LFT or directional

[Guest]

Want a light wind board. which is better the LFT or a huge directional? I prefer not jybing but want to ride in the lightest wind possible. thanks

[Mr Jo Macdonald]

Only person I know who's tried the LFT is Johnny and he said it was great in light wind.
Maybe V has tried the LFT too, he certainly has one in his car.
I use a 7' Naish directional but the important thing is width (anything around 50cm is fine) and volume, if you don't want to gybe and have 1000 bucks to spend on a new board I'd say try the LFT and if you like it go for it.
If not you can gybe a directional in a snowboard gybe and ride toes down until gybing again, on the other hand gybes can be a lot of fun too. Loads of old (2001-2002) directionals around for about 300 bucks.
Depending on your weight you should be able to get down to about 7-8 knots.
Do a search for "lightwind", there are other threads around too.
Have fun.
Jo

<font size=-1>[ This Message was edited by: Mr Jo Macdonald on 2002-10-18 17:04 ]</font>

[Guest]

thanks jo, I'm 200lbs and was thinking an 8 foot naish school board would definately get me going in light wind. but I like not jybing.

[chicagokitesurfer]

Yeah, I tested the LFT and liked it so much I own one now. Everyone here that's ridden it really likes it. Its thicker, so it gives a lot of float like a directional, but its a twintip, which is what everyone likes, and isn't long and "bulky"...very easy to maneuver.

However, huge directionals will always be a little better. Heck, use an old windsurfing board that you can stand on without your kite and you should be able to go in 4-5kts...if that's what you're looking for.

But...the question is what's fun? I was doing small table-tops in 8-10kts wind last weekend on the LFT. Certainly more fun than a directional for me since I like twintips, and the 2 kts lower windspeed for me isn't a big deal. I prefer not even to go if its not blowing enough to have fun. The LFT is 167 cm as opposed to a 7 or 8 foot directional which, IMO, is too big and unnecessary.

<img src=http://www.chicagokitesurfing.com/uploadPics/130Image004.jpg>

And yeah....I landed a bunch of these little jumps that day! LOL!

[Mr Jo Macdonald]

Brilliant, that is what I call lightwind jumping, not a whitecap in sight, what kite were you using V?


Anonymous
I agree, on what V said about the bigger directionals being cruisers but also 200lbs is about what 90 kgs which won't make it any easier.
I would say 6.6'-7' is as long as you want to go, you can still chuck a 7' directional about quite a bit but obviously not as much as the board V is using and it will get overpowered pretty early if the wind picks up. If you're going for an old directional just to cruise around on occassionaly definately try an old windsurfer or a surf longboard, or that school board but only if it's dirt cheap.
If you think you'll be doing a lot of sub 10 knot kiting look into the LFT or maybe the RRD 180 ASSy which is 46 cm wide (wierd thing about this board is they're sellin off second hand ones dead cheap and RRD are still making them, see if you can get some info from someone whose used one), I've heard the lightwave boards are good too, or try making your own.

[Guest]

Ok thanks, I'll check in to a twin tip like the LFT as I like to jump etc. not into cruising if I can stay away.

[chicagokitesurfer]

Good point. No whitecaps in sight all day.

I'm 185lbs riding an ARC 1510. It was 8-11kts all day with the 11 being puffs of good air that would last about a minute throught the day. The LFT made it a fun day for me. A couple guys tried it that day, too, and all were able to stay upwind, while on their other board, they were going downwind with the "walk of shame". The only other rider staying upwind was a 160lb guy on an 18m X2 riding a 181 LWD. He tried the LFT and was getting more upwind, too...to the point where he would run into the jetty and had to purposely go downwind to avoid it. One guy had a 7'3" directional and was able to stay upwind, too, but for brief moments would get overpowered as you mentioned. He preferred the LFT after he tried it for its maneuverability.

V
http://www.chicagokitesurfing.com

[Mr Jo Macdonald]

Great stuff
Yeah with the right kite, 8-9 knots starts to be dynamic, like 12-13 knots was for windsurfing, sounds like a great board.
Can I or you post that photo in the "How low can you go post" on lightwind jumping?

[BLOWN AWAY]

Make sure you have a kite that's big enough too. Any lightwind performer will do...

A large ARC, Flysurfer Mast air, Flysurfer Psycho, 12.5m C Quad are all known performers in light winds....

I use a 6ft directional (not that thick either) and can easily go upwind in 10 knots with my 20m AERO... but I am only 75kgs.....

BLOWN AWAY

[Mr Jo Macdonald]

Not the Psycho, great in stronger winds but the word goes, not as hot as the mastair in lower stuff.

HEY V
Can I post that photo in the "How low can you go post" on lightwind jumping?