I have been using my standard fibreglass surfboards strapless with my kites in the waves but am rapidly trashing them with dings, compressions and stress fractures through the glass. I like the idea of being able to ride the same board both when kiting and surfing - especially useful when travelling.
Just wondered what everyone else was using and how some of the more kite orientated surfboards go when paddled into the waves?
I reckon if you're traveling just use one of your surfboards and be careful.
I have been using regular surfboards for about a year. Had a good run for a while, then snapped one in half, and snapped the noses off two others. I previously had a BWS drifter but thought it was too heavy to paddle, although it had inserts so maybe that's what tipped the weight over.
For the moment I've given up on trying to find a board that does both surf and kite well. It's a weight vs strength trade off. Then you have volume issues - prefer less volume for kiting but more for surfing. Many people seem to like the Mulcoy Pro.
Ha yes I must admit I'm not being that careful with them and frequently end up getting trashed in the shore break. I should really go a kite a few more down the line perfect tropical reef passes 
Shorebreak and punting seem to do the damage. I had fin plugs pop out from the board just washing up on the beach.
Off-the-rack surfboards tend to be lightly glassed (4+4 x 4) so maybe a custom with heavier glass. Although the BWS boards all seem to use 6+6 x 6 ounce glass.
I want that board too. So much less hassle one board for am and pm.
Mostly use traditional surfboards and accept the fast depreciation.
Have an airush compact for 6m kite conditions (thats when I've damaged boards).
Generally buying second hand.
IMO Futures will out last FCS plugs.
Was keen to try firewire's but they were getting bad press on the forum.
Yeah i'm buying second hand now too, can pick up the occasional bargain on ebay / gumtree
I've seen several firewires snap clean in two in fairly tame surf and it doesn't seem as easy to repair superficial dings. I'd be a little wary of forking out the extra cash for one myself
Was using second hand boards, then bought one for $400 basically brand new, snapped the nose off first session.
And Dowls I reckon you're right, when it's 15 knots no problems, but when 25kn that's when boards start breaking.
Select to expand quotedowls said..
IMO Futures will out last FCS plugs.
especially the old school FCS plugs, the two round black ones...
just last week i pulled two plugs and lost my fin just doing a turn. 
don't even need to hit the sand to lose them.
only ever pulled one Futures plug, landed heavy on it with my forearm.
keen to try the new FCS though, a far bit more surface area and the new fin system is pretty slick!
Ive been slowly trashing my quiver of surfboards until I recently tried a proper kitesurfing surfboard. I wish I had have tried one earlier.
It doesn't bounce in the chop and is heaps easier on my knees after a long session. it cuts through chop and seems heaps more stable. You can also go much shorter than your normal board as no paddling required. the other thing I loved was the deck grip for the front foot. I can't believe I've been stuffing around with wax for so long. for me it would flatten and get slippery every 15 minutes. Also feels a lot stronger underfoot when landing jumps.
In short - do yourself a favour and try a kitesurfing specific board and stop wrecking your surfboards.
Select to expand quoteMain said..Ive been slowly trashing my quiver of surfboards until I recently tried a proper kitesurfing surfboard. I wish I had have tried one earlier.
It doesn't bounce in the chop and is heaps easier on my knees after a long session. it cuts through chop and seems heaps more stable. You can also go much shorter than your normal board as no paddling required. the other thing I loved was the deck grip for the front foot. I can't believe I've been stuffing around with wax for so long. for me it would flatten and get slippery every 15 minutes. Also feels a lot stronger underfoot when landing jumps.
In short - do yourself a favour and try a kitesurfing specific board and stop wrecking your surfboards.
I have paddle surfed 6' 1" x18 1/4 x 2" kitesurfboard epoxy bamboo But i find it to big for my weight kitesurfing and only use it in light wind conditions My main kite surfboard is 5'6 x 17 1/2 x 1 7/8 straped and un straped same construction (i am 76klg and 5ft10 ht) Pic of 6' 1"
Select to expand quoteeppo said..
Your strapped board is almost tow board dimensions.
Eppo i us 5'6" in most conditions from 18knts to 40knt and small to double over head And have just purchased a 2013 ZEP. Demo one at Merimbla classic on 5' 8" custom surf/kiteboard loved it
Select to expand quotesurfingboye said..dowls said..
IMO Futures will out last FCS plugs.
especially the old school FCS plugs, the two round black ones...
just last week i pulled two plugs and lost my fin just doing a turn.
don't even need to hit the sand to lose them.
only ever pulled one Futures plug, landed heavy on it with my forearm.
keen to try the new FCS though, a far bit more surface area and the new fin system is pretty slick!
The FCS Fusion boxes (and I assume the new FCS 2 boxes as they have the same template) are tough as I recently finished a new board for myself and first session ran it into a sand bar (low tide and a bit shallower than expected, board literally stopped with my 100kgs on it) thought ah well I got some repair work to do, flipped it over......not even a mark.
The old black plugs weren't that great and installing them can sometimes be hit and miss, particularly with boards being mass produced in asia, it's common to see gaps in these boards around the plug and slight movement in them, the more recent ones are better and if properly installed are strong enough (not going to hold up running into stuff obviously) good thing is though when you do damage them they are easy to repair, fusion boxes make a mess and from what I'm told repairing futures is also messy and difficult.
futures boxes do damage despite popular belief it's just harder to notice, generally do 1 of two things either the tab that holds the front of the fin in place crack or sand build up and abrasion result in the fins being a loose fit around the sides (causes fins to wobble). Obviously they can also be pulled out but like the fusion boxes this takes some doing.
I've got both and honestly I will be sticking with the fusion boxes, easy to install, tough as and the benefits of having the full fcs fin selection (which to me is wider and more varied in shape to futures)
Sorry to side track the thread, in response to original question, I reckon the number of guys who can kite the same board they surf without some fashion of compromise in one or the other or both is pretty few, I say have one of each with specific construction that's fit for it's use.
2c
Got to agree with main.After snapping my mulcoy bws board I slowly started to destroy the rest of my surfboards in the garage.Get yourself a good kite specific board,and also one that has strap plugs in it.
Fcs fusion plugs allow for more transverse fin flex than futures. Grab both plugs and try twist the plug with your hands, fusion has a lot more flex.
That's not the plugs but the fin design, two tabs (fcs) vs continuous base of futures. Will be interested to see how the fcs 2 fins go with their longer tabs. That flex isn't necessarily a bad thing in my mind.
Finally, an interesting thread with no bashing on style strapped or unstrapped! I ride both, strapped and unstrapped. My unstrapped board only has a tail pad only, 6 foot, 18 wide and 1 7/8 thick. Sick board but with my chunky monkey I can't paddle it in the surf. But the board is amazing with a kite. I still love the feel of wax under my foot, but as the other poster mentioned, it doesn't take long to wear off due to kiting being so dynamic as you are always riding and not waiting for sets. When its bigger and or choppy, I use a board similar to the Smook above (nice by the way)....I enjoy a good boost off waves and lips but I cannot boost strapless and at nearly 53 not sure I want to go through more pain learning. I love the idea, and the dudes that do it look amazing, but right now that is not where I am at. I can do little punts, but am not game to take it any further.
I would rather go the two board route. Having said that, three weeks ago I snapped the tail on m favorite fish and I had that board for a year and a half. I really loved that board......rip
Select to expand quoteblueprint said..
That's not the plugs but the fin design, two tabs (fcs) vs continuous base of futures. Will be interested to see how the fcs 2 fins go with their longer tabs. That flex isn't necessarily a bad thing in my mind.
Nah I mean the plugs themselves! Sure the two tab contributes to flex. As the futures plug has no transverse flex, you can get cracking around the plug when the fins flex (which is what I have).
Grab both plugs (when they're not glassed into a board) and try twist them.
I use my Naish global both strapped an dun strapped and the thing has taken a hammering. Still no dings. Rode up over a reef and ripped the fin out but the fin box was ok surprisingly. I wouldn't like to paddle it though and I still reckon you need a fish style board to get the most from the small dribble days. So another board for the large collection, shh don't tell the wife.
my number one 'go-to' board is no longer the mulcoy.
i prefer a super light Weber SLX, a $200 brand new ebay special.
5'10 super narrow and pretty thin.
what a shame to crease the tail and pop the fin out last week... lasted around a year though!
good value if you ask me.
Select to expand quotesurfingboye said..
my number one 'go-to' board is no longer the mulcoy.
i prefer a super light Weber SLX, a $200 brand new ebay special.
5'10 super narrow and pretty thin.
what a shame to crease the tail and pop the fin out last week... lasted around a year though!
good value if you ask me.
deck grip?
Select to expand quoteMain said..surfingboye said..
my number one 'go-to' board is no longer the mulcoy.
i prefer a super light Weber SLX, a $200 brand new ebay special.
5'10 super narrow and pretty thin.
what a shame to crease the tail and pop the fin out last week... lasted around a year though!
good value if you ask me.
deck grip?
Really interesting replies everyone - thank you. I'. taking a few really interesting points from this:
1) There unfortunately isn't a perfect board for both surfing and kiting strapless which is really consistently durable. As pointed out by Dafish the amount of time spent actually up and planing on your board is considerably greater when kiting with the board constantly flexing over chop, being edged against the pull of the kite and being loaded with forces it would never experience while surfing for greater than 30 seconds at a time (even if scoring epic waves.)
2) Kite specific surfboards have to make sacrifices in order to be strong bough to be put through the increased stresses of kiting and therefore don't paddle well for surfing
3) All fin boxes (futures and fcs etc..) are a weak point......bring back glass ons - especially for kiting and lets be honest who actually changes their fins based on conditions? Ease of removable fins when travelling - is it worth it when you're packing a couple of boards and kites anyhow?????
4) Surf conditions make huge difference. I only trash my boards when its average or worse. I only wish I was snapping them in half in triple overhead barrels. Maybe I should get a dedicated kite board for those onshore dumpy wind chop days and save my favourite stick for when the reef is perfect.......but its just so tempting to always ride the perfect board.
So what do we need?
A strongly made, medium to heavily glassed board but still with enough foam to paddle and enough flex to turn without the extra power of a kite with glass on fins which don't fall out if you happen to encounter a sandbar!
Any Shapers out there fancy it?
Select to expand quotesurfingboye said..
my number one 'go-to' board is no longer the mulcoy.
i prefer a super light Weber SLX, a $200 brand new ebay special.
5'10 super narrow and pretty thin.
what a shame to crease the tail and pop the fin out last week... lasted around a year though!
good value if you ask me.
Don't you like the Mulcoy anymore? loving mine, but always interested why riders change, for me the Mulcoy is smooth, super light and turns on a dime an ideal strapless board.
Select to expand quotesurfingboye said..Main said..surfingboye said..
my number one 'go-to' board is no longer the mulcoy.
i prefer a super light Weber SLX, a $200 brand new ebay special.
5'10 super narrow and pretty thin.
what a shame to crease the tail and pop the fin out last week... lasted around a year though!
good value if you ask me.
deck grip?
so how often do you need to stop and comb the wax while your out in the water ?
Select to expand quotepumpnjump said..surfingboye said..
my number one 'go-to' board is no longer the mulcoy.
i prefer a super light Weber SLX, a $200 brand new ebay special.
5'10 super narrow and pretty thin.
what a shame to crease the tail and pop the fin out last week... lasted around a year though!
good value if you ask me.
Don't you like the Mulcoy anymore? loving mine, but always interested why riders change, for me the Mulcoy is smooth, super light and turns on a dime an ideal strapless board.
Mmmmm, i swapped to a different, super light board last month and I fell in love with it.
the Mulcoy felt floaty, slow and really heavy in the air compared to my little Webber.
i'm going to go down that path again for my next board.Select to expand quoteMain said..surfingboye said..Main said..surfingboye said..
my number one 'go-to' board is no longer the mulcoy.
i prefer a super light Weber SLX, a $200 brand new ebay special.
5'10 super narrow and pretty thin.
what a shame to crease the tail and pop the fin out last week... lasted around a year though!
good value if you ask me.
deck grip?
so how often do you need to stop and comb the wax while your out in the water ?
i never stop mid kite for freshen it. i just always have it prepared with a three step wax layup.
the key is a good base coat, that way when the soft (super sticky wax) moves, you still have grip beneath the surface.
this is just what i find works for me...
***and give away the mrs palmers, its **** wax lol***
All I know is that I'm sick of landing punts and eating it due to front foot wax smear. Actually, this cost the nose of one of my boards.
Full deck grip for me on kite boards.
Select to expand quotebene313 said..
All I know is that I'm sick of landing punts and eating it due to front foot wax smear. Actually, this cost the nose of one of my boards.
Full deck grip for me on kite boards.
its the Mick Fanning hamstring Im worried about
