Hi, just wondering what's a good kiteboard for a beginner 6'1", 90kg, which will keep me going even when I've dropped down to around 80kg over this summer. Something which has a good resale value. I'm also considering 2nd hand boards. There are so many boards around. Even the used board section has a lot to offer and I don't know which way to go.
Thanks
V
I reckon get something 2nd hand from a known brand, late model i.e. 2008/2009 around 142cm. Once you find a couple in the buy and sell do some googling on them, as a beginner you can't really try before you buy which is what normally happens.
Sounds good. I recollect reading somewhere that you shouldn't get pre 2007 boards for some reason. Will check out 2nd hand boards now.
Cheers.
Im roughly your size...about 10kg heavier....u just can't beat an undergroung flx in my book.... 138 2010 model would do the trick..... as it will get you up and going early and when you are an addicted kiter it will be a great light wind board......ive been riding underground since i started kiting....but am not sponsored by underground....but would be happy if i was.. so i'm just giving you my genuine opinion.....this years flx boards are scmick....i'm saving my pennies for one as we speak...i got to demo 135 for a few days and i'm in love.
the thing to keep in mind is that a larger board will get you up and going long before some of the tiny stuff around...and even if you don't want to keep it after you have progressed you will find the UG has great resale value plus they are virtually indestructable....ive got a 2006 152 that i punish the bejesus out of and it still keeps going...hope that helps
the fox
thanks for the apology
Thanks for the recommendations everyone. I have actually had my eye on underground and cardboard boards. I heard they are great. I'll also look into Nobile.
One thing that does confuse me is the dimensions of the board to get. I called one of the sellers on here and he said that its not so much the length of the board that a beginner should go for, rather, the width of the board is the critical factor. He wasn't inclined to sell me his board for this reason as he said it was too narrow for me, although it was a 138cm in length. He was fantastic for being so honest. It seems a lot of advertisers don't state width, which is surprising.
So if I go with a 142cm board, what width would that be? Also what width for a 2010 UG flx 138cm board? :O)
Yep I've heard quite a number of people retaining their beginner board for light wind conditions. Sounds like a great idea.
Thanks again!
Cheers.
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Ok, 2010 UG flx 138cm only comes in 43cm width :)
If you are up Sandgate come and try the Liquid Force WLF. The 140 should do the trick very nicely. Sharp rails, medium flex, superb construction, nice rocker allows you go edge upwind and carve around wth ease. However it is not a board you want to sell down the track, as it will become your perfect light wind board. The 140 comes in 45 wide or the 145 x 46. There is also a Limited Edition version.
I'm a similar height, around 82kg and just getting starting to get upwind. Using a 2nd hand 2008? 136 LF recoil, 40cm width. Once I understood I needed to point the board at the kite until I'd gained sufficient speed, board seems to have been fine.
I would not get your hopes up too high for resale value, as nothing in this sport holds it's resale value.
Thanks everyone. I'll be checking out the LF this week on the water. Will have to source out a UG. UG seem to always get great reviews. The flx seems perfect :)
I'm with the Fox on this one :) I asked to try a UG at the beach a while ago. It came with a warning.. "if you try it you'll want one.." And I did. 2 weeks later I had an FLX 152 and love it for light wind but also use it in moderate days as it handles so well.
GO FLX man, can't complain myself
Sounds great! I will definitely try one out! The surprising thing is that UG have been shortening the length of their largest board size for the FLX range over time. Why is this? The largest FLX board size option over the years seems to be (got this from different sources so not sure if these stats are accurate):
2007 FLX 152 x 44cm
2008 FLX 148 x 43cm
2009 FLX 138 x 43cm
2010 FLX 138 x 43cm
That's quite a significant drop in length - 14cm!!! Have they been able to drop length due to better design in other aspects of the board?
Something like this wold be good
www.seabreeze.com.au/Classifieds/Kitesurfing/Boards/~rykna/2010-Naish-Sol-140-cm.aspx?search=gb7cSR4J7TSTN2x1KA8fQw%3d%3d
For the last couple of years Underground have been making Lightwind specific boards, the 2009 Zephyr and 2010 Stella, as well as larger boards for the beginner/intermediate market.
You might be interested in the Future - http://www.kitepower.com.au/catalog/product_17517_Underground_Future_cat_350.html
^ KP website seems more up to date than Undergrounds website.....
Hard to go wrong with an FLX though.
Consider a Cardboard Glide with custom graphics.
www.cardboarding.com/
Have one myself and so far very happy with quality and performance.
Can design your own graphic if you want to and have it printed on your board at no extra charge. Once you are done with it - hang it on the wall as a piece of art.
totally agree with everyone about the FLX.
you can also keep an eye out for a "Royal One" if you happen to come across one somewhere .
It actually is a rebadged Underground FLx (or was a couple of years ago) but with different graphics. Rest is the same Even comes with underground pads.
Same board though.
i was at that early stage of desperately struggling to stay upwind on my first board, changed to the FLx and in all seriousness, the very first run out and back in i did on this board, i reckon i got more upwind than i had done in total for my previous 3 sessions. Got into shore several hundred metres back up the beach from where i started, and then smirked non-stop for the next 3 days.
Not sure how it goes for the superstars who know how to use fancy words like rocker and rails and pop etc, but for beginner/intermediate, guarantee you won't regret buying an FLX.
