Hey guys,

I know that the water season is almost over, but I was doing some thinking ahead for next season. I am 6'5" @ 260 lbs and am a beginner on the water so I was wondering what size board I would need.

Go big. I'm about 6' and 220 and I don't go smaller then a 145. Mostly I ride a Mako or Crazy Fly All Around. And since our summers usually have light winds, I ride my huge Door 64 alot as well or my 7 foot surfboard. My wife has a SX 151 that is a great learning board that still performs in higher winds as well. If you go big, it'll be easier to learn on and then you'll have something for light winds once you've mastered water.

We are about the same height but you have me by about 40 lbs. I did very well on a liquid force proof 151 my first 2 times out and made progress each time. I think the board is right for me now and will be fine until I hit higher speeds. Then I'll need a smaller board. They make one size larger in that board and you might need that while learning/lower winds. You'll need quite a bit more power than your 160 lb buddies too. You might need your 15 when they are taking out 9s and 12s. As another pkf member said: "Gravity loves the big kids". That's us.

Seconded. Go big. I started with my Spleene Rip 134. Great little board, but way to small for learning unless the winds were nuking. I can only ride it if wind are around 17-20mph with my 11m TD2. Otherwise I'm on the door (164), and its perfect. But I weigh less than you. I'd go big like suggested above.

Alright, so as I suspected bigger is better for learning and for my size, but is there such a thing as too big? I've seen boards as long as 179cm. Would it be easier to learn on a board that big and give me a bigger advantage than a 151cm?

Quote:

You might need your 15 when they are taking out 9s and 12s

And my size is the exact reason that I was confident that a 15m would be a good choice for my first LEI. I've asked questions before about bigger LEI's (18m and 20m) and many suggested that I stay away because of the small wind range and flight characteristics, but eventually I feel I'm going to need a larger LEI for the lower wind days.

big, decent width 42cm +, LF proof 151,161 great board for the money esp. to start with.

you are gonna need solid wind 15-20 mph. and all of the 15m

151 should be fine just go on 15mph + days.

once you get this set up going its gonna be fast. a 15m fuel is a supercharged dump truck with out brakes! you need to be super comfortable in the water with this kite .
a deep power stroke with this kite in 20mph is a real nut check. be careful

but you will get use to it, promise

Hey

Like everyone said bigger is better for learning. To get up and ride while learning a bigger flatter board will help.
After you learn to ride and try shorter boards you'll see the turn faster and make changing directions easier, but to learn a longer wide board will do.
I'm 160 and learned on a 161 pickle fork.
Try to find something big and cheap so if you lose it or break it it's no big loss.
I was so happy to be up and riding when I learned, I sometimes ignored the fact I was being pulled downwind and ended up hitting bottom on the beach.

Good Luck
John

Twin-tip or directional?
IMO bigger will get you up riding sooner but apparently, you'll grow out of it sooner too ...
I own a North Sumo 155x45 and I think it's too small for me to learn on ... I got up nicely with the Phantom 15 on the Sumo but the winds were fierce and we know how that ended - I got arcstratred
My first real riding day was on a Airush 174 TT and it was good ... I'm trying to get a bigger board now for the learning ... I'm about your weight too, maybe more

Take a look at the Slingshot Jarvis posted by Jaymzmn. Sounds like a great starter board and the price is tough to beat!

http://www.powerkiteforum.com/viewthread.php?tid=10701