Can anyone tell me how to put a handle on the 2014 north gambler? Im a newbie and find it hard to get my feet in the (north ntt) straps without having the handle there. there arnt any screw holes?
Thanks
That's a wakestyle board generally ridden with wakeboarding boots. There is no need for a handle on a board. Grab the rail to carry it and hold one footstrap while putting your opposite foot in to waterstart. It's actually easier than using a handle. If you really want one you will have to drill through the board and t-nut it or trade it in. Who sold you that? Not a beginners board.
Welcome to seebreeze and an awesome sport Kikeee91
Drury is spot on about you buying the wrong kit.
Get yourself a flat-rocker light wind board with handles and foot straps to complement your new gambler (it is your high wind machine and next year's trick board 
).
don't beat yourself up about stuffing up your first board purchase. You won't make the same mistake again!
if you can't afford the next board, buy one of these and stick it a little in from the heel-side rail to grip the board's edge:http://www.oceanearthstore.com/tail-kick-grip-tail-pad/
any scrap of eva bonded with Selleys kwik grip or shoe sole glue repair will do just as we'll and give you that grungy look and feel (the you can buy those boots you so want for your second season!
)
happy to help and hope to see you on the water spreading the good stoke!
Ughhh damn! Thanks for the help! got it from my local shop I specifically asked for that one but yeah I spose they should of said something. I wont worry about making holes for the handle then. That block does look good, I was thinking of putting a tab under each footpad to pull on.
Is it gunna be that much harder to learn on?
I actually thought this was a troll at first. Sorry mate haha.
If you bought it from where I'm thinking.. Pretty sure they have 30 day satisfaction guarantee on boards where they'll swap for another model if not totally happy. Something like this anyways.. Give them a call, you may be in luck
Mike,
Default's idea is a great one. Maybe you did have a preconceived desire for an unsuitable board choice, but any kiteboard salesperson should take you under their wing and set you up right. Share the financial pain with the shop and move on.
The shop has just recruited you to support them throughout your long kiteboarding career. They should be able to wear this one financially to keep a good vibe and secure your future "spending" annuity stream of local shop purchases (good business practice IMO).
Let us know how the story unfolds here on seabreeze so we can laud the great service of your local shop (buy from local shops peeps! Not offshore or from net scammers)
Also, watch episode #1 from Axon:
www.seabreeze.com.au/forums/Kitesurfing/General/Board-advice-3/
This dude has broken down kiteboard jargon for the newbie... We were all there once!
Thanks very helpful! Its not a troll unfortunatly haha:P yeah its the shop with the 30 day guarentee dont wanna bag em out on here tho.
Not gunna lie, I bought the board coz I like the banana haha!!
Can anyone tell me if its gunna be that much harder to learn on? I could take it back but now I have feelings for it haha Id like to keep it and just struggle a bit more till I get the hang of it, is that an option?
Only "harder" thing about it is the higher rocker line meaning upwind is a bit tougher. Doesn't make a massive difference though. I learned on a wakeboard back in the day and believe me, that was harder. You'll be fine !
^^^ I beg to differ there - take it back !! Your leaning curve will be sooo much slower with that style of board, but if thats your preferred riding style down the track - park the board for 6 to 12 months and buy a cheap flatter rockered board !
If you get stuck I got a mint condition airush switch 138 you can have cheap, perfect board for learning......
yeah mate coming from being an ex instructor I have to say honestly it just depends on your previous board sport experience and what your aim is regarding the style of riding you'll be doing. If you're aiming at going down the wakestyle track just keep it and learn on it. If you're aiming more at just free riding and jumping and cruising then take it back and swap it for something more all rounded or free ride orientated.
The first thing to talk about that everyone here mentioned is the rocker... It's basically the curve of the board, when you lay it flat on the ground it's a measure of how high the tips sit from the floor.
Benefits of having more rocker is softer landings when doing bigger wakestyle tricks, when you cut for tricks it cuts in more of an arc so it's slightly different, it's easier to control power in higher wind situations, it reduces the chance of catching a nose edge and in my opinion rides nicer in chop.
Down sides being that it's a bit slower and harder to go upwind (due to reduced efficiency). It's not very good for lighter wind conditions and it's more difficult to get up on the plane with.
The rocker on the north board is hardly BIG by any measure and i'm not sure if it has bottom shaping or not but generally newer boards are shaped in a way that the channels help provide lift and negates a lot of the negative aspects of rocker.
So before you make up your mind think about this:
What style of riding do i want to get into in the future?
What other board sports can i do COMPETENTLY?
how comfortable am I with my balance and learning abilities?
back in teh day handles went from inside of one footstrap to inside of other with a piece of plastic piping squashed at each end... even a piece of webbing.. easy,
Select to expand quoteMikeee91 said..
Thanks very helpful! Its not a troll unfortunatly haha:P yeah its the shop with the 30 day guarentee dont wanna bag em out on here tho.
Not gunna lie, I bought the board coz I like the banana haha!!
Can anyone tell me if its gunna be that much harder to learn on? I could take it back but now I have feelings for it haha Id like to keep it and just struggle a bit more till I get the hang of it, is that an option?
so you bought a board as it had a banana on it, north kites marketing at its best, plenty of chimps out there it seems
Select to expand quotecauncy said..
so you bought a board as it had a banana on it, north kites marketing at its best, plenty of chimps out there it seems
Nominee for SBPOTY award.
Keep the board dude, a good rocker line is far easier to learn on that a totally flat board. With rocker you will have much more control, especially in chop, you won't have to focus on edging so hard, and you won't nosedive much at all. The only thing it's slightly slower to get up on the plane, but no worse up wind, it's not like you can't aim it in the same direction, you just need slightly more power. I reckon more beginner boards should come with rocker, far more forgiving and user friendly.
