snowboard bindings for water?

kitesurf-skim · Since 26 Feb 2016 2 Posts New Member

Just wondering if I could put my snowboard bindings on my twintip and buy a pair of hyperlite boots for them. What are the main differences between kiteboard and snowboard bindings? Would they be too stiff? Maybe I could just cut the back heelback down. I noticed the kite specific ones have quite a bit shorter backs. Cheer's

Matt V · Sat Feb 27, 16 8:23 am

Sure they work on water............

But with a snowboard.

https://vimeo.com/groups/229181/videos/86767953

Water was about 8-12 inches deep in the back of the bay, but the fun stuff was 4-6 out in the middle. This was the first warm day of the year with about 10inches or so of good ice. I still like local kiting even if it is at a tiny lake in Nebraska.

Padding in a snowboard binding is half to mostly in the boot itself. You may have to wear your old snowboard boots in the water. Hyperlites could work but I would try them on snow if you had the chance. If you use your snowboard boots, they should be super flexy when wet. When I used to swim out to the ice up in South Dakota at the end of the snow season, I would use a dry suit and put neoprene socks inside of my snowboard boots. You can float, but making progress is difficult if the ice is more than 50ft from shore.

Safety wise - you will need to bail on the boots if you need to swim on open water for a good distance. So lace ups may not be a good choice. Snowboard bindings do not have any float either. So see if your board floats before you give it a go.

kitesurf-skim · Since 26 Feb 2016 2 Posts New Member

wow, that's a cool idea for a snowboard. ice/slush kiting. You must need sharp edges to stay up wind.
I think my snowboard boots would be too stiff and might sink. I have an old pair with laces I may just try out in the shallows.
It would definitely be an issue trying to swim while stuck in a pair of tight snowboard boots though. I have an old pair that I could modify though.

Matt V · Sat Feb 27, 16 6:50 pm

Once the air hits around 38degrees, and the sun is out, a glare ice surface turns mushy for the first few millimeters. With a bit of microscopic dust that is on all surfaces outside, you also get a micro pored (peaks and bowls) effect. And honestly, I would use (and was in this vid) a trashed out snowboard edge that you would not want to use on a ski hill. No sharp edges for me. But it has to be warm.

So if you can do it safely with enough ice, give it a shot. Just beware that this is only feasible from a safety standpoint if it is the first day of warm weather with weeks of cold preceding it.