Kiteforum.com

I'm going back to directionals from twin tips. I'm 200+ lbs and looking for recommendations for a board that works in light winds 12-17MPH and can ride overhead waves decently. I have a custom twin tip that works well in this, but I'm tired of that style of riding.

So far, most have recommended a 5'6" Firewire Sweet Potato, and it seems to work for them. However, they say it works best on waves that are head high or less.

Anyone have any additional recommendations?

I do not have any experience with overhead waves in LW but I do have some in pure LW and I have tested three LW specific surf this summer :

Fone fish 5'10" (2013)
North Nugget 5' (2012)
Axon WTF 5'6" (2013)

I am no expert at all but if I had to go kitesurfing in LW in decent waves I think I would pick the Axon WTF 5'6" that seem more agile in waves. I only tried it thought in 3-4' waves. I am pretty sure that the SP 5'6" is also a good choice if you can get it in kitesurf construction.

I'd recommend just going surfing

@dyyylan, agreed and I do that already when glassy, but when it's 12-17, it's blown out...and I want to kite.

Doing it successfully on my twin...but there has to be a directional that would work nicely in that.

2014 Nugget 5'5"x21" could be worth a demo

Since you got a lot of reccomenss for the sweet potato, go to firewires website and jump on the forums or messgae felix or brian on there. They will give you soild feedback. They might have some leftover boards from last season like the dominator for cheap. For those size waves another board good pick might be the hellffire 5'10". I have the 5'6". And love it. Have you looked at the axis new wave. My buddy has one and is about 200-215 pounds or so. He loves it and goes out in light winds for him. Not sure the wind range for him thouugh

Many thanks for all the input so far.

Slingshot Dialer here...

Naish Bullet (2012? 2013?) is almost identical to the Dialer in outline but without the pointy tail... and the fins and are further forward. Fins are more vertical than surf fins... the locals like it for light wind cruising.

many good boards out there I have North Whip which is an excellent for low wind aggressive maneuvers. Planes early but will let you bury the rail completely and keep speed up very well in bottom turn (it likes a heavy back foot for this). I think head high would be too much for the Nugget (pearling on flat short nose and powering down the wave face on flat rocker and wide tail) and just about OK for the Whip (other boards probably better for even bigger waves).