selecting a kiteboard

[acctx]

ive been kiting a few years now and need a new board. I have realized though I have no idea of what I want in a board.

my higher wind board is a 132x42 crazy fly raptor which I hate because of massive face spray. Literally constant over chop. On smooth water it is fine. It pops fine, and otherwise is good.

I want a 132 board to replace it but Im not sure if smaller would be fine. Either shorter or narrower. Not sure about flex, pop, rocker etc.

My other boards are an ocean rodeo mako. I have a love hate relationship with this board. It is awesome in the swell, never catching an edge, it feels like a surfboard, but it doesnt go upwind well at all and not a lot of pop for jumps. I need to be powered up to enjoy this board. Some days it is like butter in the swell.

I have a 163 door which is awesome for light wind and I use it a ton. It is hard to do jumps with because of the size. But otherwise i love this board. It even does well in swell riding almost like a surfboard. This is probably my most used board as our wind is very up and down.

I have a slingshot misfish (old epoxy surfboard) which rides a little harsh, but otherwise is solid.

The crazyfly seems relatively fine in every way except the face spray. But it is the only small board I have ever ridden so Im not sure if there is something Im totally missing. I like to buy used boards - I definitely dont want to pay $500 for a board, especially not knowing what I like in a board. Im worried about getting another board with face spray again so that is my number one priority, but other than that I would like some thoughts about how to determine what boards i like given that it is almost impossible to demo boards.

[alfredo68]

Shinn Monk

[coolhari2000]

Hey Acctx

I am in the same boat/board as you. CF raptor (ltd) 132. I find the chop quite annoying along with its stiffness killing my gimp knee.

Anyway, After about 100 hrs of reading. These two 3 boards are at the top of my list

- Shinn Monk/monkette
- Nobile NHP (split)
- Brokite board

[rleshem]

Bro kite is awesome !
I have the 136 hybrid. Really good in choppy conditions - no edge catching no spray so smooth. Great pop. Good upwind. Very light which is nice for boosting.

[plummet]

Sound like you have a high wind board with the Mako and a light wind board with the door. I think you need an intermediate board around the 136x42 ish size

[Frank82]

Add the f-one trax to your list, awesome board in chop while still having good freestyle properties, no face spray.

[nick14]

Hey Acctx

I am in the same boat/board as you. CF raptor (ltd) 132. I find the chop quite annoying along with its stiffness killing my gimp knee.

Anyway, After about 100 hrs of reading. These two 3 boards are at the top of my list

- Shinn Monk/monkette
- Nobile NHP (split)
- Brokite board

I have both the shinn monk and the nobile NHP split. The monk is much better than the NHP but don't think that you will not get spray in the face with this board. It will still happen just not as much. I ride a 132 monk and 134 NHP.

[h11t0n]

I ride a Monk. Great board, fast, fantastic build quality and phenomenal in chop. You will have a lot of fun with the Monk. If its money no object go for its carbon cousin the Bronq. If you want a similar 'Shinn feel' but even better upwind ability than the Monk try the Ultrasonic.

As regards the Carbon F-One Trax.......rides well, average upwind ability but I'm sorry shitty build quality. I had the 2013 it started delaminating after the second session.

[andy00]

+1 for Shinn, I have used the monk and I own the Bronq. Very little spray from both, I ride the 135x41 (I'm 85kg).

[tmcfarla]

Another recommendation for the monk. No face spray at all, quite good in chop, also excellent in slicks. I would describe it is very aggressive in that it seems to want to grip the water on the turns more than you intend to, and pop more than you planned to; that they built this into a board that is also comfortable to ride is a real accomplishment. I haven't used any other Shinn boards so can't compare to the others, but the monk is the best twin tip I've ever used. As for size, there is a size chart on the website, I got the recommended size for my weight (130x41), I sometimes wish I got a size bigger, but overall it works really well for me.