Directional Boards

[tamer]

Can you recommend a good directional board to start on for someone weighing 165-170?

Also, what makes a directional good for high wind vs. low wind?

Thanks for your inputs! I'm looking for a good used starter directional board.

[adamrod]

sortof depends on what you're looking to do with your directional . . . a good board for cruising around at sherman or 3rd isn't necessarily the best board for riding waves on the coast.

when choosing a directional, your weight doesn't really play a role (unless you're on the extremes). there are so many factors, (fin arrangement, thickness, width, length, tail rocker, nose rocker, concaves) you're kindof asking for the impossible imho.

a lot of people have directionals. ask your friends at the beach to borrow theirs, and you'll get a better idea of what you like and don't like. i honestly wouldn't trust the advice you get here, directionals are far more varied than say, twintips.

some people like small directionals (5'4") some people like big ones (6'1") some people prefer quads (they are faster) some people prefer thrusters (better drive in the turns, slower on the wave). some people want more tail rocker (better carving) some people want flatter rocker (better upwind). some people want a thin board (not so bouncy in the chop) some people want a thick board (better float so you can actually surf the wave)

in response to your high wind/low wind question, again, that's really hard, but your ideal directional for low wind would have a flat rocker, lots of volume, relatively long (5'10" or more), quad fins...for high wind, it could be pretty much anything.

hope that helps!!

[funmilton]

You can find some good deals online. Got a used Kafka board that was barely used for $400.00

Seems to be a good board for learning, 5'6" quad thruster.

[yojimbo]

I recently got a directional 5'8" thruster(3fins). I am trying to learn to ride it, it is very difficult so far. The fins, which are the kind you would find on a surfboard, are so big(5 inch) that you need a lot of wind to get on a plane. Once on a plane, the board is super squirrley, not a smooth ride like my twin tip.

I have only ridden my directional in flat water, but when I go out in surf for the first time, it will be on my twin tip.

[adamrod]

yup...different directionals with even the same overall dimensions ride really really differently. most people these days prefer quads for light wind performance, but I do know that kite directionals have improved markedly in the past few years...they're really not surfboards with straps anymore...changes in volume and rocker have done a lot.

[zgur]

I've been working with John Amundson to develop kite specific directionals for the past 6 years. He is both a kiter and a surfer, and has a great deal of experience shaping boards.

Adam's answer, as usuall, is thorough and detailed. Let me give you some field experience. About me, to give you some context:
Big dude - over 200lbs
Kiting for a while now
Ride - coast and sherman, boards: mostly directionals (like 99% of the time now)....no straps

Have tried 100's of boards/shapes/flavors.

A kite specific directional is best. Get a modern one (1-2 years old). Go at least 6" to learn on. Kite specific, vs. surf boards, is good for average guy - person who has not surfed/kited for some time. Surf boards are made to carve a wave, kite specific ones - when shaped right - are designed to work better w/power of kite, do better w/chop, etc.......Once you get your preferences dialed in, have at it......

Spend time riding the board. It's different than a twin tip, which you basically use as a big rudder. A surf board can be ridden that way, but it can also ride as a board w/you standing on top, using your feet to fine tune what it's doing. I goes faster, turns better when ridden as a board.

Learn how to ride w/out straps so you learn the feel. Once you have this to a basic level, go w/footbelts if you choose - they are fun and enable big air.......my personal opinion, is once you learn w/out straps - the feel and performance is so awesome, you will stay strappless........just one dudes point of view.

Good production directionals:
Amundson
North
Slingy
Kafka POW

Once you get past the basics, it's highly recommended to talk w/John Amundson. For price of a production board popped out of a mold, he will make something that works for you, where you ride. The value is "priceless".

Get some, Z.

[eag]

A kite specific directional is best. Get a modern one (1-2 years old). Go at least 6" to learn on.

Yeah, I find it hard to fit both feet on boards under 6 inches. :mrgreen:

[tamer]

Thanks for the great inputs!!

[yojimbo]

Hey Zgur, absolutely, I have noticed that my directional comes into its own when ridden flat, as opposed to riding it like a twin tip. Is it possible to go upwind like this?, I have been riding my directional like a twin tip, and I have to start riding my directional differently. Thanks for the insight.

[Bulldog]

I have two Amundson boards and was lucky enough to learn to ride directional on one. Every other surfboard I have tried since is either 1) too squirrely, or 2) rides like a tank. I haven't tried everything, but I can tell you that the Amundson boards are stable and smooth when you want them to be (on flat water. chop or in the ocean), and they rocket upwind easily and plane on the first dive of the kite. They are extremely forgiving for riding strapless and learning jibes. But they are also snappy and quick for cutbacks on the wave, although I find the 5'7" board quicker than the 5' 10" (which granted was built for Zev, who weighs...more...than I do).

I have no connection to John, although at this point I would happily accept any sponsorship offer :whistle:

BTW, about half the Santa Cruz locals ride "Mundy" boards, even though their local kite company makes boards, too.