Forums > Kitesurfing   Newbies / Tips & Tricks

Twin tip progression advice

Reply
Created by englishmanbo > 9 months ago, 13 Nov 2019
englishmanbo
29 posts
13 Nov 2019 7:05AM
Thumbs Up

Hi all,
2nd season and I am considering a new board.

I need some advice to know if my existing TT board may slow my progression or if I should just man up and stick with it.
Gaastra Xenon GSTR 145x43, very flexy, low rocker, optimised for planning and control. I don't have anything to compare with.

I am 188cm and 105kg. Ride Core XR 9m and 12m mainly in the Woodman Point - Shoalwater Bay areas, bit choppy with pretty good seabreeze. I am riding upwind ok and have been doing small jumps and pops off small waves. Want to improve both and deal with the chop better.

Cheers
Bo

NorthernKitesAUS
QLD, 1061 posts
13 Nov 2019 9:31AM
Thumbs Up

Select to expand quote
englishmanbo said..
I am riding upwind ok and have been doing small jumps and pops off small waves. Want to improve both and deal with the chop better.



Sounds like you're doing fine to me mate. The board maybe a little on the big side for you. Maybe consider anything between 136 and 140cm. Also what condition are the fins? I personally don't like fins. I see them as kiddie-trainer wheels really. But they are good and important for the beginner. Make sure they are a good 2" or more. Helps with control. Other than that, keep at it. It took me 3 seasons

KiteBud
WA, 1515 posts
13 Nov 2019 7:46AM
Thumbs Up

In your case, having a smaller second twin tip would be a great idea. When you are well powered up and in heavier chop, larger twin tips aren't ideal, even considering your weight. With large boards in heavy chop you need to slow down and edge a lot harder to have good control and go upwind. With a smaller board, you can edge hard with less effort and ride faster with more comfort.

You should consider getting a second board like a 138cm that you could use with your 12m kite from 20 to 25 knots, and with your 9m kite for anything above 25 knots. As your technique and efficiency improves you may get to the point where you no longer use your larger board except for light winds (sub 20 knots).

A smaller and stiffer board would theoretically give you more pop for jumps but in heavy chop, stiff boards are much harder to maintain a good edge grip with while sending the kite for a jump, and thus you may actually have less edge control and therefore smaller jumps. If you ride mostly choppy conditions, a more flexible board is always a better choice. More rocker is also great for pop, but you need a better technique and you will have to work harder to go upwind, which may take some time. In other words, I would hold off getting a smaller stiffer freestyle board with lots of rocker until your technique improves. Instead, get a smaller but softer board with low rocker.

Best thing you can do is to try to borrow some smaller twin tips from other kiters even for just a few tacks when it's very windy and see for yourself.

Christian

englishmanbo
29 posts
13 Nov 2019 10:23AM
Thumbs Up

Thanks for the advice, this site is gold. My take home message is its good to have a 2nd board around 138 not too stiff or with too much rocker and try out similar boards in +20 knot winds.

Fins on my existing board are 6cm or greater than 2"

Thanks again.

cauncy
WA, 8407 posts
13 Nov 2019 11:47AM
Thumbs Up

Go into your local shop's have a yarns there very knowledgeable ' take a demo or 2 and see what suits you' for choppy conditions you need some nice flex and rocker' but something you can progress with' hard to go past some of the Shinn' models for WA conditions' take note of spray direction especially in choppy water's ' north xride and nobile are worth a ride too

englishmanbo
29 posts
13 Nov 2019 4:31PM
Thumbs Up

Thanks Cauncy, I am going to check out a 2017 North X-Ride 138 cm 2nd hand tonight asking $650 with bindings. If you hadn't mentioned it I would probably have gone a Monk. I have read you mention the Shinn Monk on other posts, going for $839 at WA Surf. Also a Naish Motion at a nearby shop $829. Hard to find demo's though I would like to try a few. I would also like >20 knots of wind, had a taster on Monday and am now hanging for more.



Subscribe
Reply

Forums > Kitesurfing   Newbies / Tips & Tricks


"Twin tip progression advice" started by englishmanbo