Lightwind Board - what do you recommend?

[-wAVe-]

Any recommendations for a light wind Twin Tip board for 83kg (178lbs) kiter to complement a 142/38 board? Has anyone used any of the following and can either recommend or fault any of the following:

2004 Airush Switch 155/45 or 150/43
2004 Slingshot 144/43
2004 Naish TTPro 134/47
2004 Gaastra Satelite 135/46
Underground Magic Carpte 158/43
2003 RRD Humansize 140/44

Thanks for any info.

[Airgear.com]

The Naish TTpro 134 is by far the most incredible light wid machine I have ever seen. It has a lower windrange than the 181 Litewave. Of course, it is very short so the Litewave will work better for a beginner. But if you're looking to do freestyle tricks in light wind, go with the naish.

[rolltide]

The Litewave 169 is a great light wind board.
The Caddy of cruising boards but sadly the fat lady of jumping.


That dude Not Annonymous here in kite forum builds a sweeeeet litewind board that rides like a majik carpet.
Anomaly kiteboards.

[window guy]

ss manta gets my vote

[phlow]

I'll second the vote for the Naish TT Pro 134. I'm heavy (205 lbs) and learned on a lightwave 181, a barge that will plane with almost no pull.

the Naish TT Pro 134 planes just as early if not earlier for me than the LW181. Obviously more maneuverable, lower swing weight etc.

I'm up an cruising at 10mph with an R420 on the TTPro 134, staying upwind. Obviously it wont keep you on top through a 2 second lull, but if your wind is filled in and light, you will be fine.

[BigKahuna]

I tried an Airush Square Two (same as the Switch 155x45, different construction) prototype and UG Magic Carpet over the summer. I weigh 240lbs (110kg) and found the Airush a bit floatier and stiffer than the UG, and for your weight the UG might be the better choice of the two.

Paul

[ed257]

My favorite light-wind board is my big woodie. It's 148cm (4' 10") x 47cm (18.5"). It has flip tips and 50 mm fins with 4 fins on heel side. It's pretty light for plywood and it rides great. It not only works well in light wind, but it also works well when the wind drops and I don't want to go rig up another kite. I just switch to the larger board and I am planning very early and rocketing up wind. I originally modeled the shape after Underground's Fridge Door, but decided to make it a bit larger and gave it flip tips like a Wave Tray.

Ed

[RC-Kiter]

Loose XX162 is very good in light winds, you go upwind as soon as you plane up, this is also fast because of the wide tips. Shape is very effective so does not need much width and you can ride fast! which is very important in light winds.

[ccat]

in my view it depends on your shoe size&weight due to various length/width ratios of the mentioned boards.

[-wAVe-]

Hey thanks for all the info - just dreaming of those light wind summer days!
The Naish TTPro 134/47 has some good feedback and maybe the Switch 155/45 is a little big so the Switch 150/43 might be better. The Underground Magic Carpet also has a few fans but is quite long by this years trend. The Litewave always come up as good but heavy and also looks a little long by todays standards.

So Naish TTPro 134/47 seems to be a good bet which is a little surprising as Naish boards seem to get so much negative press for being heavy and having paint that chips off. Are the 2004 boards much improved? 47cm seems very wide - can you do toe side with this width?

My foot size is 9.

More opinions?