After discussing the topic of heel dents with lots of guys who ride strapless it seems that most of us are embracing the heel dents we get on the front foot position of the board -
In fact I love the fact that my custom boards get a heel dent - it makes the front foot feel so much more positive - adding to board /foot grip -
Post your best heel dents and tell us if you think board should dent
This STRAPLESS religious fanaticism cracks me up. ^^^
How about we embrace blown-out, piece-of-sh1t kites as well.
lol.
hell dents are only ok untill ur heel dents halfway on the stringa n decides to split ur foot
HaHa
here is my front leg dent from strapless riding on the long weekend 
I am frigged if I know how so don't ask it just did 
Yep, not sure why we should celebrate heel dents, they are a sign of inadequate re-inforcement in a surfboard.
Use deck pads and you reduce the pressure point loading and offer at least some cushioning.
Almost all Poly board will heel dent fairly quickly, even under supposed normal use. A quality Epoxy built for purpose will stand up to much more.
I haven't managed to heel dent any of my current or even past boards and yes I ride strapped and strapless, but I also use deck pads :-)
Carry on.
DM
Just spent an interesting week in Fuerteventura with Adrian Roper from Underground Kiteboards, he had this to say about surfboards and kite surfboards.
"Consider a pro surfer, that goes out for a 3hr session, in good waves. Lets say he gets 30 waves and actually rides and stands up on his board for 10 seconds per ride on average. The equates to 300 seconds or 5 minutes of actually standing on the board. Pro's replace their boards up to 60 times per year, there is an enormous environmental impact of this insistence on lightness (especially when a lot of surfers promote ecological responsibility). The problem is that surfers are demanding a really light board, and consequently weak board and the price is enormous waste, and cost. Virtually nothing from a surfboard can be recycled.
Now consider a kitesurfer, in a 3hr session, the kiter is basically standing on the board for 3 hrs and exerting constant and at times much more pressure on the board. Would a kiter accept that the board should only last one session (equivalent to a pro surfers board life expectancy of approx 10 - 30 sessions)?
When a surfer breaks a surfboard, there is no warranty.
We all need to rethink durability and lightness in kitesurfboards, heeldenting will happen with any construction eventually, but it can be reduced if proper sandwich type construction is used, but this type of board will weigh more than a epoxy or polyester resin polyurethane foam core board, and a foam sandwhich epoxy board will outlast several polyurethane foam core boards"
Bruce - you have a couple of tons of wax on your board! 
"Pop massive unstrapped air and this board rises with you".
The kite surfboard makers actually quote this and more in the sales pitch.
Then they shouldnt be too suprised when customers get upset when a board gets
pressure dings /splits from heel dents or rail cracks from airs.
$800 to $1100 bucks for a new board is fair if it is built to last.
If it dont last no one will be back, just p-ssed off and trash the brand..
The funny thing is, I've had boards that don't dent at all and they have all felt like sh!t to me. There is a reason pros ride polyester boards, it's because they feel the best. Yes they will ding from kiting, but they will also absorb chop and flex properly on the wave... Weigh up what you want. You want performance? or Longevity? You can't have it all.
I don't really give a toss about it, when I consider the amount of skate decks I go through, buying a surfy every now and again seems pretty reasonable to me. (obviously if you are smart you get more than a 4 each side, and don't ride it like and absolute bandit over waves.)
Heel dents is like a concave skate deck, it just grips better.
But it kills your soul when you get the first indent on a new board.
i disagree there Daz. it has nothing to do with poor construction but more about feel and performance. just because a board doesnt heel dent make it made poorly. 99% of production kitesurf boards ride like crap- period. why because they are so heavy and have no flex what so ever- yeah alot of them dont heal dent but id take performance over the look of keeping the deck flat anytime. its a hard one for kite companies whether to make a board that rides good or one that doesnt dent up. id would even think one that dents slightly would be better for kiting as it would have flex and probally be better on your knees in the long run going through chop.
oh and can some one please tell me why kite company have any warranties for surfboards yeah u paid $800+ for it but last time i checked thats how much it was for a glass board at my local surfshop and u break it tuff titties! -
Select to expand quoteRyland said...
99% of production kitesurf boards ride like crap- period. why because they are so heavy and have no flex what so ever- yeah alot of them dont heal dent but id take performance over the look of keeping the deck flat anytime.oh and can some one please tell me why kite company have any warranties for surfboards yeah u paid $800+ for it but last time i checked thats how much it was for a glass board at my local surfshop and u break it tuff titties! -
I'm sure there's plenty of fairly average riders out there like me that just luv their production models. With them you can expect a well sorted design, a broard capability & durability. The fun without the hassles & constant repairs. Production boards do offer pretty hi tech constructions & as you say, at no extra cost. I'm not knocking traditional poly boards, but each to their own.
Col
Why would anyone spend that much on a strappless
Kitesurfing strappless fills the perfect void in the surfboard recycling foodchain
Head down to your surfshop secondhand board rack and take your pick
You will find a selection of boards for $250-300 with less damage than u get from one kite session
If your keen, whack a bit of epoxy under your front foot
reduce, reuse, recycle
Boards that don't dent up generally have very little flex and surf like crap, no flex=no fun.
Dont buy one of these!!!
this is how it was when the grip was remove, there was no foam.
And I have seen many more that look just like this one.
1K Drink holder
Ive got one shaped by Warren Cornish best board ever
Ill never get pop out again
Marty
MARNNN I JUST USE ME MARDDDEST K-MART BOOGIE BOARD AY GOTSA BEST FLEX GOIN ROURNDDD N DATT BEST GRAPHICS TO AY DUUUUUWWWDEEE
We should celebrate them cos scars are proof...
Hey Ry,
It's all good to disagree. I understand your point of view. As a pro rider, weight and flex are more critical to your style of riding and as you're not paying for boards, it is irrelevant if you snap or break a few along the way. I note you've been through a number of boards this season already.
I speak on behalf of the average Joes. I am hard on my kiteboards and up until a few years ago, managed to snap every production kite surf board I had, until I switched to the current brand I ride. I could seriously heel dent a poly board in a 1 hr session. For me, not getting boards for free, although I pay wholesale, I still can't afford to be replacing boards every couple of months.
I am quite prepared to sacrifice a little performance for the sake of the board lasting several years.
My surfboards are an epoxy fish which I've had for 6 years and a custom Poly big wave board which I had made with extra glass. I like both but snapped my poly in half within 2 months of getting it wet. I had it repaired and it aint light but it still surfs great.
Boards for Pro's and Boards for Joes. Two different needs. 
DM
Boards for surfers and boards for kiteboarders..I prefer to chew through 2 or more boards a year than ride a water ski. Ry breaks em coz he eats so much pizza.
bought a second hand tuff lite down at my local surf shop at the start of the season, whacked a deck grip in the guts, kited and surfed the **** out of it. never missed a beat. paid $300
Got given a snapped Tufflight (Thanks Corey), repaired it (double the weight) butstill going strong after 2 seasons. Snapped the nose off twice.
Downside is it cost me about $100 to repair.
OH yea, I am in the market for a new board, a light wind board, anybody got a snapped board lying about?
Rich
Thats OK, Ok.
The travel costs will outway the what the boards worth, but if you're coming over this way, bring them with.
Rich
