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Transitioning from a TT to a Surfboard! What do I need to know?

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coupdevill
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Transitioning from a TT to a Surfboard! What do I need to know?

Postby coupdevill » Fri Jul 06, 2018 6:54 pm

I noticed while searching a bunch of posts that the level of experience and understanding of the academics of kiteboarding was/is pretty amazing, and thought I would ask the experts.

Put another way, "what is the one thing that you want a new surfboard owner to know about riding a surfboard"

Specifically:

Straps or no straps
Stance (how do I keep the nose down, upwind riding etc.)

What else?

I ride the Gorge, 5'9" 195lbs

coup

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Re: Transitioning from a TT to a Surfboard! What do I need to know?

Postby knotwindy » Fri Jul 06, 2018 7:39 pm

Simply put;
Weight forward, either move feet forward or shift weight or both
board flatter both directions (front/back & side/side)
you ride the fins, not the edge
Straps/no straps don’t much matter, if you can get someone about your size to set the straps up correctly that helps
3 fin/4 fin don’t much matter to start, later try both and see what you like, Gorge usually 3

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Re: Transitioning from a TT to a Surfboard! What do I need to know?

Postby Barryg101 » Sat Jul 07, 2018 12:07 am

Just tried strapless surfboard yesterday for first time very easy to get going just takes more time with transitions either carve to toeside the change stance of go toeside first and then turn both is fun....
Practice practice practice

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jumptheshark
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Re: Transitioning from a TT to a Surfboard! What do I need to know?

Postby jumptheshark » Sat Jul 07, 2018 1:28 am

Great points, esp about moving forward for going upwind. Unlike tt, you wanna embrace the ability to shift stance for better trIm, different speeds, kite power, etc.

TT is pretty much full time, bar in, powering your edge. Your less loaded, more upright and often just feathering the bar on surfboards.


Other than that, commit. Leave the tt at home.

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Re: Transitioning from a TT to a Surfboard! What do I need to know?

Postby matth » Sat Jul 07, 2018 1:49 am

jumptheshark wrote:
Sat Jul 07, 2018 1:28 am
Great points, esp about moving forward for going upwind. Unlike tt, you wanna embrace the ability to shift stance for better trIm, different speeds, kite power, etc.

TT is pretty much full time, bar in, powering your edge. Your less loaded, more upright and often just feathering the bar on surfboards.


Other than that, commit. Leave the tt at home.
I like straps in the waves and strapless for flat water.

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Re: Transitioning from a TT to a Surfboard! What do I need to know?

Postby grigorib » Sat Jul 07, 2018 2:04 am

One thing to remember: you’re about to waste your time on bumpity bump riding instead of going straight to foiling. Foiling the waves feels amazing.

Technically, no straps feels good, certainly a front one can keep board on in funny conditions. Front foot always in the sweet spot, back foot moves around depending on conditions. Don’t do the leash.

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Slappysan
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Re: Transitioning from a TT to a Surfboard! What do I need to know?

Postby Slappysan » Sat Jul 07, 2018 2:29 am

Straps are harder to learn with unless you are going to just ride toe side instead of gybe/tack (something that works well on hydrofoils but not really on surfboards).

Your board choice will make a lot of difference on how easy/hard things go to. I suggest at least 19" wide.

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Re: Transitioning from a TT to a Surfboard! What do I need to know?

Postby knotwindy » Sat Jul 07, 2018 3:46 am

One more thing
Regardless of the board, even if cheap junk, get good fins on it
Don’t need to spend $100+ but the cheap plastic one will slow learning down
Half you water contact is the fins when planing.

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Re: Transitioning from a TT to a Surfboard! What do I need to know?

Postby NorCalNomad » Sat Jul 07, 2018 5:25 am

-No straps, no leash (if you learn with straps you will always have that crutch)
-Get skateboard (steal from preteen if needed), loosen trucks, practice switching feet. It will really help you on water.
-Get a cheap $100 or less shortboard from craigslist and learn on that. At least if you hate it, you're not out much $. If you like it, you ride the board until you snap it, and feel stoked to get a new one.
-Plastic fins are not going to hold you back while learning, that's complete BS. But plastic fins feel like crap once you know what you're doing.
-Downwind sessions in the Gorge are da tits.

coupdevill
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Re: Transitioning from a TT to a Surfboard! What do I need to know?

Postby coupdevill » Sat Jul 07, 2018 9:22 pm

grigorib wrote:
Sat Jul 07, 2018 2:04 am
One thing to remember: you’re about to waste your time on bumpity bump riding instead of going straight to foiling. Foiling the waves feels amazing.

Technically, no straps feels good, certainly a front one can keep board on in funny conditions. Front foot always in the sweet spot, back foot moves around depending on conditions. Don’t do the leash.
Foiling is fast becoming an old mans sport, mark my words "old mans sport", when I am old I'll foil!


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