Pocketboard question

[Chestnut]

Hello,

I just have a question regarding the small pocketboards. I am looking for a pocketboard and have my eye on the new Dwarfcraft 2021. My length is 189 and my weight aproxx 85 kilo. Would you experts suggest to go for a 100cm or a 110cm? The smaller the better right? Or is this pocketboard a phase and should I stick to the 130cm?

Looking forward to your answers and thank you.

[TomW]

At your size I'd go 110-120

[Chestnut]

Hi Tom,

Do you think the pocketboards are a trend or the new way for Freeride foiling?

[robclaisse]

I'm a bit heavier than you at 100kg and I generally ride a 130 but I did have a 96cm board for a month which was a lot of fun. The thing was I ended up back on the 130 and found that it was far easier to keep progressing and learning new tricks because you can make a mistake and keep riding. On a small pocket if you touch down, 95% of the time you are probably toast. Having said this I am now trying out a 110cm for a while because I'm keen to see what it has to offer (for me I think it will be good for strapless airs due to the light weight and less swing weight).

Conditions also play a part, if you ride in flatter water, a small board is easier to get away with. And what foil you ride and the style of riding - if you are on a bigger foil, and like a more cruisey carvey style, with smaller kites and less power then that can suit smaller boards. Like riding powered up then maybe less so.

Finally, where are you with your foiling and what do you want to get to? If you can do most of what you want and enjoy riding around doing what you do then a shorter board should be fine. But if you are yet to learn some of the core techniques like foot changes or tacks etc then a smaller board will probably slow down your progression to some degree, again that kind of depends on the individual too. You have to decide what balance you want between those aspects of learning and just having fun!

That's just my view on it all, others will swear blindly that its 100cm max or die, each to their own End of the day, you can always give it a go and if you don't like it, sell it and try again!

[Chestnut]

Hello Rob,

Thank you for your extensive answer. This helps me a lot. The level is now just up and down with a jibe now and than.
The future level should be Fred Hope, but realistic speaking just having fun is enough.

I would like to buy the dwarf with the new 633 wing and mast, because I would only foil in lighter winds. I now have the space skate wing which is good, but I hope the 633 gives me some more speed.

[TomW]

Hi Tom,

Do you think the pocketboards are a trend or the new way for Freeride foiling?

I think it is a "trend"to go really short to 88-90cm. For now. But a 105-110 board is so much more forgiving, with 90% of the benefits of going shorter. So i believe people will settle into 105-110.
As a strong intermediate, I built and tested 90-105-110-120 boards with similar outline and rockers. I found 105 to be best.
I'm 80 kg, 173cm on 1000cm2 foil.

Guys that are lighter, riding in flat water or maintaining super high level of freestyle, like Fred Hope, they will stay with 90cm or a bit under.

[purdyd]

I think the shorter boards are easier to ride because you can control the pitch faster.

The only advantage I see to bigger boards is maybe you can get up on the board easier.

But I agree that 85cm is going to require more power to get going.

But if you ride where you pop up straight to foil, I would take the shortest board I thought I could stand on.

That is just me and I see a lot of different styles, conditions, and riding abilities.

[oregonkiter]

Fred rides 100 cm. Just became a World Champion on it, in fact: download/file.php?id=95623&mode=view

[Peter_Frank]

I agree with Rob and Tom, there are no advantages to super short pocket boards, but many disadvantages.

So unless your dream is riding a super small board, and one should follow one's dreams, go for something a tad longer, getting a bunch of advantages without cost

Peter

[Chestnut]

Thank you for all for the great input. I guess I will go for the 110cm Dwarfcraft instead of the 100cm.

I am still wondering how big the Hydrofoil sport will be in kiting? I guess it is just a small group at this point, but maybe I am wrong.