Hi ya'll, I got my first directional, a used but awesome shape '11 North Wam, I got a 6'0", I made this decision mainly on the ground that I'm 5'9" and I'm 198Lbs, and since getting rid of my 16m SB, I figured a little more buoyancy couldn't hurt, so I'm hoping to fly one of my smaller kite with this board on the lighter days. hope I made the right decision. I'm not a surfer, I used to windsurf, but never got that good, but been dying to play in the waves.

Now that I'm dying to take it out, how do I setup the straps? or should I just loose the traps?

Any help in this is greatly appreciated... Tnx in advance.

I would put the front strap in the middle or the front position, and the rear strap in the most front position.

This way you can ride quite easy straigth away, even without "waveboard" experience.

When you progress, you might want to put the rear strap at the most rear position - and only use it occasionally - but stand in front of the strap a lot (like most of us do).

But you are quite heavy - and even if light - the forward rear strap position will make everything easier for starters

Peter

and leave the straps really loose, not like on a tt. you should be able to move your feet around inside the straps. So you end up riding almost strapsless other than to water start and jump. Or if you have decent balance and attitude, just forget the straps. either way will be fun and work well.

Very well said "Knotwindy" and i may add that loose also means wider between footstrap screws
Most TT are set 6" apart because the feet do not need to twist in them
On my strapped 2011 North Whip i go for 7"apart for the strap screws (to be able to twist)
Both feet should be able to go deep enough in the straps to be perfectly over the board centerline
As a rule of thumb the front strap "centerpoint" should between 2"to 3" above board deck center

In your case with a 6ft board (36"+2"to 3"=38"to 39")
That is where the "center of your front foot" should fall
38" to 39" from tail or 34"to 33" from nose of board

For the back strap go to forward position still 7" apart
As you get more comfortable move the back strap one inch back and so on
The front strap really does not need to change but the back is personal preference

Excellent guys! I really appreciate the help, I'm gona take it our for a spin as soon as I can. But wanted to get some help with this.

Any other tips or suggestions? this is my first board? besides use the heck out of it... lol

Tnx.

Oh. Forgot to ask. May sound a bit silly, but how tight do I need to tighten the fins screw? Don't want to break anything.

Tnx again

nothin magical about it, you'll figure it out pretty fast. if you have never ridden a surfboard or windsurfer and only a tt, you will find in the beginning you are edging the board too much, you need to ride the fins so ride it flatter(but not completely flat) and you will probably need to get more weight on the front foot especially to go upwind. if you can not jibe it in the beginning just go toe side or drop in and spin the board until you are ready to try. and learning to jibe is easier without straps. have fun with it, it'll be a blast.

I mean I've tried surfing, very unsuccessfully, but I windsurfed for a couple of years before I picked up kiteboarding. I don't think I'll totally bomb-out, just trying to get a grasp on the whole thing. On a windsurf you're more connected to the board though the mast, here it feels like a total disconnect, since the only thing that connect the kite and board is the rider.

Tnx for the input.

Fingertip tight using the fin tool gizmo
Tight enough so that fin is stable in finbox and does not wobble at all from side to side
Make sure you check your fins before each sessions in beginning and re-tighten as needed

As you use your board more and more the fins will settled and a lot less re-tightening is needed

Hope this helps
Take it SupaEZ my friend
Enjoy your new ride