sidecut is propotionately shallower and will get you closer to the feeling of a kite specific board.

Your height is a consideration too, Taller = longer. A board that comes up to your chin is about right.

It all depends what you want to use it for. If its just for kiting then get a kite specific board. For riding mountains and kiting get a long twintip 160 - 165cm, If you want to do freestyle and ride rails etc - or get in lots of air and rotations with your kite then you need a shorter board...

it will mainly be just with the kite ! wont be doing any rails or anything ! wouldnt mind getting a little bit of air ! whats your opinions on a 167 ?? i could possably get one for silly money ! really cheap !

Well considering you are in the UK same as me it means you will probably get a couple of boarding trips a year if you are lucky - unless you have lots of time and money!!

If you have the opportunity to get a 2nd hand board really cheap then go for it. too long is better than too short for a beginner.

You will get air no problem. a snowboard doesn't weigh much and your feet are locked into the bindings so you can get 3-4 feet in the air just by bending your knees and jumping! while you are standing still - add a ramp or a bump and a bit of momentum, learn to flex the board for added pop... you get the idea.

The only downside with a longer board is rotation. You are quickly going to want to at least be able to hop 180 to toeside and the longer your board is the harder that will be.

This is where height comes in. The taller you are the more you will cope with a longer board.

My snowkite board is a 164, and its perfect for me. However, I'm used to riding downhill on a 174. I'm only 5'11", but I like my boards on the long side...

I ride a 157 and I'm over 200 lbs and 6 ft tall. I ride "beer" boards. Free snowboards that really aren't very nice. As long as it edges and has some spring to it, it'll work. I really like the Magne Traction boards for riding lakes. Grip the ice well. I have Magne Traction skis that rock. If you want to get some air and start doing some spins, you don't really want a 167 strapped to your feet. That's alot to throw around. I'd only kite a board that big if I was in deep snow. For cruising and jumping, I like smaller. You got the kite to power you on a smaller board unlike downhill gravity. It doesn't have to be top of the line. We ride one edge hard most of the time and beat the crap out of them. Mine aren't true twins either and I get along just fine. Just get a board and get out there!

thanks for the advice guys ! ime 6ft high by the way ! and yeah i think ile just grab a cheap board for now thats anything over 160 just to get out and give it a go ! see how i get on and if i take to it ok i will look to upgrade in the near future ! thanks again !

well ive ended up getting a true generics 160 ! and i got it for £43 off the bay ! so all good ! hopefully it should be fine ! thanks for the advice guys !