Thanks everyone for your great input on this post. In the end I've bought a Wainman Blunt 135 and I've already tested it in 25knots on a 9mt for around 3 hours and the following day in around 15kn on a BiG Mama for another 2 and half hours... Normally I'd be in pain on my right hand trashed knee, now absolutely NO PAIN!!!
This board rocks, is sooooo smooth that you feel like flying on the water! it's lightweight, great for control in the air, and the landings? You don't even feel like landing, in fact it's lie landing on fresh powder when you go back country snowboarding!!!
The shape is so right that you don't get any splashes around, it's a real dream board. The pads are super soft and shock absorbing, it's like kiting with suspensions.
The quite pronounced rocker makes it real fun in carving without affecting the great pop...
Two of my friends borrowed it to try it and one of them has already placed an order!
Well done Wainman.
lion wrote:Howdy. Had some kite related knee issues a few years back which I eventually traced to using a twintip. The main problem with a twintip is that your back leg, which has the most pressure on it, has the foot pointing not in a straight line with your leg as it should be, rather it is 'duck'. This lack of alignment was causing my knees to ache & feel dodgy bigtime after kiting.
I did some research on this forum at the time and there were some great older articles with lots of people having the same issues & even some docs/physios etcs adding comments.
They were all recommending switching to a directional/surfboard as your back leg is then aligned correctly. I did this (ended up with a naish custom surf 4'10 - nice & small) & had an immediate improvement on the knees - I've not had any issues beyond a very light aching when it's heavy chop. I really enjoy the board - it's very nice for jumping so I don't feel I've lost anything in the switch.
This was a lifesaver as I was almost at the point of considering quitting kiting
So for those of you out there with knee issues, have a think about your footstrap angles (the more duck, the worse the alignment issues) & maybe switching to a surfboard - there's plenty to choose from these days...
Cheers and happy kiting
You made a good point and I can agree to a certain extent. The stance is important and yes can affect the knee with the foot torsion.
What I find very trying on my knees are the vibrations too, especially on choppy waters, together with landings etc..
I too have moved for this reason to surfboards, got a 6'2" which is my allround board. I ride mainly strapless as I do get some benefits from it on my knees: the freedom of movement and the general loose feel of the feet and knees not forced to the board by the straps, but the stiffness of the epoxy together with the poor absorption of the thin pad, that alone can really hurt my knee.
I like jumping, so I end up putting straps on the board and going for it when you get the irresistible kickers, but hey that ride with straps and hard landings really cost me days to recover afterwards.
So I've now decided to get myself a super soft and absorbing tt and enjoying airs and chop with it. I wish I did it earlier!
As mentioned above, I went out 3 days on a row, on 12mt the first day for 2 hours, then on a 9mt the second day for 3 hours on over 25kn and lastly on a 15mt for 2 hours, and I don't take breaks when I kite! Now on normal conditions I'd be dead... While I'm here writing at 1:20am without even feeling anything on my knees! Legs are a little tired of course, but my knee is soooo good.
This is to say that it all depends from what you do, how you ride and where...
Thanks again to you all.