I am planning to try kiteboarding this summer on Sandy Hook Beach NJ ....
So.... I am searching ebay for used board that is right for me..... and since I have no idea whats right form me I do have to ask my fellow forum members to provide me with some advice .....
I am 195lbs 6' tall with poor swimming skills ....
Kite that I am planning to use is 11m Gin Zulu II.....

If you're sure you're going to be a water-kiter guy, spend good money on a modern good-quality board ... start off buying a light-wind board cos it'll also be easier to get going on ... a door of some kind, post 2008 is my advice.
I'm in love with my 2010 Flydoor XL but it wasn't cheap, even when Rip gave me the super-good discount - but it's been worth every penny since then!
Other options ... Spleene Door, ABoards Glider, Lightwave Wing (?), Flydoor ... anything about 150-ish long and 45+ wide.

If you're not convinced you'll like it, borrow one

It's a pity about postal restrictions cos otherwise I'd be happy to send out my Airush Square One as a "Pass the beginners board" big, fat, floaty, easy to get going on but upwind is tough - you'll grow out of it soon, like I did now it sits around being big, fat, filling up my room :D

For a beginner like you I would go for a 135 by 40 wide board. Why? A big board like a door will get harder to use when it starts blowing a little harder. I have know Idea what the low end of the kite will be but I think it sure will power up in 18 19 knots! A 135 x 40 board is a great board size to start with and to grow on.
About your swimming skills, work on that:D you will be swimming a lot especially as a beginner! Last thing, try to know all the safety precautions of your kite (know where your chicken loop is located and how it works when you need it! And practise this with your eyes closed. Kite accidents happen before you know it).

Besides all that have fun, and be safe!:bigok:

Seriously? A 135x40 board for a 90kg beginner on an 11m kite? Even the tiny guys here (50kg!) use bigger boards when they're using that sized kite ... and 20 knots? :wow:

I also think 135x40 is kinda small.. Like Kami said, a 145x45 would probably be good. Kober needs to get up and riding as much as possible when he's starting out to make the most progression during his beginner days. A big, flat (very little rocker), and wide board will get him up and planing easily and especially in lighter winds with an 11m.

Kober, where do you live, what kind of water conditions will you be riding in (flat? chop? waves?), and do you have a kite store near you that rents/demos boards?

My mistake, an 11 with no experience I would go for a bigger indeed. I used to ride in Europe most of the time, biggest board I had was an 130 x 40 and an 9 meter Bandit 2 from F.One with 165 lbs weight. Covered most of it for me!

But a larger board will give you more fun indeed when beginning and learning

I am the same height and weight and my 141x43 Spleen Session has been perfect. I tried a 135 and it felt too small.

Okay, I have to ask. What is it about the Doors (or any big board for that matter) that makes them no good when the wind picks up? I kinda understand that when the wind is up you can get away with a smaller board but thought it was just that - a function of what you could get away with. What renders the big boards useless as the wind climbs?

Hey Kami,

Was that old Square 1 not a good starter board? I see you got rid of it and never refer to it?

I dunno mac - I have no problem with mine in big wind! :D

Square 1 is a great starter board but that's it ... doesn't really go upwind at all but it floats real nice so you can get up, get riding and get the stoke. I still have it though cos nobody wants it :D

With the smaller boards and being 6' too, I find that it takes more concentration to keep the weight balanced properly - there's a lot of tripping over the tip or having the back end scoot out from under me ... tough enough when you CAN get up and riding but if you're learning ...?

Thanks for all replays....

Looks like advised size for me is 145x45

Area where I be learning is a bay side of Sandy Hook where I think most of time I be riding on flat water

... After reading you answers I found few more questions....
1. If I have choice of getting 11 or 13m Zulu II kite (hybrid) what size its more usable for me... ???
2. I can get package deal with additional 7m kite .... Do I need it ???? My sis wants to try kiteboarding, she is 130lbs and willing to pay half price for 7m to be able sometimes go with me on water ....
3. Is one board good for all conditions when learning or there are limitations ??? where 145x45 is no good to use ???

Thanks

on my Rabbits (super light) my quiver was a 9m / 15m using a 128 FS Radical

depending how much wind you get I would assume you would be using a 13m more but than again it combines in with your board too.

2 kites + 1 board VS 1 kite + 2 boards???
(most LEIs today come with extension kits too)

the big guys dont have issues with the Doors / Big Boards but its easier to plan so the extra volume makes it harder to edge (i should say stomp on your rear leg) if youre an EXTRA LITE WEIGHT.

Kami just hook your square one to a balloon and send it over. I will pick it up in California where the winds from Japan seem to be blowing to. :dunno:

edit, hope that didn't sound disrespectful. I didn't mean it to be. :saint:

Seriously, how much would it cost to ship something that big? Maybe send it slow boat. I used to ship books from Russia via boat and it was cheap for the weight compared to other routes

my buddy has a airush 180 twin tip and that is the only board I have gotten up on. I am very much a beginner on water and the float of the board was great. I hear a floaty directional might do the trick too but I am no expert

I think Seany is due to float over some time soon ... "OI! Catch!"
Impossible to ship 165cm is the longest that the US will accept and there's a limit on the length x width too ... I'll ask about surface mail but I bet it's the same.

Sounds like a Square 1 ... a directional means you gotta turn around and go toeside or stop, change the board around, start the other way - by no means impossible though.