EQUIPMENT GUIDE
RECOMMENDED GEAR FOR YOUR
LESSONS
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GEAR GUIDE
RECOMMENDED GEAR FOR AFTER YOUR
LESSONS
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EQUIPMENT GUIDE
RECOMMENDED GEAR FOR YOUR
LESSONS
The
learning experience is challenging enough without having the wrong gear. We have
found that using equipment specifically designed for learning or chosen for its
user friendly characteristics, will enhance the learning process. You will have
greater success, more fun, and maintain a higher level of motivation. Using this
equipment.
Personal Gear for All Lessons:
Wear Sturdy Swimwear (board shorts), this goes for men and women. Wear a rash-guard shirt.
If you are buying one, get a long sleeved rashguard. Bring your booties if you have them.
We have them if you don't. If you have a "shorty" wetsuit, bring it along.
Always wear a good waterproof sunscreen, that is designed for surfers. Good sunscreen will be at
least 30+ or 40+ SPF,
and it will not wash off or burn the eyes. Wear a hat, or baseball cap.
Wear your hat at all times when you are not in the water.
Wear sunglasses, preferably polarized, at all times on the beach.
Ideally you should purchase water-sunglasses, like the Sea-Specs or Oakley
Water-jackets.
Bring plenty of water to drink at the beach. Bring
all your usual medications (if any).
Bring your lunch in a cooler if
you want to spend the whole day at the beach.
Bring a set of dry
clothes to change into.
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| Gear
Selection: when you are doing one of our beginner lessons all
the gear is supplied. The instructor selects the gear for you based
on your weight, experience, and the conditions of the day. There are
different sized boards and sails to choose from, and generally a
bigger person will need a bigger board and sail than a smaller
person. Bigger boards are easier to balance on, and have more
stability. Bigger sails are heavier to lift, but have more power to
counterbalance with. Getting the right mix is part of the
instructor's skills and experience. You instructor will usually ask
you about your experiences in different sports to gauge your fitness
level, and athletic abilities. Don't feel embarrassed is they
recommend a big board, it just means that they want you to have a
good time. We often see beginners going into too smaller boards
before they are ready. This means frustration, and less time on top
of the board, and more time trying to get back on. |
| What is
Beginner Gear ?, Beginner gear is equipment the was either
specifically designed for use by beginners, or is gear that has
great advantages for beginners. Often when they design gear for
pros, some of the design benefits will also be beneficial for
beginners, and will translate into better gear for beginners too.
Selecting the right gear for the situation, makes learning much
easier. When we are learning so much at once, we don't want you to
struggle with your gear also. Why make learning harder than it has
to be. If you were Robinson Crusoe on a desert island with just one
board, you would do whatever it takes for as long as it takes to
learn to ride it. But fortunately now you don't have to. We have all
the beginner gear, in the school, and for rent. This way you can use
all the easy gear at first, and gradually step up onto more
challenging gear when you are ready. Take full advantage of all the
gear available, and your progress will be faster, and learning will
be more enjoyable. |
| Does
Size matter ?, Boards vary greatly in their dimensions and
designs. There are different classes of board, that are generally
described by their intended function. "All round boards", "fun
boards", "Slalom Boards", "Race Boards", and "Wave Boards" etc. In
the all round and beginner class boards, the sizes vary greatly. It
is important to know the specifications, so the you know the gear's
limitations. A big dude, will not be happy on a small ladies board.
Generally it is better to have a board that is too big when
learning, but this is just a generalization, and there are specific
cases when bigger is not better. Your instructor can best advise
you. When it comes to sails and kites, smaller is better because
they have less power and are lighter for learning. The
characteristics that we are really looking for are, Stability: Low
Power, and lightweight! When you are taking lessons to use the gear,
your instructor will also be teaching you about the gear, and what
gear is suitable for your ability level. |
Basic
Measurements, Boards vary greatly in their shape and design,
even if they are designed for the same purpose. the purpose may be
to be used as a "beginner board", but the different board designers
may have different ideas on how to achieve the ideal board. There
are some general design conventions, but also there are a few design
concepts unique to certain designers. There are two important
measurements to be considered with boards, and that is length width
and volume. The length will give the first indication of size, but
some boards are long and fat, some are long and skinny, so we need
to know the Volume also known as displacement. The volume gives an
indication of the stability, and the amount of weight the board can
carry.
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Basic Measurements |
| Length |
feet inches and meters, or centimeters |
Gives a basic indication of the size and range of the board |
Longer is more easy |
| Volume |
given in Liters |
Gives an indication of the carrying capacity of the board,
also stability |
Bigger is easier |
| Width |
in inches or centimeters |
The boards max width, indicates the stability and speed. |
Wider is more stable. |
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Other Measurements |
| Wide Point |
Measured as a percentage of the boards length. |
Wide point is a measure of design,
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wide point back is stable at lower speeds. |
| Rocker |
Measured in inches or descriptively. |
Rocker is the bottom curve that helps a board to turn, but
also affects stability and speed. |
A little tail rocker and lots of nose rocker for beginners. |
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| Don't be
confused: Board statistics, and technical details can easily
overwhelm the novice. Don't worry about the tech stuff, there are
always friendly guys at the shop who are more than happy to talk
"Tech Specs" with you and explain all the design features of
different boards. Just keep in mind that you should start paying
attention to the gear now, so that one day you will be able to
describe your ideal board to the rental guy, of the retail sales
clerk. or maybe even Santa Clause. |
| Beginner
Windsurf Boards: will be between 11-12feet and 180 liters up to
230 liters, they have enough stability to stand on easily when not
moving, and they can support the weight of the sail too. Wider &
bigger is best for the first few lessons. After a few lessons when
the student has better balance skills, they may noy need so much
stability, and may want to trade down to a slightly narrower/smaller
board. Smaller boards are faster, and turn easier. |
Beginner Windsurf Lesson:
Naish Kailua 200L with a 2.0m - 3.0m school sail, larger sail for heavier sailors.
Sailors over 220lbs may want to use the 230 liter "Naish Kailua".
(Students should bring booties, waterproof sunscreen, rash-vest or tee-shirt, drinking water or drinks)
The biggest most stable
board you can find, and a lightweight sail, with a low boom. Do not
jump on a friend's shortboard, you will be totally frustrated. Most
actual beginner boards are only found in schools, which is a good
reason to buy a lesson. Many rental fleets will not bother stocking a
true beginner's board, so you are just given the biggest board they
have, (or the biggest one they are prepared to lift onto your car's
roof-racks.) |
Waterstart Lesson:
Transition Boards 120liters for lighter sailors with 4.0m - 4.5m sail.
Transition Boards 140liters with 4.5m -5.0m sail is standard
for avg sailors.
Transition Boards 160liters with 5.0m - 5.6m wave sail for heavier sailors.
(No centerboards or cambered sails please)
A transition style board,
or a big floaty short-board (aka funboard). Not too big though,
because it is an advantage if the board can sink slightly under your
weight. |
Harness & Footstrap lesson: (First time shortboarders)
Transition Boards 130liters (with 3 footstraps) for lighter sailors
Transition
Boards 160liters (with 3 footstraps) is standard for avg sailors.
Transition Boards 180liters (with a retracting centerboard, with 3 footstraps) for heavier sailors.
(wave sails preferred, slightly underpowered, waist harness with a high hook)
A transition style board, is a big floaty short-board (aka funboard). When learning the straps you need an easy planing board that has a wide unsinkable tail. |
Shortboard Jibe Lesson:
General rule; floaty slalom boards with slightly underpowered sails.
(Students should already be using the harness and footstraps).
For longboard jibes we do a warm up exercise on the Kailuas. (with the Centerboard up).
A floaty wave/bump style board is best, is a big floaty short-board (aka funboard). When learning the straps you need an easy planing board that has a wide unsinkable tail.
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Jumping & Looping lessons:
Bump & Jump 120L should be the maximum size board for jumping class.
100L
Floaty waveboards, bump & jump boards are best for loop class.
All students must wear a helmet, and wetsuit or impact jacket.
Loop lessons can be punishing on the gear, so do not use an eggshell strength board. Use a stronger production board, with a nose-guard. (for the board), (but one for yourself is not a bad idea either.). |
Beginner Surfing lessons:
9ft longboards like the "BZ foamy" for students up to 185lbs.
10 foot longboards for heavier surfers 185-210 pounds.
11 foot longboards for big folk 210-230 pounds
Children can use the 8ft BZ if they're very small.
We recommend a rash vest and booties.
Big is beautiful. We have more success and more fun using a slightly oversized surfboard. Larger boards are easier to paddle and have more stability, than shorter ones.
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GEAR GUIDE
RECOMMENDED GEAR FOR AFTER YOUR
LESSONS
Once you have learned the basics, you will want to buy your own gear that
will grow with you as you progress. Having used user-friendly gear in the
learning process, was just the stepping stone to something a little more
challenging. In this section we recommend the gear that is quality and
offers the most versatility for a rapidly progressing student.
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ACCESSORIES
BOARDIES
 Wear
Sturdy Swimwear (board shorts), this goes for men and women.
Shorts offer protection against board rash and sand infiltration. Surf
shorts will be made of a synthetic fabric so they quick dry, and have a
tied fly so they don't fall off in the surf, or Velc ro
fly with a snap, Not a rusty metal zipper. Newer shorts have done away
with the velcro fly too, and have a fabric insert , instead of the
scratchy velcro, fly closure. Good shorts will allow
freedom of movement. My latest O'Neill shorts have stretch panels made
of ultra thin neoprene. I like to have one pair of shorts for every
day-per-week I surf. I surf seven days per week, so I have seven pairs.
I try to rinse off my shorts in fresh water after every use, I jump in
the shower with them and kick them around in the soapy water, -This is
the surfer's laundry trick. Check out the stretchy fabrics in some of
the newer board shorts. They are way more comfortable. Some of the
high-end shorts incorporate neoprene and rubber in the stretchy parts,
so you cannot put them in the clothes dryer. A good pair of shorts will cost about
$50.00 - $60.00 |
RASH
GUARDS
Wear a rash-guard shirt for sun protection or under a wetsuit
to increase warmth, and to reduce friction that could chafe and cause a
rash.
Rashguards are also way better than sunscreen for protecting your skin. When you are buying one, get a long sleeved rashguard for the most
protection. There are different styles and makes, some are slinky Lycra,
and there are polypro fleecy fabric for more warmth. Take care when
choose a lighter color because white becomes transparent when wet. |
BOOTIES
 Bring
your booties if you have them. You
can get thin ones or thick ones. Split toe or round toe. Try them on and
check your footstraps to see if they will still fit.
Generally for use with boardsports you
will want a bootie with a relatively thin sole, especially when you are
using footstraps. Surfers prefer a thin sole bootie so that they can
feel the board better with their feet. A sports bootie will often have a
velcro strap to secure the booting tight so it will not get ripped off
on the waves. booties provide better grip, but most of all they will
provide protection from rocks, coral, and sea urchins etc. |
WETSUITS
 On
Maui, if you have a "shorty" wetsuit, you should wear it. When
buying a wetsuit, get a good fit!!! Comfort is king. For more
information on wetsuits check out my read-online books. Buying a wetsuit
should be done with care. Take the time to try as many different suits
as you can, which is a difficult task in itself. Do not get rushed into
a decision or swayed by
discounts. Select an appropriate style and thickness of neoprene for the
water temperature in your area. In Hawaii you would not think about
needing a wetsuit but there are toimes when you need a little
insulation. Remember that water conducts heat faster than air, and wind
chill, on wet skin cools you down fast. The stronger the wind, the
cooler you get. |
 SUNSCREEN
Always wear a good waterproof sunscreen
(sunblock), that is designed for surfers. Good sunscreen will be a 30+ or 40+ SPF.
It should be water-proof and it will not wash off or burn the eyes. I
use one thick gel for my face, and I use a separate lotion for my
shoulders etc. Some are alcohol based (no thanks) Bullfrog is well
known, but gets in my eyes. "Zinc Oxide" cream is a good sun blocker, it
is the one with the distinctive white (or pink) color, that does not rub
in. The active ingredient in many sunscreens is "Titanium dioxide". I
have tried every waterproof sunscreen and still prefer to use the Aloe
Gator Gel (not the lotion) for my face. It is so thick it does not wash
off. You actually have to wash your face properly after using it, or it
will contribute to pimples (clogged pores). It is not available
everywhere, so when I see it I buy several large tubes of the stuff. It
is about fifteen bucks per tube. Women with sensitive skin might prefer
the Shisiedo Sunblock at $25 for a stick or a small bottle. |
 HATS
Wear a hat, or baseball cap. Wear your hat at all times when you are not in the water.
The bigger the brim the better. but that is until the wind comes up, You
may need to downsize your hat as you downsize your sails. Make sure the
hat has a good strap to keep it from blowing away. Wear a hat in the
water (when you are not wearing a helmet. We like the FCS hats with the
neoprene chin strap. These stay on good and protect your head from sun
and scrapes. Some hats have wide floppy brims that will fold down over
your eyes at the critical moment. Get one with a moderate width brim
that is stiff enough to withstand some strong wind while wet. |
SUNGLASSES
Wear sunglasses, preferably polarized, at all times on the beach,
& while driving etc.
And preferably you also should
 wear eye protection on the water.
Ideally you should purchase water-sunglasses, like the Oakley Water-jackets, or Sea-Specs.
I wear these surfing, windsurfing and kiteboarding. These reduce harsh
effects of sun, wind and salt spray on your eyes. Long term these
effects can damage your vision. If you wear prescription sunglasses,
make sure you have a secure strap when in the water. Better yet invest
in some prescription sports sunglasses that you can take in the water.
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HARNESSES |
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The
DaKine "Thermo" and "Pyro" waist harnesses, and the
Naish waist harnesses, are the simplest and easiest
harnesses to use, especially if you like the freedom the waist harness
provides. These harnesses are useful for kiteboard and windsurf.
(Hammerhead bars are for kiteboarding use only) get the generic hook if
you intend to use the harness for both sports. You may also want to get
a bar pad for under the spreader bar. Wear a rashguard under the harness
to eliminate the inevitable chaffage. |
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DaKine fusion seat
harness or the Naish Balance seat harness, for kiteboarding and windsurfing offer the most support and
comfort. (Hammerhead spreader bars are for kiteboarding use only) get the generic
hook if you intend to use the harness for both sports. The lower hook,
is great for lighter riders, and especially kiters with shorter arms
(women & kids). The seat harness doesn't ride up as much as a waist
harness, so they are great for weekend warriors and intermediate riders.
You will weant to wear boardshorts under these to give a little
protection under the leg straps. and sometimes a second layer of lycra
shorts helps too. |
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WINDSURFING GEAR |
Beginner Windsurf
equipment:
Hifly 335 Revo with a 2.0m - 3.0m school sail, larger sail for heavier sailors.
Sailors over 220lbs may want to rent the "Naish Kailua". These
wide style beginner boards are available in several different sizes & lengths.
Heavy people will want the 230 liter version, and lighter sailors might
prefer the 180 liter. Some boards of the larger boards will come equipped with a retractable center-board. These
boards will be the best on light winds.
Small lightweight sails will work best, Sail sizes will be relative to
the rider's weight.
 
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When setting up a new rig 'a la carte" get the most reliable mast and booms. We use and
recommend Naish masts.
and
HotSails HotStix |
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Waterstart equipment:
Wide style funboards 120-125liter with 4.5m -5.0m sail is standard.
Bump'n'jump 110 liter for lighter sailors with 4.0m - 4.5m sail.
Naish Titan 160liter with 5.0m - 5.6m wave sail for heavier sailors.
When learning the waterstart:
(No centerboards avoid using cambered sails.)
Note:
almost any board will work for waterstarting practice, and there are many
used boards that will fit the bill.
But ultimately the newer shapes that
have more floatation around the tail and teh footstrapos will be easier
to ride. |
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Shortboard Jibe equipment:
After you have mastered the shortboard basics the next challenge will be
mastering the jibe. Some boards are easier to jibe than others. As a general rule; floaty
wave/slalom boards with slightly underpowered sails work best.
(You should already be using the harness and footstraps and
waterstarting).
Your board should have a slightly curvy tail rocker. A bump & jump board
will foot steer a lot easier then a flatter slalom board. Your board should
have a single rear footstrap on the board's centerline. opr slightly
offset to leward side. This helps with the
pre-jibe bear away. |
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Harness & Footstrap equipment: (First time shortboarders)
A big Floaty 160 -182 liter board with good beginner placement straps
works best. these boards plane early, and are forgiving even when if not
kept in perfect trim. This is best for learning the harness and straps.
Then you can pare down your board size to about 120-140 liter for some
more speed and learning some basic jibing. Wave and bump sails work
best, keep the rig light and slightly underpowered until you can use the
harness and have got at least one foot in the footstraps.
(wave sails preferred, slightly underpowered, Waist harness with a high hook)
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Jumping & Looping equipment:
A bumpnjump 115l board should be the maximum size board for jumping class.
Floaty waveboards, bump & jump boards are best for loop class. The Naish
Wave, is an epoxy foam sandwich board with good strength to weight
characteristics. Wave sails, with short booms. Preferable 4.5m or smaller.
With strong carbon-fiber wave masts.
Wear a helmet like the Protec, Deluge, or Gath. A wetsuit will provide some
protection against scrapes, bruises and slaps. There are also some good
thin style impact jackets.
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SURFING GEAR |
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Beginner Surfing equipment:
9ft longboards like the "Surftech soft-top" for students up to 185lbs.
10 foot longboards for heavier surfers 185-210 pounds.
11 foot longboards for big folk 210-230 pounds
Children should use the 8ft BZ if they're very small.
We always recommend that you use a rash vest and wear booties.
*After your lesson you will want to take about one foot off the board length you used in your lesson.
*If you used a 10 foot board in the lesson, buy yourself a nine footer.
*some consideration should be given to your fitness level, and anyone else sharing the board with you.
*If two different size people are to share one board, you should choose the board to suit the heavier surfer. |
*After your lesson you will want to take about one foot off the board length you used in your lesson.
*If you used a 10 foot board in the lesson, buy yourself a nine footer.
*some consideration should be given to your fitness level, and anyone else sharing the board with you.
*If two different size people are to share one board, you should choose the board to suit the heavier surfer.
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FOAMIES: If
you have children learning to surf, a "foamie" board could be the best
first board for them. Foamies are a softer foam construction boards.
There are several types, that are more or less sophisticated. The "BZ"
brand foam board is the traditional beginner board. 8, 9, and 10 foot
sizes are available. these boards are the safest type, because they are
soft and they have soft plastic fins. These boards should be rinsed in
freshwater after use, and kept out of direct sunlight as much as
possible. Sun damage will age these boards prematurely.
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The 5' 6" Fish has a
wider surfboard template with a wide winged fish tail for a looser more
skateboardish style of surfing. The smaller size and width of this board
also give this board added float for those slower mushy conditions. With
a solid seven layer fiberglass stringer and Dow core, the fish has the
strength to take beatings from floaters, gauges, airs, etc. Other
features include: High density urethane fins for safety
and wave slashing ability Double tab leash tabs keep your leash securely
attached to your board Stainless steel screws secured on the top deck by
our exclusive urethane anchors hold your fins in place better than
plastic plugs and Structron dual fiberglass stringers
Shipping Weight: 10 lbs. |
SOFT-TOPS:
The softtop type board is a hard epoxy board with a foam skin over the
deck, these boards have the performance of regular boards, with more
durability. These boards are suited to adults and intermediate surfers.
SOFTOPS blend performance, safety and durability.
Their unique epoxy/fiberglass construction gives SOFTOPS a stiffness
that helps them out-perform sponge or soft surfboards. And their E.V.A.
foam-rubber deck-and-rail combination gives you extra safety, comfort
and traction without wax. Sizes available are: 5'6", 7'0", 7'6", 8'0",
8'4", 9'0", 10', 11', 12'. |
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Surftech
make a range of boards called soft-top, they are made of advanced
materials, styrofoam, epoxy, and have a distinctive EVA foam skin on the
entire deck. they do not need surf wax. The foam gives them grip, and
makes them softer to lie on. especially at the pressure points of the
hips and ribs. The foam skin also acts like a bumper that will protect
the board from many bumps and dings. However you have to were a
rashguard to protect from the rubbing. (These
boards are the number 1 choice of surf schools, and could be your choice
for your first board)
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*After your lesson you will want to take about one foot off the board length you used in your lesson.
*If you used a 10 foot board in the lesson, buy yourself a nine footer.
*some consideration should be given to your fitness level, and anyone else sharing the board with you.
*If two different size people are to share one board, you should choose the board to suit the heavier surfer.
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New Surf
Project make a line of lightweight epoxy styrofoam construction boards,
that are lighter and stronger than regular boards. they have a thin
plastic top-sheet that protects the board's finish from scratches. (your
second board) After your learning phase you may want to step up to the
NSP type construction. Still quite durable, but light enough to take you
to the next level. These boards will need wax and are best kept in a
padded bag.
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| Advanced
Surfing Equipment: mini tankers
and fun shapes are more challenging than longboards. They require more
paddling power and a steeper wave to ride. Shorter and wider styles
offer a good compromise of stability, easy paddling, and good turning
ability. Short "longboards" are also called mini-tankers. They are
characterized by a round nose similar to a longboard's nose-rider shape.
Fun shapes are fatter longer versions of the typical shortboard. They
have narrow noses and thinner rails at the tail. As the name suggests,
they are fun to ride, and they are easy to paddle. Then there are "fish"
boards. The Fish board concept is a new take on some classic design
elements, or a re-combination of design features. They are boards that
can ride on the flats ahead of the wave face. They stay planing while
offering a turny feel like a much shorter board. Fish boards are
distinctive looking and resemble the "Friar Tuck" knee boards of the
70's. They often have big swallow tails to aid their turning
ability.
 Surftech also make a
complete line of epoxy/sandwich boards, which are
light, stiff & high performance. They call this line, "Tuflite".
Tuflite construction is more expensive and lighter than other
constructions. That is why we only recommend it to advanced surfers.
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Southpoint make a superb line of lightweight foam sandwich construction
boards, that are durable and lightweight. their line of production
boards includes a variety of mini-tankers, and fish, and fun shapes. the
extra lightness of this construction will only be appreciated by the
more advanced surfer. (your
third board) This construction is less robust than the other two. The
boards are stiff, light and fast. The finish coat may scratch up if not
cared for. This board will not like to get hard knocks on the rocks.
This board type should be kept in a padded bag, and repaired with epoxy
if necessary.
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KITEBOARDING |
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TRAINER
KITES
For
the fun and easy way to get kiteflying skills, we recommend that you
purchase a trainer kite before your kiteboarding lessons. Ram-air
design kites in sizes ranging from 1m, 2m & 3m. When using any kite you
should take extreme care. You should read the instruction manual and watch
the training DVD's.
Good brands of trainer kites include; Naish, Slingshot, Airush and Best.
These
are fun performance kites that can produce a lot of power, and younger
fliers should always be supervised by adults.
These kites are extremely fun, but they
are not toys. The larger trainers can be used as traction kites on
land or snow. |
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FIRST TIME
KITES
For the most success an entry level kiter should use a low aspect kite,
that is easy to control. More manufacturers are making entry level
kites. Kite schools too will tend to favor this style of kite, to give
the students the best chance of success. Some entry level kites are described as a moderate aspect
ratio kite. A kite with a fuller shape will have more consistent power, and easier relaunch-ability. These
kite will handle being overflown, and over sheeted. and will tend to
smooth out some of the beginners over corrections. An entry level kite
will tend to have slower steering. The kites used by your kite school
will generally be of this style. And will be recommended by your
instrucotrs. We generally recommend that beginners learn with shorter line
lengths, and learn safely. A 20m option is better than 25m when
learning. |
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INTERMEDIATE KITES
For the intermediate kiter, there are medium aspect, all-round kites
that are stable and offer smooth depower. Each manufacturer will make
one all-round kite. On Maui we recommend a kite that can handle being very overpowered.
Smooth and predictable handling makes a kite trustworthy and gives the
rider confidence. These kites are
great kite for pushing your limits and learning new tricks. These kites
should still offer 100% depower like the full bow kite design, or SLE
design. The all round design is great for big jumps, or riding
the waves. Intermediate kites should
allows easy relaunching after a wipeout, even in light winds.
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ADVANCED
KITES
There are many different design
concepts.
Some kites are designed for a specific purpose, and are more
specialized. If you have a particular style of riding in Mind, there
could be a specialty kite available. Kites that are specific will tend
to sacrifice some unnecessary traits, to gain more performance in
certain areas. One example for an advanced kite would be the sacrifice
of easy relaunching. A kite designed for an advanced kiter may be more
difficult to relaunch, because this is not a priority to the intended
purpose and design. Flatter kites for example are faster and can sail
closer to the wind (more forward in the WW), but are harder to relaunch,
High Aspect kites are good for racing, and jump well but are hard to
relaunch, and are unpredictable in the hands of a novice. Wave Kites,
will tend to be lower aspect, and fly deep in the powerzone, Racing
Kites will tend to fly forward in the Wind Window. Wake Style Kites will
keep the power constant to help with tricks and unhooked riding. |
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| KITE BOARDS
Choosing the type of kiteboard to buy depends on your
ride-style. The size you choose depends on your weight and wind range.
The lighter the wind in your area, the larger & longer the board you
should ride. Heavier riders should ride bigger boards than lightweight riders.
In kiteboarding, it is not the volume or buoyancy of the board that
counts, but mostly the surface area, because it provides the lift. if
you plan to ride in extreme light air, at displacement (sub-planing)
speeds, you will need a larger floatier board. Very popular with light
wind riders is surf style riding on surfstyle kiteboards, or regular
surfboards.
Board Types:
Here is a range of different styles of kiteboards. The semi-bi-directional board that has
hybrid abilities. The directional wave style is a
full on surf style board for the waves. The Thorns are hard edged
twin-tips inspired by snow boards. The Sol is the wider wake-style twin-tip.
And the Haze is the entry-level twin-tip board with easy riding, more
flex, and
good durability.
Twin-Tips:
Naish Thorn -
sizes 126 / 129 / 132 / 135
This is our favorite
production Twin-tip board. These board use
snowboard technology and wooden cores for the ideal combination of flex, weight and
strength. New uni-directional laminates of carbon and Kevlar have been
added to increase the reflex speed making the board feel super positive
and lively. There are a range of sizes, and two flex patterns. Common
sizes are; 126cm, 129cm, 132cm, 135cm.
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Board Types |
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Directional
Boards: For big
waves, small waves, freestyle or just light wind cruising, these
boards are so much fun that everyone wants one. |
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The Twintip
boards feature much more power control, solid edging, controllable speed
and greater pop for all the performance required for contemporary
riding.
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The All-Round
boards offer an
affordable twin tip range developed for all levels of rider. |
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The Wake-style are a premium twin tip range developed for top level riders. They
combine a refined design concept sometimes incorporating
channeled bottom shape. |
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Naish models |
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HAZE 128, 133, 136,
141, 147cm |
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MOMENTUM 130,
138 |
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THORN 128, 130, 132, 134cm |
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WAKESKATE 140 |
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GLOBAL WAVE 5'0"
to 6'6". |
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 DIRECTIONAL KITESURFBOARDS
Naish Wave directional surf style kiteboards, are one of the most
enjoyable styles of
boards to ride. The Naish Directional's literally tear up the waves. They can be ridden
with foot straps or strapless. They are made from a strong epoxy
construction so they can take a beating. The all-round board is the
Global, the bigwave board is the Gun, the fun board is the
Fish great fro sloppy waves, and the Skater is designed for
strapless riding. Available in different sizes, 4'10"
and up to 6'2".
Naish
directional boards
come with:
- 2 Adjustable, 3-D molded footpads
- 2 Restyled adjustable footstraps
- trri-fin and quad fin setups
- Mounting hardware
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