Forum for kitesurfers
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Ozzie
- Medium Poster
- Posts: 52
- Joined: Wed Jan 02, 2013 2:24 pm
- Local Beach: Hua Hin, Thailand
- Favorite Beaches: Hua Hin
Gokova
Alaçatı
Gokceada
Boracay
- Style: Freeride
- Gear: Cabrinha Switchblade 10
North Rebel 13
Ozone Zephyr
Cabrinha Spectrum
Cabrinha Tronic
- Brand Affiliation: None
- Location: Bangkok THAILAND
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Postby Ozzie » Tue Apr 05, 2016 10:10 am
I have been kiteboarding for several years already and consider myself as intermediate. I would like to replace my starter board, Cabrinha Spectrum 140cm(Y2012), in order to have a better board for easier jumping and maneuvering. I am 178cm & 72kg and live in Thailand where wind is around 15-20 knots(good days). I usually use 12 and 14.
What type and size of board should I consider buying? For example, is 136 better size? Thank you for your help in advance.
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ColdWeatherKiter
- Medium Poster
- Posts: 124
- Joined: Wed Dec 02, 2015 7:04 pm
- Kiting since: 2016
- Local Beach: Kakumäe, Estonia
- Favorite Beaches: Beauduc, France
Kite Beach, South-Africa
Vääna- Jõesuu, Estonia
- Style: Freestyle and big air
- Gear: Eleveight RS 8m2, 9m2, 12m2 2020
Eleveight Commander 137cm 2021
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Postby ColdWeatherKiter » Tue Apr 05, 2016 11:44 am
Something like 137x41 would be nice for you. Gives you okay lowend but still super fun size. Cabrinha Tronic is a super fun board for carving etc. Just stay away from hardcore wakestyle boards, that are super power hungry to get going (a lot of rocker).
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FLandOBX
- Very Frequent Poster
- Posts: 1765
- Joined: Sun May 04, 2014 1:58 am
- Kiting since: 2007
- Weight: 81 kg
- Local Beach: Hatteras Island, North Carolina, USA
Central Florida, USA
- Style: Freeride, Airstyle, Hydrofoil
- Gear: Cab. Apollos, Cab. Contra One-Struts, FS Speed 4, FS Souls, Axis Ltd 132, RRD Poison 135, SS Ankle Biter, Moses 633, 679 & 590, SS Dwarfcraft 100cm, LF Galaxy 4'2"
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Postby FLandOBX » Tue Apr 05, 2016 7:57 pm
Ozzie, for most purposes and conditions, you'll find that the width of the board is more important than length. You could easily ride and progress on a board with 134-135cm length if it has a 41-44 cm width. The shorter length makes the board more maneuverable and better for learning your new tricks, and the greater width is more forgiving (i.e., your new tricks don't have to be spot on every time) and will allow you to continue planing through lulls and on lighter wind days.
There are lots of good boards out there. Test ride as many as you can (friends, shops, etc.).
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Ozzie
- Medium Poster
- Posts: 52
- Joined: Wed Jan 02, 2013 2:24 pm
- Local Beach: Hua Hin, Thailand
- Favorite Beaches: Hua Hin
Gokova
Alaçatı
Gokceada
Boracay
- Style: Freeride
- Gear: Cabrinha Switchblade 10
North Rebel 13
Ozone Zephyr
Cabrinha Spectrum
Cabrinha Tronic
- Brand Affiliation: None
- Location: Bangkok THAILAND
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0
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Postby Ozzie » Thu Apr 07, 2016 8:54 am
Thank you both for your replies.
So, is it true to say in this regard, any board with wide width will do a similar job among all common types such as freeride, freestye, wakestyle?
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ColdWeatherKiter
- Medium Poster
- Posts: 124
- Joined: Wed Dec 02, 2015 7:04 pm
- Kiting since: 2016
- Local Beach: Kakumäe, Estonia
- Favorite Beaches: Beauduc, France
Kite Beach, South-Africa
Vääna- Jõesuu, Estonia
- Style: Freestyle and big air
- Gear: Eleveight RS 8m2, 9m2, 12m2 2020
Eleveight Commander 137cm 2021
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Postby ColdWeatherKiter » Thu Apr 07, 2016 11:13 am
Yes, just the soft landings depend on the rocker and grip depends of the rails and bottom shape. But generally speaking dimensions make a bigger difference, that things said before.
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POACHER
- Very Frequent Poster
- Posts: 1795
- Joined: Tue Jul 08, 2008 5:48 pm
- Kiting since: 2002
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- Location: MidWorst
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Postby POACHER » Thu Apr 07, 2016 3:20 pm
Ozzie wrote:Thank you both for your replies.
So, is it true to say in this regard, any board with wide width will do a similar job among all common types such as freeride, freestye, wakestyle?
Careful with going too wide. The wider boards are great when it's light or you're underpowered, but when it's really blowing and you're riding heavy chop that width isn't much fun. It's harder to load the edge and boost. Really wide boards seem to bounce around more in chop and land harder too.
For your size, I think the sweet spot is 41-42cm wide.
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FLandOBX
- Very Frequent Poster
- Posts: 1765
- Joined: Sun May 04, 2014 1:58 am
- Kiting since: 2007
- Weight: 81 kg
- Local Beach: Hatteras Island, North Carolina, USA
Central Florida, USA
- Style: Freeride, Airstyle, Hydrofoil
- Gear: Cab. Apollos, Cab. Contra One-Struts, FS Speed 4, FS Souls, Axis Ltd 132, RRD Poison 135, SS Ankle Biter, Moses 633, 679 & 590, SS Dwarfcraft 100cm, LF Galaxy 4'2"
- Brand Affiliation: None
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Has thanked:
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Been thanked:
219 times
Postby FLandOBX » Thu Apr 07, 2016 4:35 pm
I agree with Poacher. When it's choppy, most 44 cm boards can beat you up fairly quickly. There are a few really nice boards with multi-concave shaped bottoms out there...they can manage chop pretty well even with the width. Axis makes the Vanguard and Limited, both with a distinctive quad concave bottoms. There are others. Again, if at all possible, test ride to see what you like. In the end, your personal preference is what really counts.
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