Types of Kiteboarding boards

Having a good understanding of boards can expand the conditions you can kite in and change your riding style. Below are the basic shapes that are popular for kiteboarders.

The boards are organized in the activity/style one will use them.

Freeride/Allround/Beginner

These boards are the easiest to ride and are choice boards for beginners and intermediate riders. They are easy to turn, comfortable to ride, and you can cruise on them.

  • Slightly rounded tips to reduce splashing water
  • Medium flex and rocker to produce a clean and smooth ride

Board Examples

 Cabrinha Spectrum

Cabrinha Spectrum

Slingshot Misfit

Slingshot Misft

 

Freestyle/Performance

Usually, you can spot a performance board by the graphics on the deck. Brands like to make these boards look aggressive. These boards are great for moving fast in the water and producing pop. (A key ingredient for jumps and tricks.)

  • Wide square tips to provide more bite while edging
  • Channels on the bottom to increase water flow for grip and speed
  • Usually aggressive artwork designs on the deck
  • Performance flex and tech to give the board more power and softer landings

Board Examples

 StarKite Cruz

StarKite Cruz

Cabrinha Ace

Cabrinha Ace
 

Light Wind

Everyone is going to encounter unwanted light wind days. Sometimes to avoid sitting on the beach you need to have a light wind board. These boards are going to be large boards that are great for early planning with minimum power required from the kite. Sometimes you can use these boards if you are a large person.

  • Long and wide to provide early planing and water displacement
  • Usually, wide square tips to provide more bite while edging
  • Some channels on the bottom to increase water flow for planning speed

Board Examples

 Slingshot Gilde

Slingshot Glide

Cabrinha Stylus

Cabrinha Stylus

 
 

Wakestyle

This is a special type of board that only some riders like. These boards are very similar to wakeboards. They are designed to assist in performing wakeboard tricks with a kite. Sometimes, a rider will added boots (or bindings) on these boards.

  • Wide and very stiff to keep its attributes while it is being ridden
  • Reinforced and built very strong. Sometimes these boards will have a grind base so that they be used with kickers and rails.
  • Aggressive rocker to provide a smooth ride in "wavey" water or a nice landing when you are coming down with force.
  • Can be used with bindings (boots)
  • These boards need to be ridden with a lot of power to ride upwind

Board Examples

 Cabrinha CBL

Cabrinha CBL

Slingshot Refraction

Slingshot Refraction

 

Directional (Surfboard)

These are surfboards. They have a tail with fins on the bottom and a nose. You will find kitesurfers using these boards in waves. There are many different types of shapes of surfboards. These are the basics.

  • Directional fins to provide grip and help turn the board
  • Decking or surf wax
  • Foot straps are optional
  • The narrow the surfboard the more power it needs from the kite.

Board Examples

 Cabrinha X-Breed

Cabrinha X Breed

Slingshot Celero FR

Celero FR

Directional (Hydro Foilboard)

Enjoying the magic carpet ride is one of the best feelings to experience when you kiteboard. Foilboards have opened more doors to explore kiteboarding. Not only can you fly in lighter winds, but you can feel a smooth ride. These boards are directional because you can ride the foil only forward.

  • Some boards can double as a surfboard or skimboard.
  • Performance hydro foilboards usually have beveled rails to limit the drag on the board when it touches the water.
  • You usually can swap and change the type of foil as long as you match the type of mount.
  • Due to the foil's underwater characteristics, you can angle higher into the wind than traditional boards.

Board Examples

 Slingshot Alien Air

Slingshot Alien Air

Cabrinha Double Agent

Double Agent

 

 

These are just some of the basic models take you might encounter. If you have questions about a board write us a comment.

May the wind be in your favor!!!

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