Bushflyr wrote:OK, the first thing you need to do when discussing kite boards is forget about volume. Completely.
Volume matters for surfboards because the board needs to float you while you're paddling.
Board volume plays a major roll in how a board will ride for your weight and ability, not how it paddles. Volume matters!
The volume factor needing to be forgotten is seriously misguided. Volume is a very important factor for sizing (if not better) regardless of being pushed by a wave or pulled by a kite.
Volume is the only factor that's always constant vs the board's dimensional shape. By using this method I can easily narrow down what "size" surfboard is going to work best for me along with the shape for it's intended purpose (wave types/conditions). The dimensional shape/size is now just a byproduct of those two factors (volume + applications). So far this method of sizing has proven way more accurate than just guessing what size is best based on what's available dimensionally.
I now know that surfboards around 20-21L for my weight and skill are the sweet spot when used with a kite. For traditional surfing a 23-24L shortboard is the sweet spot for me. So for me, volume is now a key sizing reference that I find to be way more useful, especially when my sizing options may be limited or I need something specific. I no longer focus on the length of a board, only the width, the volume and it's intended use.
Btw, I have a skimboard and wakeskate too. Big difference in where and how you need to ride these type of boards vs a surfboard. The lack of volume requires constant pull from your kite on these board types so they don't sink, especially the wakeskate. Not to mention skimboards and wakeboards are also offered in various sizes/volumes to accommodate different "weight" ranges for "riding", not paddling, so volume really does matter.