Hey guys, whats the method for determining ideal board dimensions? Is it similar to choosing a snowboard (ie board reaches up between your chin and nose?)

I'm going to me moving back out east to Rhode Island this summer and living near the beach, so I want to start trying my hand at kiteboarding. I'm pretty lost when it comes to makes/models and styles of kiteboards.

Thanks for any advice you may be able to give!

I don't really know what I'm talking about, seeing as it's a 3 hour drive to the nearest ocean, but I do know that the size varies by conditions. Longer boards like in the 150 cm+ range are best for light wind flat water days, where shorter boards around the 130 cm range are better for higher winds and wave riding. Kiteboards are very rider-specific and choice is based on personal preference... some people like directional, others like twintips (I think a twintip between 135 and 140 cm is probably the best all-arounder), and some even ride strapless surfboards. With many water kites, you will have a package option that includes a board... so that would be the way to go if you're looking for a new kite also. I used to check kiteboarding.com regularly because they often have closeout sales on kiteboards and sell them inexpensively. Hope that helps!

all PL kites LIKE a fast board. Fast boards are flat...and wide. they don't need fins but most have them. My lightwind board is a slingshot Glide, flat, wide. 1 " fins, and fast. rocker works against PL kites. PL's need the board speed. my first 'successful' board when i wtarted back in 2000 was a sheet of 1/4" plywood with home made straps and no fins. Worked great!

im a short kid i weigh 135 would a 127cm kiteboard work with a 10m venom

You mean for the water?
A lot depends on your weight and how powered you like to ride ... what style you want. For beginning though you need a big floaty board - Airush Square One would be good for the first 10 sessions maybe ...
My go-to board - Flyboard XL 170x50 and almost completely flat - the biggest twin tip board you can buy! But I am The Fattest Kiteboarder in Japan.

General rules ...
Width is better than length for getting up and planing.
More fat the ass, more surface area needed width times length.
Flat is better than curved (rocker) for planing. But (apparently) more rocker is better in chop.
Wood core is strongest (?) and almost any board after 2008 should have that - remember my broken 2007 Spleene Door?

My advice - try a bunch of boards ... once you can actually get up riding consistently. IMHO your first board purchase should also double as a lightwind board once you are competent ...

Also, don't waste time dicking around in light winds trying to ride - get a mile away from the shore or anything that'll hurt, then try to ride.

PS. My personal opinion - Flyboards are the shiznit!

Ask Kami stated board width is important for first waterstarts. I had an older 157 slingshot board that had a foam core when I started and it did not help. Once I got a Spleen Session 41 which is 141 x43 with snowboard like construction I was up and riding. Your beginner board will become your lightwind board if you choose wisely. Spleene or Flyboard

A longer board is more forgiving with imbalance. I used a 135 for the first time a couple of weeks ago and it took me a bit of time to get the balance down. You can see me burying the nose a couple of times in swells in the video I posted from Los Barriles. I would not have wanted that board to learn board starts on but it was ok after logging many hours on the 141.
I am 6' 190lbs.

wide like 42cm +, 145cm + in length to start.

a flat board will be very fast to start with and a slippery challenge to start , if you need water board skills to develop, a concave set up will be super easy to control once you are up! it will require more power BUT bigger guys tend to like to be overpowered to start with so a something like a LF proof(def easy on the $) or JL flight deck.

most light wind boards are slick and fast without much rocker. this is slippery , not what
you want.

LF proof 151, 161, i have seen several guys start and hook this one up with good success. there's one in the gallery ...josh and mel under kite surf. theres a ton to choose from but for the $ its a perfect start and they are the toughest boards on the market.