CanadianGringo wrote: ↑Sat Jul 14, 2018 2:03 am
1) Liquid Force Influence137cm
2) Best Spark Plug 136cm
The latter of the two boards is flat, lots of rocker, apparently good for free riding as per the internet. Lots of flex. Lots of wood. (Best)
The other board has less flex, seems to be more fibreglass and/or some carbon. Biggest difference is concave. (Liquid Force)
The question is what is best for lakes - bump and jump type conditions (to bust some old windsurf lingo).
I've been kiting a bit over 2 years now. At first like you, jumping seemed out of my reach. Now though, I can get up to 9m (woo2) so probably just over 10m real height on a good day. Board design is one of my passions though!
Looking them up on the net and from what you've written, the Liquid Force board will be better for learning and especially for lighter wind days due to less rocker and the concaves will help guide the water. You will get upwind a lot easier on this board shape.
The Best Spark Plug will be more playful and also forgiving to land big jumps with, also if you have a lake big enough to be playing on the waves the rocker will make your wave riding more enjoyable. Experiment with the fins too, small fins make a board more playful.
Both the Best's flex and the Liquidforce's concave will soak up some of the pounding of chop that would otherwise be taken out on your knees.
Don't read too much into carbon fibre in boards. It makes them stiff and light but not resilient. The Best's basalt gives flex and resilience. S-glass is similar.
Where the manufacturer puts the fibres, what type, orientation of fibres, thickness throughout board all affect performance, lightness and longevity.
On the Best, check the footstraps position. Further out gives you more control, less flex. Further in and the board's rocker will take over and be more forgiving of poor stance. Landing big jumps with boards where footstraps are closer to the centre stresses them more and is more likely to lead to snapping.
Have fun!