HELP!!! Twintip or Directional!

[Guest]

I AM CLUELESS!
I am starting with the exciting sport of kitesurfing. One problem though!

Should I start on a directional or twintip? I come from a wakboarding background and I want to go in the twintip/wakestyle direction, so is it a good idea to start on a directional? IE is it worth learning a certain style and then changing over?

What is the real benefits of starting on a directional over a twintip?
I weigh 68kg and want to fly a Naish Aero 10m2.

THANKS GUYS
Jaco

[Guest]

The advantage of directional boards is that you can ride them with less power than you'd need for a twintip board. That makes them good for riding underpowered, which is what you want for learning or riding in very light wind.

The disadvantage of course is that you have to gybe them. Gybing is a skil that takes a while to learn. I came to this sport with a windsurfing background and still have trouble gybing a directional board.

The advice that you need to learn on a directional board is kind of old fashioned, especialy now that there are quite a few good light-wind twintips on the market.

Learn on a large (width is more important than legnth) twintip and you will probably find it easier than a diretional, espeially with your wakeboarding background. A large wide twintip does not need a whole lot more power than a large directional board.

[kitemaster]

I'm kiting for 1/2 a year now and my beginners set is a North Rhino 16 mtr with a big airflow 1.70 mtr. I must say it's merfect, after 1 kite lesson and 2 normal session i was standing and kiting.

Next thing for me is to learn kiting really overpowered. Windforce 4 is optimal but I want to go force 5 with this kite.

This week i'm going to by a Naish X2 12 mtr for wind force 6 and more, I weigh 100 kg.

Grtz and trust the force.

Joop

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[Guest]

On the subject of boards...


What the story with mutants?

I see lots of shots of pros in the kite magazines doing huge air and lots of them are on mutants.

Why?

[Mo]

Our winds are between 10-15 knots. I started on directionals and stayed so. I tried the TTs but need more power. If you have big winds 20 or moreknots then I find TTs a must as directionals will blow you down winds and diificult to control.

Gybing a difficult with directionals but not a big issue. You can switch feet easily in the water.

Ciao,
Mo