Anybody experiment with how small a kite you can get away with when combined with a high volume, efficient surf board. I'm going to see what I can do, but until then I was curious what others have found. I'd like to maximize the kites range, in my case an 8m, with the right board rather then move up in kite size. I'm only on a surf board, no twin tip, and I'm willing to ride a big board, like taking a long board out to surf in small waves. I'm 100kg's but I'm interested in anybody's experience no matter their weight.
Long and high volume surf-boards (i.e. Longboard) are not necessarily the best way to go about light wind kiting. Usually the longer and larger volume of a surfboard, the harder is it to edge and therefore difficult to build apparent wind (essential for light wind kiting). Some of the newer light wind specific twin tips boards are about just as efficient in light winds as a regular surfboard.
Light wind specific directional boards (i.e. Airush Sector) and race boards with long fins are much more suitable for this, although they are no good in waves. with one of these boards I couldn't get much lower than 15 knots with a 8m kite, but can ride comfortably upwind in 8-10 knots along with a 17m kite.
For example I've kited on SUP's a few times in low wind and because I couldn't edge the board enough it made it sort of pointless since I couldn't build enough apparent wind.
at a 100kg I'm guessing you're already on a larger, wider surfboard so not sure you will gain much in going with a bigger surf-board for lighter winds. In your case you're better off getting a bigger kite and keeping the same board, especially if you are riding mostly waves. You must be living somewhere super windy to be on a 8m kite @ 100kg!
Apart from that, the most efficient light wind boards at the moment are undoubtedly Hydrofoils, saw one yesterday cruising upwind effortlessly in 5-7 knots, when I couldn't even get my light wind directional board to plane. But you have to have the budget for these and don't mind the steep learning curve. With an 8m kite and some heavy skills you'd be able to ride in as low as 12 knots with a hydrofoil.
So yeah my advice is get a bigger kite or buy a hydrofoil:)
Hi
my experience is
I have a 14 meter Ride. I can kite surf on my 9 meter long board from 10 knots. I go all over the place, no issues going upwind
I also use a Mako King board and don't have any issues from 10 knots (cold wind)
when is 6 to 8 knots I use a 11 meter SUP board. I can only mow the lawn but I am in the water and not sitting on the beach. I love kiting so much that everything else is boring
I also use the same 9 meter long board to ride small waves using any of my other kites I have.
I have been kiting for 4 years and tried many kites and boards. What it works for me it doesn't work for another kiter. You have to try different equipment until you find what it works for you.
a used bigger board is a lot less money than a good bigger light wind kite.
cheers
+1 on the Nugget, Firewire also make a 5'2 Sweet Potato that is very similar.......it would be interesting to see how one of these efficient sb,s go with a strut-less kite.
80 kg, 11mtr kite, 2013 North Nugget 5ft. I can have a good day, eg, go upwing and ride small waves in about 10 knots, any less and it is just holding ground and no fun.
What about twin tips? What size would you say is a minimum ? And what kind of board?
My goal isn't to get out in liter wind. I'm satisfied with what I can do with my 12m and a pretty wide, flat fish type board with very low volume. I was just curious if I took away the need for the kite to hold me up out of the water by using a high volume board, or even a paddle board, I could use a smaller kite. Maybe even get away with having only one kite. Or if volume only helped so much, and I could do just as good with a nugget? I am going to try my paddle board with a big center fin and ride the fin rather then edgeing the board and see how that works. If I could get up wind in 15 knots, I think I'd be satisfied.
Yes it will help to have a bigger or high volume board. The key to go up wind is the size of the fin. Also I have 7 surfboards. There are all different shape, volume and length. Only two of the 7 boards are perfect for kite surfing. The other 5 for one or another reason don't go upwind cheers
The rocker of the board is key to light wind performance, a flat rocker will allow the board to accelerate quicker and gain more apparent wind for the kite. The BWS Drifter has a very flat rocker and excels in the lighter stuff but becomes hard to handle when the wind gets up. The volume of the Nugget allows it to keep its speed through any lulls and maintain that apparent wind. Rocker hurts upwind performance but I find almost anything goes upwind when the wind is up.
Select to expand quoteeabmoto said..
My goal isn't to get out in liter wind. I'm satisfied with what I can do with my 12m and a pretty wide, flat fish type board with very low volume. I was just curious if I took away the need for the kite to hold me up out of the water by using a high volume board, or even a paddle board, I could use a smaller kite. Maybe even get away with having only one kite. Or if volume only helped so much, and I could do just as good with a nugget? I am going to try my paddle board with a big center fin and ride the fin rather then edgeing the board and see how that works. If I could get up wind in 15 knots, I think I'd be satisfied.
Select to expand quoteeabmoto said..
My goal isn't to get out in liter wind. I'm satisfied with what I can do with my 12m and a pretty wide, flat fish type board with very low volume. I was just curious if I took away the need for the kite to hold me up out of the water by using a high volume board, or even a paddle board, I could use a smaller kite. Maybe even get away with having only one kite. Or if volume only helped so much, and I could do just as good with a nugget? I am going to try my paddle board with a big center fin and ride the fin rather then edgeing the board and see how that works. If I could get up wind in 15 knots, I think I'd be satisfied.
The Nugget style of board is specifically designed to plane early and still have maximum manouverability. You won't find any other configuration is better.
Going higher volume is no solution. It will travel better in sub planing conditions, but help it onto the plane very marginally. To plane your board needs lift at the tail to get it onto the surface. That will come from greater speed, or a big wide flat tail.
Select to expand quoteCOL said..eabmoto said..
My goal isn't to get out in liter wind. I'm satisfied with what I can do with my 12m and a pretty wide, flat fish type board with very low volume. I was just curious if I took away the need for the kite to hold me up out of the water by using a high volume board, or even a paddle board, I could use a smaller kite. Maybe even get away with having only one kite. Or if volume only helped so much, and I could do just as good with a nugget? I am going to try my paddle board with a big center fin and ride the fin rather then edgeing the board and see how that works. If I could get up wind in 15 knots, I think I'd be satisfied.
The Nugget style of board is specifically designed to plane early and still have maximum manouverability. You won't find any other configuration is better.
Going higher volume is no solution. It will travel better in sub planing conditions, but help it onto the plane very marginally. To plane your board needs lift at the tail to get it onto the surface. That will come from greater speed, or a big wide flat tail.
Also tomo style surfboards. These fit the profile col is talking about. I've had a short fat firewire dominator, and it was good but compared to the tomo is chalk and cheese. They are all about a planing hull. Mine are at their optimum in four fin configuration. Good upwind and able to stand further forward than in a thruster set up. I notice in kitesurfing news on here there is a similar profile that has hit Oz. Luxe surf. Don't know anything about them, but the outline looks similar in photos.
www.seabreeze.com.au/News/Kitesurfing/LUXE-SURF-arrives-into-Australia_8285875.aspx
The Tomo's give me way better bottom end than any of my other boards, and they're only a tad over 5' . 
