this should start some chatter
help please decent riders , suggestions
87kg, kited for 9 years on and off, been in the surf for 2 years , dont get out much as im getting on and have a family , you know the drill. need a surf board that helps me get better at waves, can be used in light conditions, can be used in waves from mush to 6 -8 foot, easy to turn but not too advanced.
ordered a xennon prisma 6.1, seemed to do all of the above, it got trashed in shipment with no more left in the uk.
suggestions now are the north wam 6 , f one (6.2 signature i think) and any other light bamboo boards with good write ups. I did a search but couldnt find much on the f one over here but they seem to be big in europe, the wam gets a great all round rap, but ive ridden a few airush boards that were also nice a while back
help help help as usual
thanks all.
mc
I have ridden the North Wam b2b with a BWS Mulcoy Pro.
I didn't really like the Wam, it felt too corky and too much volume for my 75kg. It was fun in the smaller waves but when I was dropping and bottom turning on bigger ones, the board felt a bit skatey and skittish underfoot. I put this down to the "plasticy" construction of the board.
BWS though I have had for around 6 months and its been really good. Again, this board (5'10) has a little too much volume in the tail for my liking, but regardless the board is light and fast. It has proved to be pretty durable so far, nothing but a nice heel hold. 
Also having the ability to ride it thruster or quad also keeps things fun by mixing it up a bit. The best thing about this board is.... well it feels like a surfboard. It doesn't bounce and isn't super floaty like heaps of other production boards.
Ohhh and being fluoro, the chicks and other little groms think you look pretty pro.
ohhhh, and I haven't ridden the others. And my opinions are based off strapless.
If you near Northern Beaches you can try my F-One 6.2 Bamboo. It's very good to ride strapless, straps positions are too far back and it looks like I'm using less than a half of the board.
Can't comment on surfing, my surfing skills are on a beginner level.
I feel sorry for you Mitchell. You feel you're getting on, & only 32 by your profile. This subject has been covered 1000 times. Forget this idea of a board that will help you progress. It's not the board, it's you. You want to progress then stop feeling sorry for yourself & just get out there. Time on the water. Kite around others & watch what they do. When you're surfing well you'll be in a position to know what sort of board suits you.
Col
guys
thanks for the demo offers, to confirm im 40, i joined 8 years ago and can't be bothered updating my profile, i think that is getting on a bit, i live next to the beach in manly so yes i do get out a bit in the surf and yes i know the water pretty well, if i wanted a life coach id ask for one but i think i know where i sit in life, especially as ive been kiting for 10 years.
ho hum, lets get back the subject shall we, this site is full of topics that drift off subjects into pointing at individuals , we dont need life advice we need facts and experience. and yes demo is the way to go . looking at the facts kitepower is next to flat water, great shop to demo gear bought allot from you over the years steve but we really need more demobrands on the northern beaches in syd where the waves are (if you can call them that).
balmoral borads (Andres) stocks gear but is limited with the size of shop at nara, so unless the guys on he beach let you try their gear buying a kite surfboard is not so easy, thats why i also rely on the guys from SA and WA. their reviews are professional and they have the conditions to test every day.
thanks for the help guys, watch this space ive just ordered a board from "in the loop", amazing service after getting my fisrt board trashed in transit. you have to admire a shop that follows through with their service no matter what.
still interested in this topic if there is anything more to add , in the mean time anyone ridden this -
Im getting one in the next few weeks.http://kite.vanhunksboarding.co.za/?m=3&s=4&idkey=526
cheers for now
Going by the dims on that board^^^^, you better get down to the pub and sink some schoies and pies.
It'll be as wide as a boat.
Well my last post worked a treat. I'm glad that now you are getting out a bit. And yes I am available if you need any further help.
I reckon you shouldn't be putting too much effort into looking for the best brand as they're all pretty damn good and it just makes it so much harder. concentrate on which style of board suites.
Lightweight boards go unreal, but are you prepared to sacrifice durability. I've got a bamboo board with carbon rails that's copping a hammering , & I'm convinced that's the ideal construction.
Get a specific light wind board and an all round board cause it'll give you fantastic range. No single board will cover everything.
cheers
Col
life skills instructor
Thanks col, good advice , I appreciate the lighthearted approach to the post, that's the way this site used to work.
Steve id love to take a few demos but from manly that's a 2 hour trip, I could be in Newcastle as quick . I might do that when I'm not working and traffic is low. Again the offer is appreciated again .
Col think your right about the construction , things are improving year on year re construction of boards , let's wait and see what this beast is I'm getting from south Africa .
Cheers
Hi I think you are on the right track. Light with the right construction. I have tyred a number of boards they are all good but can be compromised by there weight AND are to rigid I am 52 years old .76kg and kite straped 5'x 18" ,1.7KG board up to 4' waves and 5' 8" ,2kg for bigger waves .I like a board that will make me improve Try to test as much as possible its worth it. Merimbula Classic is great way to see and test boards in Nov
Thanks very much , the board is on order so hopefully I'll be reviewing pending wind this winter
Strapped or not , if not strapped you will save your self some money if you get a second hand board of the racks , preferably with a flatter entry rocker and about 6'foot bye about 18 3/4 and 2 1/4 thick, thats pretty much what I ride and you will have a fat time.Thats the beauty of kiteing with a surfboard , you can surf a board a lot smaller than you usually would surf and it's so much fun , it really brings the grommet out of you,
hope I've been some help, o I am also 87kg,
