kitedelight - 24-11-2010 at 03:38 PM
So, I am looking at picking up a new board for snowkiting.
I have size 11 boots, just wondering If I should go wide board or not. The guys at the shop said I could probably get away with a regular board (but
did recommend wide), but there experience is on the hill, not with the kite where the edging angle can get quite steep (ie, heel drag more likely).
How many of you guys with size 11 boots ride regular (not wide) boards? Do you have much heel drag issues?
I have got a 155 k2 parkstar regular width on hold for me till tomorrow. It's a $150 off cause it's an older model, but I have heard really good
things about it, and it is a decent stiffness for a twin shape board - so should be good for kiting (minus the potential problems for the width).
bigben91682 - 24-11-2010 at 04:07 PM
I have 11.5/12 boots and I've had heel/toe drag issues with a regular board, as a result I've always ridden a wide board since then without any
problems. I think the wide boards handle the pow slightly better, and you won't be snowkiting on groomers very often....
chudalicious - 24-11-2010 at 04:37 PM
My guy has 11 boots and says it is totally worth it to get a wide board.
If that helps at all!
bigben91682 - 24-11-2010 at 04:38 PM
and get a rocker while you're at it, big help under in the kite IMHO, plus more fun on the hill.
kitedelight - 24-11-2010 at 06:25 PM
thanks for the replies, keep em coming. ::roll:
That's what I was kinda expecting, most people will have a wide board with size 11 boots, but.... is there anybody out there with size 11 feet riding
a reg 155 board (roughly 250mm waist width) that *doesn't* get heel drag?? Anybody?
For boarding on the hill, seems *some* people with size 11 boots have gotten away with a regular board, but most have just opted for the wide boards.
But, like I said, that's on the hill, hence my interest in knowing what you kiters with size 11 feet are all doing.
ya Bigben, your recommendation is where I was going....gonna venture into a different chamber type this time around. I demoed a Burton hero last
year...wow are they fun! I don't want something too soft though (some twin rockers can be). From my meanderings on the internet, my preference would
be for a k2 darkstar 2011 wide due to that extra stiffness for a twin board, but nobody carries it around here in wide. But, this parkstar 2009 is
available for $150 off at a local shop...little softer than the darkstar but is still a mid-flex twin.....sure is tempting!! Hence, my questions
regarding what you guys are doing. If I get get away with it, then I'll buy that board in a snap.
bigben91682 - 24-11-2010 at 07:11 PM
I rode 'stiff' boards for a long time and enjoyed them, once I really started riding switch proficiently and got more playful with my riding I started
to appreciate the soft boards. I got the Sierra Reverse which is a soft V rocker, a single reverse camber, super playful and a ton of fun on the hill
or on the flats with the kite.
kitedelight - 24-11-2010 at 09:45 PM
Nice to hear that the softer boards still work well. I was worried the softer stuff would lack holding an edge with kiting. Good to know I don't
*have* to go for the stiffer boards; I'll still probably get a stiffer board cause anything softer than the Burton hero I demoed would be too much for
my liking 
I did go back to the store, and after some measurements am feeling more confident I could pull it off, but it is still a gamble.
More replies are still welcome if anyone comes across this.
chudalicious - 25-11-2010 at 12:43 AM
250 waist width is not much to play with. I have two ladies boards and they are right around 250mm and I am approximately a men's 7.5 boot and I have
little to spare on the heel or toe side. Can't imagine a sz 11!
On the Burton hero... Picked up the ltd edition last year and it's a great board to have fun with on the hill. However, the "pressure distribution
edges" are nothing to write home about and can't compare to the edge hold of a magnetraction board.
Needless to say... No "hero" with the kites in more ways than one :embarrased: