Anyone here using a longboard? I want to try one this season to cruise my local lakes

http://hawaiianx.com/index.php?option=com_seyret&task=vi...

I used to, haven't in a long while. Tony Groman (the guy in the video) got me into it a bunch of years ago. It's a blast, hardest part (for me at least) is getting started and going over bumps (I tended to get lifted off the board). If the wind gets real light I might give it another try...

that vid is way cool. super chill looks like a good time. thanks for sharing.

That looks great! I'm up for some of that at our local lake, me a some of the guys have been playing around with that idea. Need to find a nice surfboard somewhere, wonder if a windsurfer would work out just the same?

Thanks for the video post DaVinch.

I was wondering how hard it would be to get going without footstraps.

Quote:

Originally posted by bigkahuna It's a blast, hardest part (for me at least) is getting started and going over bumps (I tended to get lifted off the board).

Maybe something like this :?:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=25021...

I've been thinking of getting a long board (>9') to try kitesurfing on. I ride my 7'6" most of the time. I also rode a 8'2" board years and years ago (1998-1999) when I first started. We also kitesurfed on windsurf boards as well back in the late 90's. Problem with them is you could not get an edge down.

Once you find your balance point you could add some straps to that location. Or better yet just add straps all over the place. I had 6 or 8 straps on my first windsurf board in the 80's.

Here's a pic from my place back in 1999 with long boards, windsurf boards, medium length board and wake boards plus some C-Quads thrown in for good measure.

Scott

This shop is about 30 minutes from where I live. http://www.longboardhouse.com/

Would a windsurf board be easy enough to play on at my resivoir? Or would I be better off with a plyboard?

Most windsurfers are just too thick (especially at the tail) to work for kiting, you won't be able to dig in a rail at all. if you can locate an antique/original "Windsurfer" (that was modeled after a surfboard) that might work. I see them every once in a while at garage sales.

Yup-We tried kitesurfing with windsurf boards back in 1998 but they are to thick. I might have to give the windsurf board we converted to a kiteboard another go. It was a smaller (9'6"ish) wave board.

I've got a couple of pictures somewhere of us trying in 1997 or 1998.

Scott

I live inland a LONG way, surfing is out of the question probably very hard to jump/trick since there are no waves to speak of. While the surf boards are too think.... the video is cool, how is it that he has this kind of perfomance if the board is too thick?

Jerry

The video is a surfboard longboard not a windsurf board.

So I would be best off w/ a plyboard?

"The video is a surfboard longboard not a windsurf board. "

So if I got something in the area of 6-7ft long and 18" across it would be = could be quite entertaning on inland waters with winds around 20MPH?
http://www.softsurfboards.com/surfboards%2075.htm

My favorite kiteboard is 7'6" long 20" wide and 3" thick. It is a custom board made by Hana Crew and based on a F-0ne board.

Scott

20mph is a good bit of wind and a regular kiteboard should work just fine. I usually kitesurf in sub 15mph wind here on the beach and my 7'6" board is my favorite (it's the white one in the picture)

The board in the video has a lot of volume and surface area in the rear portion of the board compared to most surfboard style kiteboards.

You have full assortment of kites, what kite with the 7' 6" board?

Thanks for the input.

Jerry

Any of my kites are ok. But the big board is best with the XXXL or Blade 10.5 meter.

Scott

The board Tony is using in the video is an old, dirty, beat-up, heavy Bic 9' longboard. Tony's been kiting since the beginning (when everyone was using directionals) and picked up kiting with longboards maybe 6 years ago. He's on the water almost every day, so you'd be hard to find many people with more experience than him.

If you're looking for lightwind fun on a budget, get a skim board. The ply ones cost about $30 and last a couple months (or longer if you don't jump much). The glass ones will last much longer.

You can build a plyboard and according to a lot of folk, they work fine. I built one, gave it a layer of glass, took it to the beach and it sank... So I can't really comment first hand.

If you gotta have a longboard, you can shape your own from materials you can buy at Home Depot. Go to the "Swaylocks" forum (google will find it) and search the forums for "Home Depot". Some real talented and creative people there, I think the board set the guy back a hundred bucks or so. Heck, there was a recent post from a guy in Ohio that built a surfboard out of Pizza boxes... yup, he even had photos.

I wondered about sinking. Plywood by itself is not really good at floating. I am going to give the ply board a shot. I love the sitting on the board just cruising, sure it took some time to do and the video is staged and it worked but it _is_ cool.

The link to the board I posted is less than $150.00 shipped, not durable I am sure but it would be a taste.

Jerry

The trick to making a plyboard (I later learned) is to do as little as possible to it. DON'T use epoxy or fiberglass (as I did). The board will soak up the resin and it will weigh a ton. Use a single coat of Polyeurathane varnish or paint. Fins are optional as are pads and straps.

total cost was $70..........polyurethane seal on 1/2 inch ply. Floats like a butterfly , sings like a bee. Seriously, it works nice but the directional and longboards are much easier on the knees. Kahuna may know of a shop on OBX but KGB kite sports out of Jax, Fl has great prices ont straps, pads, and fins.

Looking at all the boards and it looks like they are all 15" wide by any place between 47" and 67" long. That gives a 300 square inch variation in surface area.

To save some lugging/storage of raw plywood, would it work to make it 48" Long by 18" Wide to get the equivalent surface area of a 15" x 55" board? This board can be bought for $12.00 and cut to shape without buying the whole sheet.

Jerry

Cheapest prices I've seen for pads is the Slingshot Online Store, had them for $5 a pair. They may also have straps, I don't remember. Nice looking woodie Tridude!

Thanks Kahuna...... KGB is a tad more but awesome folks on staff................

@ solarix--I borrowed the dimensions from Spleene---The 07 session 141x44 tapers down to 16.0 inches at the tips. I built a light wind mini monster door 159x48 using 2" diameter X 2" long PVC pipe for fins. I def get some nasty looks with that setup but if your familiar with turbo tunnel fins for surfboards, it works along the same principles. The horizontal stability is great and adds speed for light wind days. Dont use it much anymore since I went to a directional and playing on the longboard.

I think I ruined my first piece of ply!


From experience guys what will the rounded tips do?

Thanks,

Jerry

No idea. Paint it up and give it a go. My friend has made around 150 ply boards and his shapes are similar to the one Tridude posted.

He has made a couple skim board looking things that have rounded tips. Those boards did not get foot straps. He just rode them without straps.

Scott