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Height or weight more important for board size

Posted: Tue Sep 29, 2020 12:25 am
by LL2017
I am tall and thin (6'3 165 lbs) and looking at upgrading from my Naish Hero 140cm x 43cm to a more "high performance" board now that I'm riding more powered up, going for big airs and trying tricks. I like the North Atmos Hybrid but not sure if I should be basing the dimensions off my height (which would mean larger board) or weight (which would be smaller). Thinking of the 138cm x 41cm at this point. Any input appreciated!

Re: Height or weight more important for board size

Posted: Tue Sep 29, 2020 1:24 am
by FLandOBX
Some people would tell you that height relates to board length, but I don't feel that it's an important correlation. Weight correlates more with kite size than board size.

If you want to move towards big air and hooked-in tricks, then you'll want a smaller board to allow you to hold down a bigger, more powerful kite. If you are already on 140 x 43, why not go smaller than the 138? The North Atmos Hybrid also comes in 136 x 40 and 133 x 39. I think you'd be happy with the 136. (I'm 6'2" 178 lbs and ride a 132 x 41. Personally, I'd be looking at the 133.)

Re: Height or weight more important for board size

Posted: Tue Sep 29, 2020 1:44 am
by Faxie
Afaik the distance for the inserts are most of the time the same on all sizes of the same model board, so if you're long and light, I would go for a longer board with less width. That way you can use the widest stance for your length and still keep a decent distance from your feet to the tips, while keeping the total area a bit less for your weight.

Looking at the Atmos range, 138x41 seems the way to go imo.

Re: Height or weight more important for board size

Posted: Tue Sep 29, 2020 2:05 am
by TheJoe
Weight is what is important. 138 would be a little bit big for your weight. I'm thinking of getting an Atmos carbon for really powered up riding and boosting when I'm lit. I am 190 right now but normally in the 180 range (stupid covid pounds). I might drop to a 136 but probably just get a 138. I ride a 142 freestyle board now.

Re: Height or weight more important for board size

Posted: Tue Sep 29, 2020 4:36 am
by shred_da_gorge
It may depend a little on what wind ranges you ride in, but I'm 6'4" and 180# and (used to) ride an older North Jaime which I believe is 136x41. That's my only TT (mostly ride surfboards now) and I've ridden it from nuking 5m winds to 12m marginal conditions (albeit wishing I had larger fins). Previous larger boards were brutal for me in chop, but I would say shape matters a little too, as I rode a similar-sized North X-Ride for a while and hated it.

My opinion is the 138 seems it may be too big for your weight. There may be something to footstrap placement that I've not experienced, but I'm also not into big airs or tricks.. probably an "old dog" thing. ;-)

Re: Height or weight more important for board size

Posted: Tue Sep 29, 2020 7:54 am
by Havre
Why would height matter?

There have been some reflections around width related to foot size on here. In theory that sounds like a reasonable point at least - if it matters much in reality I wouldn't know.

Re: Height or weight more important for board size

Posted: Tue Sep 29, 2020 8:28 am
by Blackened
Havre wrote:
Tue Sep 29, 2020 7:54 am
Why would height matter?

There have been some reflections around width related to foot size on here. In theory that sounds like a reasonable point at least - if it matters much in reality I wouldn't know.
Height doesn't matter. It would if the footstrap placements were different for different board sizes, but they're not.

I have giant feet, so I prefer at least a 41.

Re: Height or weight more important for board size

Posted: Tue Sep 29, 2020 8:34 am
by Blackened
LL2017 wrote:
Tue Sep 29, 2020 12:25 am
I am tall and thin (6'3 165 lbs) and looking at upgrading from my Naish Hero 140cm x 43cm to a more "high performance" board now that I'm riding more powered up, going for big airs and trying tricks. I like the North Atmos Hybrid but not sure if I should be basing the dimensions off my height (which would mean larger board) or weight (which would be smaller). Thinking of the 138cm x 41cm at this point. Any input appreciated!
I'm the same height, but around 200-210lbs. I ride the 138x41 Atmos Carbon. It rides a little big for its size. For your weight, definitely not the 138.

If you tend to ride really powered up all the time, get the 133. If you typically do 18-25kn days, go for the 136. If you're doing a lot of <18kn get the 138.

Re: Height or weight more important for board size

Posted: Tue Sep 29, 2020 8:43 am
by Aberdovy kiter
Im 6ft 1, 170lbs (78kgs), i use a crazyfly raptor 132x41, the footpads are in the middle setting, i'm at the same stage as you trying to increase my edging and timing to start getting bigger jumps, the only time i struggle to hold the edge is when i do a short fast downwind, when i ride down peaking swell then suddenly engage the edge i find the board will skip quite a bit before i get control back. I fly rebels and i can control the speed of the kite easily with this size board up to the recommended wind range, this size board planes very quickly and is really quick to edge and turn, fun size..

Re: Height or weight more important for board size

Posted: Tue Sep 29, 2020 1:01 pm
by Bille
Blackened wrote:
Tue Sep 29, 2020 8:28 am
...

Height doesn't matter. It would if the footstrap placements were different for different board sizes, but they're not.

I have giant feet, so I prefer at least a 41.
Those T-nuts, can be changed, by adding new ones ; someone like plummet
could tell ya how much carbon patch you need, to secure the new ones
in place. You'd need to borrow a plunge router ; to insure that Ya don't
go through the bottom of the board with the new hole placement.

I , "Had" Giant feet feet ; till i took a hacksaw to them, and made
em fit in smaller shoes. It's easier to walk now. :lol:
Seriously --- i Really did that !

Bille