Any thoughts on using one of the solid wood (glued) panels made of Abedul (Birch) for a kiteboard?

Seems like its too thick, mabe just taking a planer to it would work. Might even be able to make some channels on the bottom of the board and some fake rocker (planning the tip and tail of the board on the bottom).

like one of these:

http://www.lowes.com/pd_20740-99899-L53 ... 151&rpp=24

It says aspen but I saw another one that said Abedul, which is Spanish for Birch.

Very very heavy, and no way to get rocker. Also hard wood to shape. Go for it!
Instead try 3 layers of 3mm birch plyood, glue up with PU glue (aka gorilla) or epoxy for rocker, at about 35-50% less weight.

Also non marine grade plywood has voids under the skin layers. Problem if you don't put a bit of fiberglass over the channels.

I want to put formica on the bottom to make it a cross (sand & water board) like the one this guy has:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LeJYfk3v ... plpp_video

here is the detail of that board:

http://www.freeshaper.com/kite/vboard.php?nb=248

Maybe I can drill a bunch of holes into the panel to make it lighter, then put a layer of glass so it looks like swiss cheese but with air bubbles in it.

Plywood seems harder to round formica to on the edges with a heat gun.

if it is formica, I don't think it bends around rails? Bend radius for formica is usually more like 2cm+, board edge would want 0.5cm radius, no?
...he doesn't list formica in the materials...
Just airex (expensive light foam), fiberglass, wood ... ??
If solid birch it would weigh 4-6kg.
With airex inside probably 2.5-3kg