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so delicious so mauritius
Newbie
Joined: 29 May 2006
Posts: 2
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 Posted: May 29, 2006 3:28 pm Post subject: kitesurf board vs. traditional wake board |
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Hello,
I'm living in Mauritius where we have perfect lagoons (flat water year round, even when the wind blows) but unfortunately wakeboarding is not well known down here - this is rather a kitesurf paradise.
I started to do wakeboard a year ago with a water ski instructor (not too helpful!) and your forum has been of a great help to learn the basics as well as some tricks.
As initially I was having some problems getting a good pop with my 2005 CWB Absolute 135 Platinum (6.50 lbs) at some point I decided to try out a NORTH 135 kite board (2.00 lbs) to which I attached some wakeboard bindings. I've to say that I immediatelly had the feeling of literally being floating on the water + I got huge pops easily. The negative thing is that it becomes more complex in the landings....
I was just wondering if someone has ever tried this before and what was your experience. Personally I prefer lighter boards but I might be conditioned as I'm more of a kitesurfer. I wonder if you could help me out assessing what is the lightest wakeboard out there. Anything I come accross in the Net seems to be no lighter than 5.50 lbs...
I also guess that practicing with an experienced wakeboarder may convince me that there is nothing wrong with a 6.50 lbs board...
Thanks! |
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so delicious so mauritius
Newbie
Joined: 29 May 2006
Posts: 2
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| Posted: May 29, 2006 3:45 pm Post subject: More questions... |
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Also, can anyone advice on what would be the ideal rope length and boat cruise speed for wakeboarding? Are there any standards or averages or it depends much on riding style, experience, etc.?
My 'instructor' knows just about water ski, so I may not be improving my wakeboard skills for a while just because we are doing something wrong with either the rope length or the boat's speed. I must say that lately we tried to shorten the rope's length and that this resulted in higher pops (=it was easier to me to build up more tension on the rope while edging progressively).
This may be an assumption of mine as I may have improved my skills lately and this may have nothing to do with the rope's length though...
Man, it is hard to learn not having a real wakeboarder buddy down here! |
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timmyDecker
Outlaw
Joined: 22 May 2006
Posts: 187
City: Manhattan...KS
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| Posted: May 31, 2006 12:15 pm Post subject: |
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I know nothing about kiteboards/kiteboarding and how it would pertain to wakeboards/wakeboarding...but to answer your question about rope length, I would say start at about 50-55 feet. As you learn how to go wake-to-wake at that length, you can lengthen the rope as you see fit. For boat speed, you should be between 18-22 mph.
Since you kiteboard, is it possible to use a wakeboard as a kiteboard? What are the differences?
thanks,
timmy |
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Cajun
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Joined: 08 May 2006
Posts: 20
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| Posted: Jun 02, 2006 6:10 am Post subject: |
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I'm no Kitesurfing pro, but what I can decide, is obviously that a kitesurf board is lighter, and that the bindings are more sandle like. Also correct me if I'm wrong, ut don't most kitesurfboards have a designated direction, as in blunt tail pointed nose? As far as if a wakeboard can be used for kite'n, i'v always wondered the same thing... Maybe a wakebaord is too heavy???
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Rukus |
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stevemc3000
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Joined: 13 Nov 2003
Posts: 8
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| Posted: Jun 05, 2006 4:56 am Post subject: |
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| A wakeboard has more rocker and is heaver with diffrent bindings. Kiteboards arn't as strongly made as a wakeboard with a bit more flex. |
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poulpy
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Joined: 20 Oct 2005
Posts: 21
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| Posted: Jun 05, 2006 5:49 am Post subject: |
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I agree kiteboards generally have less LESS rocker and huge fins. I had the same feeling than you towed on a kiteboard (f-one style 135) and problems to consistently get pop on my hyperlite ERA 137 (temmets bindings on both). I analysed that as being easyer to hold a good edge on a kiteboard just because of the rocker and the fins.
If i am wrong and if it is only a mater of weight then i would pay big bucks for a really light wakeboard |
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poulpy
Newbie
Joined: 20 Oct 2005
Posts: 21
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| Posted: Jun 05, 2006 6:03 am Post subject: |
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| Something i forgot: the flex i have on my kiteboard is probably helping me getting air when i really load the line for a jump. |
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stevemc3000
Newbie
Joined: 13 Nov 2003
Posts: 8
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| Posted: Jun 05, 2006 6:12 am Post subject: |
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| I doing it the other way round as i'm using a old wakeboard as a kitesurf board only with diffrent bindings. i think kiteboards r over priced from an manfactureing point of view, there is a lot more work and construction cost in a wakeboard. |
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poulpy
Newbie
Joined: 20 Oct 2005
Posts: 21
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| Posted: Jun 05, 2006 6:30 am Post subject: |
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TOTALLY agree with you.
Nevertheless I have way more pop on those lighter, more flexible, less rocked and big fined boards. |
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Thomas P.
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Joined: 16 Feb 2003
Posts: 717
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| Posted: Jun 07, 2006 11:11 am Post subject: |
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| poulpy wrote: | TOTALLY agree with you.
Nevertheless I have way more pop on those lighter, more flexible, less rocked and big fined boards. |
if this is the case, there must be something wrong with your form or technique. my guess would be attaining speed thru-out an edge.
my point is 3/4ths of the 'features' that you prefer in the kiteboard are actually opposite designs in wakeboards geared toward large vertical pop. granted, pop really comes down to the rider's own edge control, but the more flexible a board is, the less it will retain energy from the line tension and most importantly the energy of the wake and there for lack the same pop that STIFFER wakeboards do. also less rocker is all about creating speed, as kiters do not have a perfectly constant force to pull them, they must keep speeds whenever possible. it has become common knowlege in wakeboarding since for at least six years or so that the LARGER the rocker the slower it will ride, but create more upward lift from the wake, the 3-stage variation accelerates both conditions. also, large fins decrease the energy of the wake ever so slightly by breaking the surface tension of the wake before the tail takes off. this is why almost all boards either have little-to-no fins on them, or an etremely SHALLOW, longer based fin bolted to the bottoms.
sorry for the long explainations, but hopefully you can now understand a little better about how this sport works. a stiffer board combined with a progressive edge or a constant edge (for spins) aginst the boat will create speed and lift as long at the wake's energy is not absorbed (to flex in board/knees). once these basic principles are understood, your progression will go thru the roof like you wouldn't believe.
_________________
Mark Kenney, 1983-2002
www.hyperlite.com
www.byerlywakeboards.com |
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poulpy
Newbie
Joined: 20 Oct 2005
Posts: 21
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| Posted: Jun 08, 2006 5:35 am Post subject: |
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Love your explanation Thomas, makes a lot of sens to me.
I think that the feeling i have is because i am much more used to my kiteboard (this is going to change during this summer).
poulpy. |
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