BUYERS GUIDE - KITEBOARDS

Beginner boards are characterised by their low rockerline which makes them very efficient at going upwind, a key skill any new kiteboarder has to learn. Other than that, they’re pretty basic. Wood Core for smooth riding in choppy conditions, a soft Full-Flex Pattern to make it easier on the knees, and some badass graphics!

These kiteboards are perfect for the beginner who has just finished his or her lessons, and needs their first kiteboard that they won’t outgrow within 24 months.

EXAMPLES OF BEGINNER BOARDS:

2023 Cabrinha Spectrum Kiteboard

Ocean Rodeo Smoothy Kiteboard
2020 Shinn Pinbot Red Kiteboard

 

Freestyle boards are a whole other level of gameplay. These boards are a mixture of a freeride board, but still have more rocker than a traditional freeride board to give you pop for those strapped in tricks. These boards also tend to have more squared off tips, which in turn gives you more volume for the harder landings the board will have to stand up to. The Freestyle/Freeride boards also tend to have pads and straps as standard, so you won’t have to spend more than you need to!

EXAMPLES OF FREESTYLE/FREERIDE BOARDS:

2023 Core Bolt 4 Kiteboard
2023 Cabrinha XCAL Kiteboard
2023 Core Fusion 5 Kiteboard

 

These boards are for the guys doing stuff out of the ordinary. The Wakestyle side of Kiteboarding appeals to lots of people, simply because of the tricks they pull off! If you’re looking at getting into Wakestyle, you’ll definitely need to get a Wakestyle specific board.

These boards have a higher rockerline than any of the other boards mentioned in the blog, which in turn increasing the amount of pop you get off the water and giving you much softer landings. These wake style boards also have reinforced inserts, to be able to stand up to the Full Wrap Boots you’ll need for Wakestyle riding. A P-Tex Base is also common throughout this category, which allows the rider to slide and press into obstacles like no other kiteboard type on the market, but also be repaired if needed. Fins are made smaller on the Wakestyle boards, which obviously means less grip, but the landings are a lot more forgiving for the types of tricks these guys are throwing out. The fins are designed like this to give the drive off the board a much more forgiving feel, as a deeper fin will want to drive forward much more than a shallower fin.

 

EXAMPLES OF WAKESTYLE BOARDS:

2023 Cabrinha CBL Kiteboard
2023 Core Bolt 4 Kiteboard