Board advice

[tgautier]

Hey there.

I'm planning to start snow kiting Tahoe this winter.

I don't have a board - so what suggestions do you have?

I'm planning to just get a used board off craigs list.

But is there anything particular I should look for? Length? Width? Bindings?

For reference I ride an underground flx 135x42 on the water. Now that I've progressed past the beginner stage I can see this board has a fairly flat rocker and is wide which helps upwind. I like it a lot although I think I am going to need something with more rocker for more load and pop.

Anyway I'm 6"2' and 210 lbs. Any tips what I should look for on my way to the snow are appreciated.

Thanks!!

[thegroundhurts]

Good news is that almost any board will work. I have been riding the snow in Utah for a number of years and just started riding heavily in the water this past summer. I think board choice is more important in the water than the snow. That said, conditions on the snow can change a lot. A day of light powder and you will be wishing you were riding a 168, but for most days on windblown snow I like a smaller board so I can maneuverer it around easier - especially if you get pulled onto your stomach and have to get spun around.

I am 170 lbs and usually riding a 156, but I do have a 180 for the stupid deep days. I think flexibility is the best thing to look for in a board. Also, there are some dedicated snowkite boards out there. I demoed the Twisted board last year and it actually made more of a difference than I expected. Really fun, light and super flexible, plus the shape made it feel much more like riding on the water. http://www.twistedkiteboards.com/

Best,

Jake

[adamrod]

try to get something that's a true twintip snowboard...something that you can set up totally symmetrically. they make them nowadays mostly for park riders. also, my impression is that a slightly bigger board can be nice if there's powder.

if i were to buy a snowboard, i'd honestly just get a kitesnowboard ...supposedly they're still really good on the mountain too. decosse makes some nice ones...i know he makes the LF one...

[NCKite_Ryder]

My brother has a 163 and thinks its too big for snowkiting, so he bought a 150 and loves it. It may be a little small for freshies but in the packed stuff its awesome. I really enjoyed it, more than my 156. 20$ on Craigslist is unbeatable. I have flow bindings which are super easy to buckle into while flying a kite. The ideal bindings are just some that are easy to adjust, buckle in, and unbuckle. When kiting in Tahoe, seriously consider a foil kite like a Frenzy or something. The lulls are truly lulls......