Re: How to choose your first kiteboard
Posted: Thu Mar 07, 2013 11:38 pm
Great article and something I've been searching for. Thanks for getting this started!
In addition to the basic size requirements - there are a lot of other factors in board shape, rocker, flexibility and other characteristics that affect how a board rides/feels in certain conditions.
I would very, very, very much appreciate a breakdown of what board characteristic equates to for on-the-water feel.
For example, what do the following features equate to when riding:
* Rocker - More = cuts thru chop? better carving turns? better for rails?; Less = better upwind?, faster?
* Stiffness - ?
* Weight - ?
* Outline - ?
* Channels - Adds additional rocker to the tip? Give more rigidity to the tip? helps upwind ability?
* Concave(s) - ?
If you incorporated the above into some sort document it would be very beneficial to the noobs (like me) who are looking to buy a board and reading reviews and product descriptions.
In addition to describing the above...
It would ideal if you or someone would could provide specs for stiffness and rocker in addition to the normal specs for size (width at end, middle and length) & weight.
For stiffness - place the board in a bracket holding one end and over the strap/boot position and measure the force to deflect the other end a fixed amount.
For rocker - place the board on a flat surface. List the length of flat in the middle and the height of the end.
This would be hugely beneficial when shopping for a board. Describing a product as "it's stiffer than x board", "has more pop" or "designed for the PKRA rider" really doesn't tell the consumer much as to how this board is going to behave.
In addition to the basic size requirements - there are a lot of other factors in board shape, rocker, flexibility and other characteristics that affect how a board rides/feels in certain conditions.
I would very, very, very much appreciate a breakdown of what board characteristic equates to for on-the-water feel.
For example, what do the following features equate to when riding:
* Rocker - More = cuts thru chop? better carving turns? better for rails?; Less = better upwind?, faster?
* Stiffness - ?
* Weight - ?
* Outline - ?
* Channels - Adds additional rocker to the tip? Give more rigidity to the tip? helps upwind ability?
* Concave(s) - ?
If you incorporated the above into some sort document it would be very beneficial to the noobs (like me) who are looking to buy a board and reading reviews and product descriptions.
In addition to describing the above...
It would ideal if you or someone would could provide specs for stiffness and rocker in addition to the normal specs for size (width at end, middle and length) & weight.
For stiffness - place the board in a bracket holding one end and over the strap/boot position and measure the force to deflect the other end a fixed amount.
For rocker - place the board on a flat surface. List the length of flat in the middle and the height of the end.
This would be hugely beneficial when shopping for a board. Describing a product as "it's stiffer than x board", "has more pop" or "designed for the PKRA rider" really doesn't tell the consumer much as to how this board is going to behave.