Looking for ideas for a light wind tt..
Saw shinn king George mentioned in earlier thread.. Any others I could add to my list of potentials?
I'm 75kg and largest kite is 13m 2013 C4. Will be generally riding in the flats and looking to continue to throw freestyle stuff but in light winds probably realistically closer to freeride
Done the skim thing before, not interested, can just use my light weight surfboard for similar result. So I guess I'm looking for something that will enable me to ride as close to how I would ride in less marginal conditions, and get a few more knots out of my exist kite quiver
I have a King George and I love it
It rides very similar to the Monk. It still has a really good edge and for a large board it really feels light and easy to throw around. i have used a few other light wind boards, they feel like a skim board, (flat, slippery) the KG feels more like a TT.
Rough guide. ( i hate giving stats... you know, "power of a 19 meter and turns like a 8 metre")
I'm 80 kegs I can stay upwind on the King george and a Blade trigger 10m (my biggest kite ATM) at about 13-14 knots (looked on sea breeze after the session).
I always forget to go in and change boards and have been blasting around at 20 knots
KSS phil should have some to demo.... or PM me for a try
dont look at length in a lightwind the width is as important the shinn kg 150 x 50 gives you 7500cm2 of area, more than the nobile flying carpet at 160 x 46 and the flydoor xl 163 x 46, the shinn will be a lot more managable when the wind picks up due to its outline and edging ability and doesnt feel like your lining up a 747 to land when you chuck in a few jumps, the spleen door aint worth bothering with unless you want to shatter your knees when its choppy, but if all you want to do is ride in the lowest winds possible the flydoor 170 x 45 is the go at 8500cm2 and is amazingly light for such a size, didnt get to fly the hindenburg but i reckon this board would be similar![]()
Have kited light winds, safety bay pond and Pengruin island 4years.Have had many fun days on cardboard tempo 140/43 great for boosting and freeystyle .I wanted the 145 but was not available as l am 96 kgs .I tried Westoz /Jasons I5m 2013 c4 good combo 10 knots +,try and demo.I too wanted a sub 10 knot .tt to replace my 165 door,after kitestock axis kiteboards had demo at the pond.I purchased a 132/41 limited freestyle for +15 knots .I also purchased the axis patrol 144/46 light wind .tt,this is a great combo with my new edge 17 and I3 , planes and boosts/tricks early Jason and I have tested it in sub 10 knots and were surprised and pleased with performance.I am looking for a .tt and kite that planes from 7 knots,so have ordered a 19m edge to achieve this and feel I will be close.You are welcome to try this board or combo pm me or have a chat with Jason,cheers Rob
Yeh rob that axis board you were using did look really good. Another to add to your list mr post maker. Ha ha.
thanks rob, must have been you and your axis boards down at the pond yesterday (?). Was going to ask you about them but was pretty keen to get in the water
Actually I think you ended up launching me, asking about my tona
Awesome will give Jas a shout
We have lots of light wind days on Sydney's Northen Beaches, so I have a bevvy of light wind boards accumulated over the years. Nobile XTR (146 x 48), Spleene Monster Door (164 x 50), Flydoor XL (170x50) & a new Flyradical 4 XL. I'm 115 pies so I need a bigger weapon, the Flydoor is outstanding IMO, best on light wind days and works fine as the wind picks up, superb on flat water, and pretty good with the chop, less good in waves. It's 170 x 50, but there is a smaller size, upwind ability is unbeatable for a tt. The Spleene was good when I got it in 07, but the newer Flydoor is so light and useable for its size. The radical is also great, I use it when the wind is a bit stronger, but could well suit a lighter rider on light wind days. The XTR is fine but I never really connected with it and it hardly gets used these days with the Flyboards around.
I am going to buy a new light wind board too. I sold a spleene session 141 x 43 that allowed me (70 kg) to ride in 9 kn with lithium 13LW. I do not like door shape and this is why I sold the session (anyway for the size a great board for early planning and going upwind). I want something more playful, with better handling in chops and landing jumps. I want something that allows me to ride in 9 may be 8 kn and the end I guess best solutions are Nobile XTR 143 x 48 or Shinn king George 140 x 46. Sure King George is more funny, flexible and handle better higher winds but I have big doubts it works well in 9 kn......XTR will manage 8-9 kn but look very stiff and sure less fun than king George
Hi default ,was at pond Sunday,I did give you a launch.I used both axis boards and 13 edge had good sessions.Forgot to mention light wind .tt have a flat .rocker line, axis patrol works ok in pond and safety bay chop,take it for a session next time we catch up, cheers Rob
Demoed a couple of boards now, still searching..
Another LW tt Ive come across whilst looking for ideas is the 2013 Airush Switch Exile, comes in 142x44 and 146x46.. Anyone ridden one of these?
Actually had one of these (albeit smaller) when I learned years ago. From memory it was a pretty nice board for its target user.
One more vote for Shinn King George II... As we are in a light wind area we did our research and the King George II come out as a winner for overall performance..
Yes a door FS maybe get you going 1 knot earlier but it does ride as a house door!!!
KG2 is a great Twin Tip in every expect.
Bye Jankie
Another has arisen that is worth demoing. The new Shinn speedball W18. 132 by 47.5..but it is very different and don't let the dimensions dictate how you see this board.
I'd put that on your list as i would imagine it may ride closer to what you are looking for than the King george...but that is only a guess.
I havent tried the LW boards since about 08 but I have tried the Shinn King George (and had lots of reports from others) and Id say this must rate as one to try before deciding. Even at a diminutive 70+Kgs on a normal day I found the performance of the King George amazingly surprising considering its size.
Back in the day (ie pre 2008) LW boards were simply disgusting planks to ride.
But I agree with eppo - the speedball looks like an option for all sorts of reasons. Cant wait to give this little mother a run - cmon wind!!!
Hi Default,
At 95kg I have the KG lll 150 x 50 with 57 mm Freeride fins. At 75Kg the 146 x 46 would be a good option for you. I believe on a 13m kite & flat water you could comfortably get out from 13knts. Good times for me are from 15 knts on a 12m Catalyst & 12 knts on the 2013 Zephyr. This board is incredibly light & very flexible. It's a very comfortable board to ride & be aggressive with. You can comfortably keep riding it to mid 20 knts. As well as being very light for its size the outer edge is only 3mm thick. It cuts through the chop like a surgical blade cutting through blubber.
I would have to compare the Shinn King George to Adele;
Attractive, smooth ,with a captivating voice, a no BS personality in a very generous body.
The longer offerings like the Flysurfer and Nobile Flying carpet will definitely go earlier than other boards but they will sacrifice some freestyle ability and carve ability.
Light wind boards are a compromise so the things that make them go well in light wind (Straight outline, minimal rocker) also make them a bit harsh to ride and not so carvy.
So generally the nicest feeling ones need a bit more wind than the ones that go the earliest.
The local favourite for quite a few years here has been the Nobile XTR.