Kitesurf Beginners Guide
All you need to know about kites, kiteboards, wetsuits and harnesses and how to select your first setup! All the knowledge you need is provided below as well as product examples and complete sets. Need help finding the right kitesurf gear? Feel free to contact us!
What subject do you want to know more about?
Buying a kiteboard
We help you as a beginner in making the right kiteboard choice
Kiteboards for beginners
On this page will tell you all you need to know about Kiteboards when you just started this kitesurfing. We help you to answer the most general questions about kites boards:
- Which types of kiteboards are there?
- What about the shape of a Kiteboard and how does these affect my riding?
- What is the right kiteboard size for a beginner?
- What size of fins should I choose for my kiteboard?
Which types of kiteboards are there?
The same as for kites, there are specific kiteboards for each discipline. We have 3 main categories for kiteboards. Most sold kiteboards are Twintips, beside Twintips we also have Directionals (wave boards), which are ridden in waves or for strapless freestyle sessions and finally we have Foil boards for light wind sessions.
The type of kiteboard you will know from your lessons are Twintips. These can be ridden in both directions and are the type of board to learn and progress on. We will first focus here more on Twintips, as these are the boards to go with in the beginning. After a while, maybe one or two seasons, riders often want a smaller, more agile and more performance-oriented board. Then, your entry level twintip kiteboard will suit you greatly as a light wind kiteboard.
What about the shape of a Kiteboard and how does these affect my riding?
For a beginner we advise a board with not too much rocker, what will give you more rail to make it easier to ride upwind. Often kiteboards with less rocker have less channels, which makes it easier to get up to speed after your water start.
The rocker describes how much the board is bent up from the middle towards the tips. A kiteboard with a flat rocker starts planning earlier and can be ridden at higher speeds. However, a board with more rocker absorbs the chop better and often translates into a softer landing.
The outline of the board is what you see, when you put the board on the ground and look at it from the top. With some kiteboards, the tips are rounder, which often results in a smoother, more carvy feel. If the tips are squarer, you will have more surface to push down into the water when jumping. This means you will have more pop.
Most kiteboards have a single or double concave and/ or channels at the bottom. All this channels the water flow under the board. This provides grip with the water which translates in more control but will slow down your kiteboard just a little bit.
What is the right kite board size for a beginner?
Size matters – larger boards offer more stability and have more rail surface, which makes it easier to ride upwind. Therefore, your first kiteboard should be a bit larger than the one you will ride once you are an intermediate kitesurfer.
Here is a table to help you find the right Size. Check for your size your weight (weight kg) to find the right board size for you.
This table is an indication of the size, the final size depends on a lot of factors. If you have any doubts, just contact us for a personal advice.
| Body weight | Board size |
|---|---|
| 45 - 60 kg | 132-136 |
| 60 - 75 kg | 134-140 |
| 75 - 90 kg | 138-142 |
| 90 - 105 kg | 140-144 |
| 105+ kg | 144 or bigger |
What size of fins should I choose for my kiteboard?
There are different sizes and shapes of fins for your kiteboard or directional. As a beginner you start with a twintip and normally you should always chose larger fins, because it will help you carve better and it will make it easier to ride upwind. Normally size 4 / 4,5 / 5 are standard when you buy a new twintip. Smaller fins are chosen when you start to freestyle or wakestyle.
All of the above provide a good orientation for you on what’s important to consider when buying your first board. To find out, which kiteboard in which size exactly will make it easy for you to start, learn and progress, please do not hesitate to contact us. Together, we will discuss all factors like your current level, size and weight and home spot to find the right board for you. We are a shop run by kiters for kiters – so do not wait and make use of our experience and service! We have all started somewhere, so we are happy if we can make your progression as easy and successful as possible.
Need help finding the right Kiteboard? Feel free to contact us at any time!
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