KITEBOARDING: GEARS

If you have never spent time in the ocean, kiteboarding in the waves can be a very intimidating experience. There are a lot of details when it comes to gear checkups, some of which are delineated as follows:

BOARDS

Surfboards have been around for a very long time, and we know that they work in the surf. Make sure to buy a board that is specifically designed to be used in the waves. Many manufacturers sell surf-specific surfboards that are proven to work in the waves. You will also find these production boards to be more durable than your everyday surfboard.

Do your homework and find out who the shaper is, and make sure they understand how to shape a surf-specific board. If you already surf, you should try kiting on a board that is like your surfboard. If you don’t surf, start talking to kite and surf shops to get an idea of what type and size board you need. If you are serious about riding waves, you need to focus on getting a board that is built for wave riding.

KITES

The hot topic in wave riding is bridled kites vs. C-kites. Whatever your opinion is, it comes down to personal preference in the end. Generally speaking, C-kites are simpler, especially if you ride with four lines. Bridled kites have more range and depower, therefore making it easier to ride the waves in offshore and gusty conditions. We could write a six page article on this debate alone. The most important advice we can give you is the kite you feel most comfortable with is the
kite you should use in the surf.

ACCESSORIES

Only use a board leash when you absolutely have too, like when your board could be washed onto rocks or if there is any chance your board could hurt someone else if you lose it. If you don’t wear a leash, you will be much safer as they tend to load up and shoot your board all over the place when you wipe out. If you are riding strapless, make sure you wax your board with a good base coat. Wax comes in different varieties for all water temperatures, but you should always use a cold water wax for your base coat. You can then apply the ideal temperature-specific wax on top of that. This will help keep a solid coat of wax on your board and prevent it from rubbing off under your feet. The best way to customize your surfboard is to buy a new set of fins.

Fins do make a huge difference in how the board performs, but you should work on dialing in your riding skills before you start buying multiple fin set ups. Like any aspect of kiteboarding, you can’t overcome bad technique by buying more stuff.