Strapless board shape?

[warbs]

Hello,

Just looking for some general advice on the difference board shape makes on strapless boards.

I started to learn riding strapless in Cape Verde a few weeks ago, the board I used was one of these:



it's a kiteloose nirvana. I didn't pay a lot of attention at the time, but looking at it now it's not as pointy as other boards.

I'm guessing the pointier a board is the more focussed on waves it is?

I'm not going to get a chance to demo different boards, but as an experienced rider coming from 10 years of riding twin tips, what difference should I expect between a board like the one pictured and a more classic shaped wave board? Is there any?

I don't do tricks anymore (hot landing, snapped ankle ) and generally just free riding in chop and 3-5 ft swell

Cheers

Chris

[windsuks]

It's not just the "pointyness" of the board to look at.
"Noseless" boards tend to have a more parallel outline (straighter rails) and less rocker, they are great for flatwater and freestyle airs and small surf plus light winds etc
Regular surf shape have a more curved outline and more rocker so making them better in the surf.

Both can obviously be used for either though but ultimately you will need to decide if you wish to actually ride waves or hack around leaning airs/tacks etc

[windsuks]

It's not just the "pointyness" of the board to look at.
"Noseless" boards tend to have a more parallel outline (straighter rails) and less rocker, they are great for flatwater and freestyle airs and small surf plus light winds etc
Regular surf shape have a more curved outline and more rocker so making them better in the surf.

Both can obviously be used for either though but ultimately you will need to decide if you wish to actually ride waves or hack around leaning airs/tacks etc

[Seabizzle]

That is good advice, rocker, outline, width, length and volume all come into play to effect the way a board rides
Generally speaking the flatter wider and less pointy shapes are better for smaller waves and lighter winds, are easier to learn to ride strapless on, will often go upwind better, to are better for freeride and tricks and will allow you to ride with less power from the kite

The more sharp and pointy curvy boards suit bigger waves, stronger wind and will perform better in steeper more critical parts of the wave, they allow for a more pure surfing style and give the best performance in serious waves

You will find boards are often a blend of many different attributes and can be used in a range if conditions

The board you have there looks like an excellent choice to be learning strapless and for anymore free riding style in smaller waves which is the use you have described. You should probably only look at a more pointy sharper board if you start to get into more serious waves

[Bushflyr]

The nose makes no difference. Just imagine the rail line extending out to a point and the board will ride the same as that "traditional" shape. Say ~8" or so longer for the one you pictured.

The one you have has a nice rail line, not too parallel, and a medium width tail. It should surf just fine in any reasonable sized waves. At some point you're going to want a narrower tail to be able to slow the board down in big waves, but by the time you're ready to kite in big surf you'll already know what you like and don't like in a surfboard.

[or6]

If you are in the market for a new board, maybe a local boardbuilder can build you a custom board...made for you and for your local conditions....I recently did, and I am very happy with the results.

Or6

[scottnorby]

I agree that you should ride that board as long as you can to decide what you would want different?
I have known a lot of riders who have 2 kites but over a dozen different surfboards.
They all ride a little different.
IMHO that is the beauty of surfboards---the board itself has a personality.
A custom will be great when you have ridden that board a bit and really know what you want in a board.

Asking others what to ride is a lot like asking "what is good on the menu to eat"
It's all personal taste.

When you want to do something on that board, and find you can't because it's too wide, or fast, or clumsy on a bigger wave, then look for a new board.

It's important to learn all you can about the board you have.
And all kiters who don't surf should read up on surfboard design.
It's a very subtle science.

[warbs]

Thanks all for the responses, really insightful.

Just to be clear the board in the photo isn’t mine, it’s just the same as the one I rented. And when I look at the various mainstream kitesurf boards, not many are this shape.

I was conscious that the local Cape Verde strapless pros are riding boards this shape, and was curious if it was a specialist shape for expert strapless freestyle...based on the advice here, it’s a good all round shape

So the plan is to get a local shaper to create me a custom board, and TBH this shape isn’t a million miles away from his regular shapes. It’ll probably be the first kiteboard he’s made....good to be sure the basic shape is going to work

Thanks all

Chris

[iriejohn]

Thanks all for the responses, really insightful.

Just to be clear the board in the photo isn’t mine, it’s just the same as the one I rented. And when I look at the various mainstream kitesurf boards, not many are this shape.

I was conscious that the local Cape Verde strapless pros are riding boards this shape, and was curious if it was a specialist shape for expert strapless freestyle...based on the advice here, it’s a good all round shape

So the plan is to get a local shaper to create me a custom board, and TBH this shape isn’t a million miles away from his regular shapes. It’ll probably be the first kiteboard he’s made....good to be sure the basic shape is going to work

Thanks all

Chris

In your shoes I wouldn't do that ^^^

I'd find a cheap used RRD Cotan or something like that, spend some time on it deciding what I liked and didn't like. Then decide what to do.

[TomW]

1. If you have real and big waves and want to ride them, pointy , curvey board . That said, there are some stubbies that are designed to work in those conditions
2. You have windwaves, poor or small waves, a wider stubby will be better.

A stubby will always be easier to ride than a pointy if you compare same length and width.

I've built 9 stubbies, different lengths, widths, rockers and even a pointy version of a stubby design that had everything the same except 2" more length for the nose. It rides different than the stubby one..it's due to nose rocker being different. It has same nose rocker " height" in tip , but board is 2" longer: therefore nose rocker has different curve.