Hey,
I've been riding a TT for about a year now and am keen to pick up a directional, as I'm keen to try out some wave riding.
Question..... what size? (length) I've surfed for many years and know all about regular boards and wave sizes but not to sure about kiting in the waves.
Question..... foot straps or not?
Does my body weight and height matter? (I'm 6'2" and 80kg).
any help would be cool.
Cheers.
Horey
Try just taking out a small surfboard, maybe not your favourite, with plenty of grip. I'm about your size, a touch lighter, and like riding 5'10"-6'1" surfboards, as well as strapped kite specific boards (a 5'5" Naish Wave usually) when it's really windy.
Keeping your kite out of the waves is the main thing, ride whatever you've got.
Do a search - there are quite a few topics on this issue and different types of boards and lengths depending on how you want to ride.
hey horey69,
I did the move a while ago, RRD Toxic Wave mutant. It was on an advert on this site.
Searched google and all reports were good.
Great board but as im about 100kg & 6.2 its a bit small in light winds, few of my smaller mates love it.
Ps good luck finding any forsale
Just use the same size/shape etc that you surf with (really, just use exactly the same board if you're confident you won't break it). If you're an experienced surfer and you aren't at a crowded beach, then stick with a strapless for the first try.
You can go something smaller than a short board you would surf.
In reality you dont need to paddle the board and you have the kite to pull you through the fat sections of the wave. 
Look at getting something with super fine rails so it doesnt bounce around cause you'll probably spend 99% of the time on the rail.
Thanks crew for the heads up on directionals, I'll give it a crack on my short board and see how its goes.
cheers
Horey
G'day horey
When your out there tryin to get a directional try pick up a fish or sumthing easy to gybe on cause in your first few rides you'll find that you'll get really frustrated when your trying to gybe.(So if you get a wider board it'll be easier)
As for the whole straps or no straps you can go anything try strapless for your first few goes then try straps.
Personaly i like strapless cause it gives you a great feel and straps can often get in the way when your first learning to gybe (like me!!!!!)
Remember reading somewhere that when you first pick a directional try go 2 sizes smaller than you would surf (So say if you ride a 6'2" try pick up a 6'0")
I think it was a ben wilson movie or sumthin like that.
