I'm just getting into surf style kiting after 6 years of twin tip. I'm getting a custom board made for me but I need advice on the length and width of the board. I'm going strapless and I'm 6'6" tall and 250lbs the waves I surf are 3'-6'. Any advice on board specs you think would be great and what do you ride?

What wind speeds or kite sizes?

Bob
www.kiteridersllc.com

I fly a 15m liquid force hi fi and the wind speeds are from 10 to 20 knots

Hi, 6.2 x 209 myself.

For you to start: take a bigger board, probably a (retro) fish like board, that gives you a stable, early ride. Length: doesn't really matter, somewhere between 5.7 & 6.2, width: around 20 - 21, with a flat rocker outline.

That would give you a lot of fun!

Damm you are a big guy

I am only 5´8 and use from 5´8 to 6´1 in length. But how wide the board is, is also very important.

Here is my quiver for kitesurfing in waves:
5´8 x 18,5
5´9 x 18,8
5´11 x 18,75
6´0 x 18
6´1 x 18,25
6´1 x 18,5

I think when the board gets more than 19 wide, it is too much a hazzle to make a snappy turn. But when you are as big as you are, I belive a 6´1 - 6´3 in length and 18,5 - 19 wide would be a good size that would fit as long as you have wind above 22 knots. For ligther wind and more mellow surfing you might want to get a fish, but this will not turn on a dime...not even a plate!

it depends on how you intend to ride. More surfy smaller mushier waves in onshore conditions..move towards modern fish with a bit of toe-in on the fins. Go relatively wide IMO 19 is no problem. If you ride faster more powered, go skinnier..harder rails..fins less toe -in and less cant, 4 or 5 boxes.

I am 6'1'' my most used board lately is a 4'8'' naish skater. twin fins..up to about headhigh it works great..like riding a skateboard...killer fun. My favorite is the 5'4'' skater...when I ride the longer boards now I think they feel like there is so much board to turn around. Obviously when the waves get bigger I use a longer skinnier strapped board...

It's not so much the length, but the volume. I'm 6'2 and weigh about 200 and my comfortable volume for surfing is 33-36 L. I can go a little less for kiting since I always have the option of using the power of my kite over the flatter sections, where in regular surfing I can't.
I have a 6'2" Firewire Alternator that I can comfortably start riding at 15mph and over. However, I have a 5'11" Fish that starts working in 11mph because it has more volume. The hybrid shapes and fish shapes will have more volume per length then your high performance surfboards. You can get a general idea of your optimum volume on the follwing website by entering some personal variables. You can also see how the different shapes of surfboards will yield different volumes. It will untimately come down to the type of waves you will be riding to determine which shape to get. Your optimum volume can then help you pick the correct size. Good Luck.



http://www.firewiresurfboards.com/surfb ... erview.php

Funny - I also have the 5´4 Skater, but don´t even use it in waves. Therefore I did not list it above in my strapless quiver (also have 1 board for straped that I bougth for Cape Verde, but ended up riding it strapless anyway). For me the Skater 5´4 is just for bumb and jump in hip high conditions. Just shows how personal this is...

Definitely personal preference, but it might also show a little what a shitty wave summer we've had over here.

..but then this hits http://www.surfline.com/surf-news/hawaii-swell-photos_66541/

At your height and weight,wind range you kite in,your going to need width and volume and later get a more gunny board for big wind days,imo after 19 wide its not as much fun, TONY