How many NON-PROS ride mutants?
There is a trend in kitesurfing that favours twin tips.
There is little doubt that mutants are better in the surf: They're better for waveriding, for jumping, for gripping the water in chop/waves, for riding overpowered and for tracking upwind.
Mutants are more prevalent in coastal areas (rather than lakes, flat water etc) but are still probably under-represented. Depending on the location and the trend in that particular area, mutants seem to make up 20-50% of boards in coastal areas.
There is little doubt that mutants are better in the surf: They're better for waveriding, for jumping, for gripping the water in chop/waves, for riding overpowered and for tracking upwind.
Mutants are more prevalent in coastal areas (rather than lakes, flat water etc) but are still probably under-represented. Depending on the location and the trend in that particular area, mutants seem to make up 20-50% of boards in coastal areas.
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MikeN
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I kite on the coast and my lightwind board is a mutant , strong wind wakeboard & bindings . If I was better I could see the advantage of using a mutant all the time . You can get back up wind a lot quicker for down the line wave riding and you can jump higher . I jibe my board when I have time , ride it backwards or toeside if I don't . I am only limited by my lack of ability not the capabilities of the board .
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vide
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I ride a Mutant, and I have a good friend who does too. In Melbourne (Oz) We are probably among maybe 5 riders on Mutants. (My guess is that there are about 70 kiters in the areas?).
An interesting thing is that the guys on Mutants/directionals where among the first people in the area to kitesurf.
Incidentally, I ride a TT also. I rode it yesterday in 20-25 knots, but rode the Mutant on Sunday in 15 knots.
DT
An interesting thing is that the guys on Mutants/directionals where among the first people in the area to kitesurf.
Incidentally, I ride a TT also. I rode it yesterday in 20-25 knots, but rode the Mutant on Sunday in 15 knots.
DT
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Toby
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at my beaches, incl. travelling I don't see many at all. I guess about less than 5%, if at all. So far I only remember Peter Scharmm and other top Danish guys using Mutants, but I don't remember anyone else wherevere I went to.
And even at the Kitesurf Trophy I can't remember anyone using a Mutant as well.
Greets
Toby
And even at the Kitesurf Trophy I can't remember anyone using a Mutant as well.
Greets
Toby
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Peter_Frank
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Right - there are not many Mutants present nowhere here either.
Some are using these, because most good riders have a windsurfing background here.
And I've seen pre-windsurfers starting out on a directional when learning, then a TT because it opens up much more for the beginner, then changing (when they are REALLY advanced) to a Mutant because they saw the top riders using these. And then after a while changing back to TT's again - because they have a lot of practical advantages when on the water.
But EVERY Mutant rider jibes, all the time - except of course when performing jumps and tricks.
But in general like all of you say - it is all TT's in the "public", yes.
And it looks like approx. 2/3 uses TT's, and 1/3 uses Mutants in the top Pro rankings - so the TT's can't be that bad !
It is a matter of personal preference only, which to choose.
Some are using these, because most good riders have a windsurfing background here.
And I've seen pre-windsurfers starting out on a directional when learning, then a TT because it opens up much more for the beginner, then changing (when they are REALLY advanced) to a Mutant because they saw the top riders using these. And then after a while changing back to TT's again - because they have a lot of practical advantages when on the water.
But EVERY Mutant rider jibes, all the time - except of course when performing jumps and tricks.
But in general like all of you say - it is all TT's in the "public", yes.
And it looks like approx. 2/3 uses TT's, and 1/3 uses Mutants in the top Pro rankings - so the TT's can't be that bad !
It is a matter of personal preference only, which to choose.
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jed
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I ride a mini directional, and have just ordered a custom mutant whic i'll have in ten days are so.
For me the biggest disadvantage of mutants and the only reason i would change over to a twinny is the toe strap grip - on a mutant you have to have toe access from both sides which really limits the strap and pad set up, as on a twin tip you can really lock your feet in particularly with a duck stance and contoured pads.
If you ride leashless you'll be able to kep a small twinny on your feet in most wipe outs.
For me the biggest disadvantage of mutants and the only reason i would change over to a twinny is the toe strap grip - on a mutant you have to have toe access from both sides which really limits the strap and pad set up, as on a twin tip you can really lock your feet in particularly with a duck stance and contoured pads.
If you ride leashless you'll be able to kep a small twinny on your feet in most wipe outs.
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Protos
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I ride a Mutant, and try to jibe it (sometimes it turns out OK, other times I go for a swim). I really like the range of the board --low wind or high wind.
The problem with a mutant is that if you have to try and jibe it every tack there's a good chance of falling off, which is no big deal in itself. But, that pretty much necessitates using a leash, which may be a safety issue.
I'll try a homemade Smorgasboard style TT this spring and see how it goes. I sold my Jarvis TT because it just took too damn much wind to get it going, and that soured me on TTs. No jibing was nice though!
The problem with a mutant is that if you have to try and jibe it every tack there's a good chance of falling off, which is no big deal in itself. But, that pretty much necessitates using a leash, which may be a safety issue.
I'll try a homemade Smorgasboard style TT this spring and see how it goes. I sold my Jarvis TT because it just took too damn much wind to get it going, and that soured me on TTs. No jibing was nice though!
I just go a mutant and can't wait to give it a go. I come from a surfing and windsurfing background and don't really like the feeling of riding on the rail. I'd rather be riding the fin, but when I was first starting out everyone said to get a TT and that's what I did. Wish I would have been able to just start on the mutant. Also I think that the mutant riders look cool compared to the TT guys. just my opnion.