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Rider: Weight,Level 75 kg
Style: surf free style
Weather: 15 to 20
Build Quality: 8/10
Satisfaction: ?/10
Disclosure: (e.g. work at a shop/team rider etc)
My Comments:
anyone use heel keepers on there strapless surfboards?
i've heard they're good???
Is the build quality better than 8/10?
After the last two sessions at wedge and if you are a free ride dog styler (mask, 2013) I'd say the mako 140 or 150. Best board I've used in the surf including Any surfboard.
Disagree with above...
You want to be in the surf? Get a surfboard...
Makes sense to me.
Whose trying to match the feeling of riding a surfboard with a kite? Man you guys are so far down the rabbit hole its sad. My god you are missing out. Oh well, each to their own I suppose.
Sooner you realise. I was riding surf boards in 2000 you snotty nosed juvenile while everyone else was on TT's. I still for a laugh get out strapless on my Murray Bouton quad, just to change it up. The sooner I realise! Christ get some water time then get back to me, in about 5 years. If I want to surf I will surf, have done since I was seven for gods same. When I kite, I kite, not this pretend sh1t on a SB most you wallys do on a daily basis.
Then again I do watch the Ben Wilson movies more than I would like. Those guys rip. you guys go up and back with some gay ass kind of bottom turn and cutback, you might as well windsurf, even though a good windsurfer leave you all for dead on a wave, especially a wave of any decent size.
Anyhow just thought I'd rev it up a bit. There a plenty of ways to 'surf' a wave on a kite, but you SB heads, and there is a lot of ya have got to stop thinking its the only and best way. Because from where I sit and watch, you look lame and boring. Then again maybe the red thumbs are right, dear me.
Pretty harsh comment Eppo, especially since the question was "what is the best SB for surf riding". You're the one pimping this toy mate and I believe that if it was that great then more brand would come up with their version of it.
Anyway, such a comment from someone with just an average level is IMO far fetched. I just remember you demoing a Vegas and a C4, there was nothing impressive at all, just an intermediate level, nothing to be proud of....
I guess if I want my bottom turns looking more gay, I might ask you for some professional advices!
What's the best board for surf riding was the question. not surfboard. Interesting how you put another word in there that didn't exist.
I think that in itself speaks volumes.
Anyhow mine was a generic comment about the elitism that has crept into the world of surfboard riders that smash mushy lips in trig slop. if I lived in Margaret river or gnarloo yeh i would be reaching for my surfboard.
But we don't. Even the guy I kite with who already has two surfboards for kiting and at least 8 surfboards in his garage (an excellent surfer in his own right) is looking into a board line the mako. Starting to wake up!
Stop pressing the new guys who read this that surfboards are the only way to go because they are not. They do not suite out conditions the majority of days. Wake the farq up.
And getting personal about my riding is average livit. I didn't target you personally.
Also I'm not pimping the board nothing in it for me just offering an alternative and a good one.
Yep that was uncalled for I apologise surfingboye, my bad.
Listen a little history lesson maybe...
Back in 2000 I was taught by Ian young a local scab guy. At that stage he made his win design surf boards. Now while everyone else was riding twin tips, even through the old school days of early to mid 2000s, crew were riding mainly TTs and other terrible mutants. Everyone thought he was a kook, everyone doubted what he was doing. I remember I said once after a sunset session they will wake up one day and see the value of using surfboards. ( now there were some crew using them but I'm talking about the main).
So I rode this surfboards and other cheapies that I kept snapping (go figure) for a good 5 years.
So I know what a surfboard offers, I can ride strapped or unstrapped and I do understand that for surfing surfing with a kite in decent waves the SB is king.
I then gravitated to mutants as I was finding SBs were of little use in summer when the wind really blows and their is no swell. Some days were awesome on the SB but mostly it was flattish Perth slop.
Also I was enjoying the challenge of a some TT style tricks, transitions etc and powered riding in what surf was to offer.
Since then I've ridden lots of manufactures SBs borrowed from fellow riders etc and my own surfboards I use in the surf, taking it easy of course.
So don't assume someone who rides a TT like a shinn monk and a mutant like a Mako has no idea about kiting with a SB! I was kiting with a SB before this hallelujah praise the SB god phenomena.
But I see they are limited unless you reside in decent spots that make the capital expenditure worth while. But even then I have so much fun riding powered on a mutant or TT I still think a lot of my riding will be using these boards.
What sh1ts me is this elitist bullsh1t I read on both forums espousing that kiting on a SB is more evolved more technical, the ultimate in kiting. Tell that to the new freestyles and they will just laugh in your face and so will I.
It seems these SB riders may have a go at crew 'mowing the lawn' as it is something lesser, but if someone pipes up to mention the limitations on a SB especially in Perth conditions, they get met with a barrage of absolute Bullcrap about he pinnacle of the sport residing in using a SB.
Mate to me a SB in Perth is no better than mowing the lawn, with a wave chucked in, which is mowing the lawn mainly as Most of you never leave the water! Some o and it looks and feels cool ( I know cause even on a SB I can't resist). And yet there are some crew down the local here that just rip on a SB and I love going down to watch. Jason, Marty, Daniel (one crazy as powered mofo man) are awesome and I appreciate how they ride.
I know there are a lot of guys who feel and think the same but they are generally afraid to say something on here due to the swarm of born again evangelist SB riders claiming they are at the peak skill and performance of kiting and verbally bashing anyone who says otherwise. A lot of experienced crew just give up and never post anything because they just can't stand the naive crap that pours out of some crews mouth. And that is a loss to those reading and learning about our sport.
I say to anyone new or getting into the sport keep your mind open to all possibilities. Assess your local conditions, assess where you want to go and don't assume that using a SB is the ultimate, cause in my mind it doesn't come close, unless ideal conditions, where wave riding is actually decent. That is you could actually surf them as well.
mako 140's great in the surf for a cushy ride in chop or in messy conditions if ur not interested in strapless.
Otherwise,try a surfboard and demo what kit u can get ur hands on.
Each board give their own stoke in the surf,but it depends on ur style of riding and ur local wave conditions.
Very interesting comments from all. However, lets not forget the reasons why we all love this sport. It doesn't matter whether you ride a sb or a tt it's just about getting out there and enjoying the wind.
Personally I find riding a surf board boring as bat ****! It is limited and no way, and never will be, an evolution in the world of kitesurfing. I have been kiting for 10 yrs and began the sport on a tt in the surf. A few crew started riding surfbaords and after watchng them going up and back doing nothing for a few seasons, i decided to give it a go. At the start i found it challenging learning to jibe and doing cut backs on mushy perth waves, but after 2 seasons i found i was getting bored and wanted a bit more out of this great sport. I agree with eppo that most of the time the surf is mushy here in perth and Unless i was surfing main break margs or 3m greenheads i wouldnt even consider riding a surf board now.
Kiting
For whatever reason this particular topic brings the passion to the surface, and thats great we are all addicted to this sport so why not . however there is one thing Eppo is a serious kiter and knows his stuff, so go ahead and disagree on the board type, but to question his ability to kite and his knowledge is simply not right if fact if he is just an intermediate level kiter the rest of us should just give up right now . I noticed cevbw that you have listed your style on your profile as SURF FREE STYLE , so why not a mutant type of board , surely this sport is about fun so be true to your self and dont give in to peer pressure. I try to be diplomatic as as mates suggest that i should ride a S/B as i love the waves , but i also love the free style as well in the swell so i will stick to a T/T cheers to all , continue to celebrate not hate , JGF
Cheers for that guys. Back to topic if you really want to go down the surfboard route then the last one I rode (a few weeks back) was a wainman gambler. really good compromise between getting a low end and performing in the surf. Worth a demo.
Nothing can beat a custom though.
yep I'd be on a SB in that for sure. Not sure I've seen anything like that in the metro.
This is my point, we don't get conditions like that (be quite honest I do t think I'd even ride that wave that's insane) maybe you guys slashing the mushy lip at trigg have a good imagination.
hehe. i'm also amused with the "you can't surf a wave unless your on a surfboard crowd" very amusing.
As you can probably tell my amusement over the past 5 years has now turned to just being downright annoyed! What annoys me the most is if you offer an alternative to a SB then they assume you haven't or can't use a SB and that using a SB is somehow the most evolved pinnacle of the sport.
I suppose I'm just trying to establish some balance. I to have had some very memorable sessions on a SB they have their place and their is no denying they get you closest to that surfing feel. Me, I'd prefer to actually surf when there is no wind and good waves. Then get powered and nuts when the wind blows.
Each to their own but its time the SB enthusiasts gained some perspective in my opinion.
It's a shame the OP hasn't been back to collect the info from this great intellectual debate.
[}:)]
I'm still not convinced on mutants though, got any impressive vids to post?
As long as you push yourself and continue progressing your surf style, the sky is the limit to what you can achieve... Same goes for any aspect/ discipline of the sport, and I can respect that...!
North kontact for mast high and above
North WAM for everything in between
Rider: Me
Weight:70kg
Level: Humble
Style: Unhooked stapless up to monster sized swells then the Kontact comes out
Weather: 18 - 40 knots
Build Quality: 9/10
Satisfaction: 9/10
Disclosure: I ride for me, my style, my limitations and will charge at anything.
My Comments: ridden the North Kontact for 3 years now. Started on a 6' 1" 2009 model as a first SB and gradually left the TT gathering dust. Can't comment too much about the performance of my first Kontact as I was still learning so will mention some of the finer points of my current model the 2011 5'10". An absolute no holds barred down the line machine, has the ability to run down the fastest section without slipping out on the bottom turn, excels with speed on big waves. I have used in in smaller stuff and its a lot harder to get vertical because of the narrow gun shape. Perfect for down the line from head height to the largest sets I can find in the Midwest. Bringing me neatly to the WAM, a new addition 2013 5' 8". On a personal level found that I couldn't push strapped riding in smaller surf anymore and wanted a challenge hence lost the staps. Great board in anything from metro mush to 3/4 mast where it starts to slip around and become s little to skatey for the conditions. In quad mode very snappy bottom turns and easy to make quick consecutive turns on a wave. Tri mode a bit more down the line but the volume and size of the board is the hindrance here. Both great boards and build quality is fantastic, the WAM is so light compared to the older Kontact but that's board technology over the years.
TTs are sick for small waves if you have a quick, floaty, little wave kite like a drifter, reo, religion etc but if you're on more a freeride kite you're better off on a surfboard if only in that it will help you stay on the wave while your kite's 'mushing' about.
Your big floaty SB, is designed to stay on a wave & cruise the city beach slop so ya don't have to be evil kenevil on your TT ta tighten up the lines!
So your board choice depends largely on the type of kite your packing.
In bigger scarier mush I found the TTs nice enough even with not so gr8 kites because once you're planing up to speed on a bigger face, you can fairly easily hold that speed due to the wave momentum & have a sick run if the winds right....if it's not you can surf real fast straight at the kite an then it's back to get a wave kite! When u've done that, you can take out your mum's
ironing board and still rip, but try to get one with a little more rocker than your normal IB if you wanna send spray over those SB riders who dare to ride next to you
