Kitesurfing Boards

Kitesurfing Boards for Lightwind

Kitesurfing Boards Crew — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 22:58:08 +0000

Kitesurfing boards are a quite often underestimated element when thinking about solutions to be able to kitesurf during those nice sunny summer days when the wind is just not enough for the standard kitesurfing equipment quiver.

Up until recently, kitesurfers used bigger and bigger kitesurfing kites to make use of that gentle wind and be able to cruise gently. But bigger kitesurf kites means also slower kites and it is in general very painful to relaunch such a big monster when it falls from the sky.

Today, more and more people are realizing that the solution is not using bigger kites but using floaty kitesurfing boards instead. The principle behind is that when using a positively buoyant board, the pull of the kite is only needed to move the kitesurfer on the surface of the water rather than out of the water and therefore much less energy is needed. Once the kitesurfing is moving, it is possible to make a better use of the available wind by moving the kite and generating apparent wind. As a result, a medium size fast turning kite together with a floaty board are a much better solution than a less floaty board and a huge slow kite.

There are different solutions available…

Directional surfboards. This kind of boards are designed to be used when kitesurfing in waves and therefore there buoyancy is much higher than a twin tip board. They are not symmetrical, nose and tail have different shapes, and the nose has to point in the direction the kitesurfer is moving. As a result, it is necessary to either jibe or ride toeside whenever direction changes.

Floaty Twin Tip boards designed for lightwind. These very floaty kitesurfing boards are designed to be used either by heavy rides or in light wind conditions. The advantage over the surfboards is that they can ride in both directions and it is possible to do all kind of tricks like with a normal twin tip board, the only limitation is set by the strength of the wind. In some of them riding toeside can be quite challenging.

Skimboards. These boards are either the same ones as used for skimboarding or special ones adapted to kitesurfing. The main difference with a twin tip is the lack of foot straps and fins (fins can be added). This board is very enjoyable en flat water and small waves, they are ridden strapless what adds a novelty element to kitesurfing and the kind of tricks that can be performed are closer to kiteboarding than kitesurfing.

Race boards. Directional kitesurfing boards are designed specially for reaching high speeds. They are almost only used for racing competitions although they are starting to be used in other situations because their excellent light wind conditions performance.

We are now working on a report focused on light wind twin tip boards, we will review the best boards designed for those conditions. Join our RSS feed if you want to received these new articles as soon as they are published. We also recommend you to join our newsletter as it may
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Kitesurfing Boards Crew

Technorati Tags: kite boards, kiteboards, kitesurf boards, kitesurf equipment, kitesurfing boards, kitesurfing equipment

Foil kitesurfing kites vs. inflatable kites

Kitesurfing Boards Crew — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 22:43:59 +0000

Reading kiteforum we have found this post about foil kites that looks quite interesting. Also considering that they can be used for landboarding and snowkiting we are thinking of giving it a try.

Kitesurfing Boards Crew

Let me try and break it down for you by telling you why I ride foils. Also, please disregard anything said by PMU. He only posts ani-foil lies and nothing else on this forum so he does not carrry any weight.

I started on inflatable “C” kites back in the day… When the “bow” kites first came out I was thinking about getting one but my “C” kites had a 5th line and I really liked it for safety and relaunch. My friend who is an FS dealer told me about the FS Pulse which was getting ready to hit the market. It had the same type of depower as the bow kites, could be self launched and landed, and had a 5th line safety. After some research and contemplation I order a 13m. Up to this point I had 0 foil experience. The first day I got the kite I was completely blown away by how fast I could set the kite up. I have timed myself and I can get an FS kite from the bag and into the air in 3 minutes and 30 seconds.

Over the years I went from the original Pulse to Psycho 3 and a Speed 2 19m to the Pulse 2. In all I have owned 11 FS kites or different flavors.

Here are what I like about FS kites:

1. Easy set up and break down. I have yet to meet a LEI that can beat me onto the water. As I mentioned before I can get the kite in the air in 3:30.
2. The kites fly great. I have never had any issues and I ride in all sorts of wind conidtiond, light wind, sub 10 knots, high wind, over 35 knots, gusty wind, on-shore, side-shore, off-shore. The kites work for me in all conditions.
3. The kites take a beating and keep on ticking. I have not had a single LE defaltion or strut go out since I swtiched to foils I have crahsed my kites on the beach, in the water, on rocks, in bushed, and once in a tree. I have only had one kite get a tear and that was from a piece of wood with a nail in it on the beach. I was able to fix the kite, on the beach, with a needle and thread in under 5 mins and still launched and had a great session.
4. FS kites hold their vaule. I have sold 7 FS kites in order to buy new models. In each case I was very happy with the money I was able to get back.
5. FS kite pack down very small. I am able to fit 4 kites, 14m, 12m, 8m, and 6m, in a standard duffel bag and fits very nicely in my car.
6. FS kite relaunch so easy. FS kites to do not sink in impact with the water, as some had tried to say.
7. FS kites fly in much lighter wind than LEI kites due to the lack of extra weight from bladders etc. I have been on the water many times when the wind dies and all of the LEI kites fall out of the sky while I am able to keep my kite in the air without any problems.

8. FS does not release a new version of their kites every year. They work on one model at a time and do not release the kite until it is ready. Some may see this as a downside but I see it as an upside. The kites are always great, right out of the bag, and it helps keep the resale value up evern after 2 years or more.

Here is what I do not like about FS kites.

1. The kites are more expensive but not really that much more unless you are going for the top end Deluxe editions.
2. FS kites have to be tuned often. The kites can get out of tune, especially the larger sizes in higher winds after only a couple of sessions. A tuneup only takes about 10 minutes but is well worth the effort.
3. I do not like the FS bags, especially for the larger sizes.
4. FS will not make me a team rider and give me all of the free kites I want
5. … I can not think of anything else.

FS kites are like the Mac to a Windows machine. Some people get it and some people do not. I have friends that have tried foils and switched back to LEI because they just do not understand the difference. Foil kites are not the same as LEI kites and will feel different. This is not bad, just the way it is. I am now so used to FS foils that I do not like the feal of LEI kites, and I have tried a lot.

In the end only you can make the choice. All of the posts, pro or con, do not mean a thing if you are not happy with what you have as your kit. I highly suggest that you get a test ride and learn how to maintain the kites from someone who knows how. FS kites are can be tuned to fly the way you want. If you fly a kite that is tuned for one type of rider and it does not match you riding style you might get turned off to the kite. Also the type of kite you try will have an impact. I fly the Pulse 2 as these kites work better in the waves which is what I like. I have tried the Psycho 4 but I do not like the feel of the kite as I am not a freestyle rider. I have not tried the Speed 3 yet, hopefully this week I will be able to get a ride.

As to why more people do not ride foils, that is a mystery to me. I had several friends that marvel at how quickly I can get on the water. They always make comments about how I can hit the water while they are still pumping and be 15 minutes into my session before they get their kite in the air. Or they mention about how quickly the kite relaunches or how fun it looks in the waves, but they are soo stuck in their mind set that foil kites do not work that they refuse to believe what they see with their own eyes and stick with LEI kites and that is okay. To each their own.

FS is not hurting for business. Each kite they release sells well, is usually sold out before it is even released via pre-orders, and keep putting out great kites. I do not think FS feels the need to be in the comps. as much as other kite coompanies due. Most FS kiters are die hard and will buy FS kites no matter what.

I hope you get a chance to give one a try.

BTW I would recommend the Pulse 2 for a biginner with foils not a Speed.

Technorati Tags: foil kite, kitesurf kite, kitesurfing equipment, kitesurfing kites

Kitesurfing Boards Crew about Kite Show Cumbuco 2009. Old school rocks!!

Kitesurfing Boards Crew — Sun, 01 Nov 2009 15:39:59 +0000

Kite Show cumbuco claims to be “the most entertaining kiteboarding event in the world”.

Their slogan is “KITEboarding is back!” and what they want to mean is Old school, big airs, lots of spins, grabs, etc. what, we have to admit, it is a lot of fun for the riders and for those enjoying a caipirinha on the beach.

If you add temperatures between 23°C and 30°C, water temperature around the 28°, wind everyday, flat water and waves, you can be sure Cumbuco must be a big show also during this competition.

This is just a couple of examples to give an idea of the disciplines in competion, this is going to be fun:

CORE Hangtime
- jump and hang as long as possible
- one jump at a time
- rider limitation: 20 (men 15, women 5)

Brasilazy Funny/Crazy Move
- show us your funniest move
- one jump at a time
- rider limitation: open (mixed)

Most Spins
- as many spins as possible
- when same number of spins, the technical grade and height will be judged
- one jump at a time
- rider limitation: 20 (mixed)

Check out this video from day 1…

Great opportunity to see the new 2010 kitesurfing boards, kites and other new kitesurfing equipment. We are going to miss it this year, just waiting for the winter to get closer before going down there or perhaps Cape Verde, we have not taken a decision yes, what would you recommend?

Kitesurfing Boards Crew

Technorati Tags: kitesurf kite, kitesurfing boards, kitesurfing equipment, kitesurfing kites

Kitesurfing Boards, All About Our Passion

admin — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 09:19:59 +0000

Welcome to Kitesurfing Boards!!

“The pessimist complains about the wind; the optimist expects it to change; the realist brings all the kites and boards with him”

We would like this site to become a useful source of information and a reference for all us kitesurfers. We are passionate about our sport and would like to share this passion with everyone.

Kitesurfing is a very special activity, an incredible sense of freedom, feeling the power of the wind and waves, the speed, the adrenaline boost of jumping, every session is different, every session we learn something new, and above all we are an amazingly helpful community.

If you are new to the sport, get ready for a life-changing sport. Some people quit their jobs to be able to enjoy more time kiteboarding others change job or country, some people wake up at 5.00 AM to have a session before going to work or study, most of us have a permanent screen with the wind forecast for our area, webcams, weather forecast, etc. that we monitor with the hope of having another memorable session today.

In Kitesurfing Boards we will try to help with that kind of information we all needed before we started and took our first kitesurfing lessons. We will also help you with your first steps as an independent kitesurfer.

If you are already passionate about the sport please visit us often and contribute with your comments to our posts, email, or even submitting information for us to publish. We will of course bring also topics that will be of interest to intermediate and advanced kitesurfers and even to Pro’s.

Initially our main areas of interest will be related to kitesurfing kites, kite boards and the kitesurfing accesories, kitesurfing spots, kitesurfing holidays destinations, etc. We will try to bring as much unique content as possible but will of course point to any exceptionally interesting video, article, tutorial, and any other content that we may find online and offline. We may also include information related to closely related sports like surfing, snowkiting and landboarding. We hope you enjoy this site and would really appreciate your feedback.

Kitesurfing Boards Crew

Technorati Tags: kitesurf kites, kitesurfing boards, kitesurfing equipment, kitesurfing holidays, kitesurfing kites, kitesurfing lessons