Directional board recommendations

Bear · Since 16 Feb 2013 33 Posts Tacoma

I’m a decent twin tip rider that wants to move up to a directional board with foot straps. I’m 5’11” and 184lbs. I kite in the Gorge but primarily in Baja at Los Barriles. I’m looking for board recommendations. A friend loves her Duotone Whip but she rides strapless. I don’t think the Whip has foot strap inserts. Thanks

knotwindy · Since 25 Sep 2011 607 Posts Addicted

You can put foot straps on any board with stick ones from NSI. They work.
And there are a lot of boards that will work to start with. Any board 5’5” to 6’3” and about 18-20 “ wide will be fine to learn on. Flatter planes up faster and is slightly easier to learn foot switch. More rockered turns better and is more fun on the wave face. But they will all work to learn on while having fun getting wet.
You will get lots of other opinions about folks ‘favorite’ board. Try lots of them to see which style you like best.

shred_da_gorge · Sun Jul 31, 22 5:02 pm

Lots of great advice on surfboard progression in previous threads found with the search feature. I still have the Slingshot Converter for travel and it's the board I learned both kite-foiling and surfboarding (well, Angry Swallow, it's predecessor) on. Just saw one at Pure Stoke for $500 but you can definitely get cheaper surfboards.

I don't agree any surfboard will work, and it depends where and how you'll ride. If you plan to learn in the Event Site area start with a wide board with little rocker and less of a traditional surfboard shape. The Whip is like the Slingshot "T-Rex" style which I believe is what you'll learn fastest on, and if I'm not mistaken they make two versions - one with inserts.

I'm 6'4", 185# and ride the Slingshot Mixer in the 5'8" length, which would be OK for you to progress on (it's called a "groveler" board, designed for smaller and mushier surf). The Converter and Angry Swallow were 5'4" and a bit more snub-nosed like the Whip. Windance has a variety on closeout but some of the narrower boards I think you'll want to stay away from. In my opinion, your learner board may become your light wind board, but I think if you eventually want to try foiling the Converter, or Cabrinha's equivalent to it, would be a good value for learning both. (Cabrinha makes some really nice surfboards, IMO, I've just never owned one).

Good luck!

Bear · Since 16 Feb 2013 33 Posts Tacoma

Thanks for the good suggestions. I will be primarily learning in Los Barriles. There are decent small to medium waves there that I have lots of fun on with my twin tip. That is what has inspired me to try a surfboard. I'd like to find a good used one if possible. I will look around the shops in Hood River next week.

shred_da_gorge · Sun Jul 31, 22 7:47 pm

Celero/Celeritas may be a good one as well, especially for medium size beach waves. If you're learning in the ocean on breaking faces, a little more rocker is fine. Your other decision is whether to ride with three fins or four. I'm a quad guy, but most people I know who ride the coast prefer thrusters. (My original Angry Swallow let me ride with three or four, like several boards out there, and I just grew to prefer four).

user124 · Since 02 Aug 2012 391 Posts Portland Obsessed

Celero/celeritas is my favorite board for Los Barriles. The swell can get pretty good size there but isn't super steep and doesn't need that much rocker. For the Oregon coast or even big days at Rufus I like something with a bit more rocker.

Of course everyone has an opinion when it comes to kite surfboards, and people often don't agree. There are so many different styles of riding so you have to find what works best for how you ride. That's also half the fun, and may lead you to end up with a garage full of different boards.

Bear · Since 16 Feb 2013 33 Posts Tacoma

What would be a good length for my size and Los Barriles?

jblum · Since 13 Jul 2008 306 Posts The Gorge Obsessed

Hey Bear-

I ride LB all winter and the Gorge all summer. I LOVE my Duotone ProWhip (now called Whip SLS). I'm 6'3" and 190# and ride the 5'1". For learning, the 5'3" or 5'5" might suit you better for a bit easier water starts, transitions and learning the moves on a directional.

There are a lot of SS folks in the Gorge, and Slingshot makes nice boards, but I think that the Duotone boards are superior in construction, weight, shape and performance. Also, you mentioned riding strapped, and that's cool, but I think that most people eventually move toward strapless. I don't think there is a good reason to ride surfboard with straps in the gorge or LB if you eventually want to go strapless.... save yourself the trouble with the straps and just start with a strapless board!

The Duotone boards are more "freestyle" influenced than some of the other ones out there, but if you've been riding a twin tip a lot, I actually like the shape of the board better and find it more comfortable for learning directional moves like tacks and jibes. The more "surf" influenced shapes move faster on the water and are less forgiving for making transitions, so if you're learning, I really think the Duotone designs are better in that arena. Happy surfing!

Bear · Since 16 Feb 2013 33 Posts Tacoma

Thanks for the advice and Whip recommendation. Regarding strapless, I really like jumping and getting air on my twin tip. I'm not great at it but getting better. I don't want to give that up by going strapless and don't want to be body dragging all over looking for my board. I totally get the transition to strapless and just going strapless has been recommended before to me.
I appreciate your thoughts on this.

knotwindy · Since 25 Sep 2011 607 Posts Addicted

When the waves are good and the wind is from a good direction strapless is great fun and the best. But for me when it is choppy or gusty and I want to jump straps are the way, especially on smaller boards where you can’t really move your feet much anyway. I’ll never be as good as the guys you see on the vids who ride all the time and get new gear for free so I choose what is the most fun for the conditions for me.

craz z · Since 01 Dec 2008 130 Posts Montana Stoked

craz z · Since 01 Dec 2008 130 Posts Montana Stoked

Slappysan · Since 13 Jun 2012 309 Posts Obsessed

knotwindy · Since 25 Sep 2011 607 Posts Addicted

Bear · Since 16 Feb 2013 33 Posts Tacoma

Some great info here. Thanks so much. I am actually pretty good at body dragging but didn't understand that a surfboard will usually not be very far away.

kwalshpc · Since 24 Oct 2014 143 Posts Stoked

My 2 cents - just get one and start riding it. Probably around 5'8" and around 18.5" wide.

You shouldn't have to spend much. 2-3 hundred. You will see what its all about, decide if it's for you and have an opinion on what your next board should be. You'll probably be able to sell the first one for a few hundred.

McLovin · Since 11 Sep 2017 284 Posts Corbett Obsessed

Hey Bear!

Most of what the regulars have said is good advice...kind of

Here is another way to go --->. JUST SAY NO to the constant pressure to do the NEXT THING. This type of lemming behavior will have you WING'IN in no time short.

IMO - Straps are the best part of kiting. TWIN TIPS have some major advantages. They have 2 tips which is four times more FUN if you count toe side, which can give you 8 times the creativity in your transitions, this leads to 16 times more fun with aerial moves, inverted tricks lead to another 32 dimensions of movement, with friends you can achieve 64 times the smiles and eventually 128 degrees of bliss.

Just sayin' be your OWN Bear - Nick Jacobson rides a twin most of the time. Not sure who is crashing with their board 50 yards away from them? - Nothing else Butter slides like a good TT - ride smooth - ride fast - flow like water.

So funny how there is a cult of anti-Twin Tip thinking out there - try a good one and you'll see just how FUN a TT can be...

There are MANY PATHS to follow - make your own...

My .02

Mc