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General: Regular firewire board to kitesurf?

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  1.  
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      CommentAuthormmcgee333
    • CommentTimeAug 23rd 2010
     
    Looks like a great lineup of kiteboards, so congrats on putting it together and good luck getting them in people's hands. I have a 6'1" El Fuego and haven't tried it for kiting yet, but reading through the forum, worry that it will get too beat up. I am 6'2" 195 pounds and wonder how well it will go, in your opinion, and what I should expect on the wear and tear if i do start using it consistently to kite.

    Thanks
  2.  
    gee333,

    You will probably enjoy your el fuego a ton kiting...but you are right, the life and wear and tear will be somewhat noticable pretty quick, especially depending on your riding style. If you are into airs strapless, the life will be cut short quick as the surfboards are not built for the kiting forces.

    I would get either a 511 taj or 6 quad kite model. If you like the el fuego, consider the 6 quad for all around riding. It handles solid surf and the mushier stuff well and also a wider range of wind conditions if your area has lighter winds.

    Enjoy!
    •  
      CommentAuthormmcgee333
    • CommentTimeAug 24th 2010
     
    great, thanks nofootbelts. That's pretty much what I figured.

    Guess I will give it a few tries and see what kind of damage I cause. If it's not looking good I'll probably go ahead and pick up that 6'0" quad. I have a smaller board for much windier days, so that sounds like a good choice.
  4.  
    No worries. Ask away, what these forums are for! Be careful on your surfboard, last thing you want is to purchase another.

    I found that doing regular strapless airs puts a lot of damage to the boards, as well as riding upwind and exerting all that pressure on your rails.

    Quad is a sic model for kiting in all conditions. THe taj is insane for higher winds if you live in a place that consistantly gets that.
    •  
      CommentAuthorwindyway
    • CommentTimeAug 24th 2010 edited
     
    Hey Felix, most of us weigh less than your 215 pounds and not so much height leverage either.
    Please build us a smaller kitesurf model that is say 5-9 x 17.5 x 23L
    The Alternator or Quadflex would be a better all around choice than the Flexfire.

    We don't really need all the length and width when kite powered.
    For the lighter smaller days, I ride a 6-0 QuadraFlex or a 5-8 Dominator.
    But they are just too much board for big winds- big waves.

    Thanks. Win
      firewire quadflx 6-0a.jpg
  6.  
    Windyway,

    Felix is actually a lightweight, I (Grant) am the heavyweight at over 200 lbs. I would try out the 511 taj for your heavier days...the board is like a little skateboard in the big surf, a lot of fun. I usually ride this board in heavier surf and high winds 20+. Below that I typically ride the quad.

    The 6'2" is a great board when the waves are out of control and you need more foam under your feet.

    As far as adding the alternator or quad, note we have a 6 quadraflex in the lineup which is great in a wide variety of conditions, and probably the best for the lower wind spectrum.

    And don't worry, the quiver will expand...so your input is appreciated.

    Get some.
    •  
      CommentAuthormmcgee333
    • CommentTimeAug 25th 2010
     
    Makes sense to me. The first addition to the lineup probably should be something along those lines, a bit smaller than the 5'11" as there is a big kiting contingent that likes smaller boards, around the 5'9" size. You would probably sell even smaller kite boards, but I think a 5'9" would be very popular. You may also want to consider making the quad a 5/4/3 setup like the el Fuego to add even more flexibility to that board. That was a big selling point for me.

    Going to try kiting the el Fuego this weekend and see how it goes.

    Thanks again for the input.
    •  
      CommentAuthorBrian
    • CommentTimeAug 25th 2010
     
    You gotta give the 5'11" Taj a go. I used to ride 5'2" to 5'9" boards and would swear the Taj 5'11" is a 5'8ish feel when under your feet. Primarily due to less volume than a lot of boards on the market. It's all ready there before your done thinking about turning and will leave you lot's of opportunity to grow into the board.
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      CommentAuthorwindyway
    • CommentTimeAug 26th 2010
     
    Thanks Brian, the TAJ is great if the wave has the power to utilize the extra rocker.
    But I spend 50% of my time going back up wind and sometimes am underpowered.
    So the extra rocker in the TAJ and the Flexfire creates too much drag a lot of the time.

    That's why I've found the 6-0 Quadraflex to be ideal for kiting, It has a much better glide.
    I'm now looking for a smaller version, preferably reinforced for kiting.

    Win
    6-0 Flexfire for windy, 6-0 Quadraflex for everyday, 5-8 Dominator for mush.
    •  
      CommentAuthorjake
    • CommentTimeAug 27th 2010
     
    I'll love to see a 5'9x18 1/4x2 3/16 alternator shape 5/4/3 fin option. think that would be great for those windy cross onshore days and mushy EU waves.
  11.  
    Hello

    I’m coming to South Africa in December without a kite surfboard. I would therefore like to use the opportunity to buy myself a Firewire board. The problem is that they don’t have any kite surfboards, so I would like to buy a Firewire paddleboard. Which is fine because I’m riding strapless.
    Which Firewire paddleboard do you think will be the best board to use for kitesurfing? I weigh 75 kilos and I’m 1,88 meters. I ride almost all sizes of waves but mostly side shore wind.


    Thanks a lot for your help!
    Best wishes
    Boris.
  12.  
    All,

    You are correct in that the quad is amazing for light wind conditions. We have a new board in the lineup that will be officially announced soon once they arrive for some testing. Thing a 5 fin setup and alittle more foam than the quadraflex. Choose your poison and ride.

    Boris,

    Little confused by your note. FW is now making kite specific surfboards that reinforced to take the beatings of kite power. This includes changes to the core foam density and skin. Your best bet for your weight is 511 taj if you want a loose and snappy board. The board hooks like none other.

    Get some.
  13.  
    Hey

    Thanks a lot for your reply!

    I would like to buy a specific FW kite surfboard. But I can't find a place where they sell them. I can only find the paddle surfboards.
    Do you know any dealers in the area of Cape Town where it would be possible for you to send a kite surfboard?

    Is the flex on the paddle board better than on the kite boards, because of the plugs for straps in the kite board?
  14.  
    Will get back at you with a local vendor. You might need one shipped out possibly. Flex characteristics are similar to that of the surfboard line. The kite models are beefed up for kiting specifically with yes some added weight, but still VERY light according to kiteboard industry standards...ill let you know on vendor shortly. Shoot me your email via whisper.
  15.  
    Our distributor in South Africa should have a good lot in about a month.
    Hook him up with Steve Waycott @ [email protected]
    And he should be able to point him in the right direction.

    Country Feeling Surfshop
    Shop 1, JBay Village
    3 Da Gama Rd, Jefferys Bay
    Tel: +27 42 2931679
    Mob: +27 794675634

    Hope that helps!
  16.  
    Thanks a lot! I'll try and contact Steve! Not enough space for my email in whisper, but it's
    [email protected]
    •  
      CommentAuthorwindyway
    • CommentTimeOct 24th 2010 edited
     
    ON Aug 27th 2010, JAKE said:
    I'll love to see a 5'9x18 1/4x2 3/16 alternator shape 5/4/3 fin option. think that would be great for those windy cross onshore days and mushy EU waves
    -------------------------------------------------------------
    Yes, you all know I'm happy with my strapless Quadraflex 6-0,
    but I am still asking for shorter lengths for kiting.

    Here's my latest R+D project.............. I bought a little 5-8 Alternator. 18.5" x 2.25" Volume 24.7 L
    (Why: Because it has less "slow me down" rocker than the Flexfire)
    Its for the big big big windy windy windy days when straps keep you from getting crushed.

    Next we got out the epoxy resin and put two layers of -S- glass on the entire deck.
    In hopes that the reinforcement will make the surfboard more durable for kiting.
    Then glued on a pair of NSI Surf and Skim Padz with Proton footstraps and waited for the wind.

    SMILE -> Riding overpowered for the last two days with a 7.5 meter, has me smiling.
    This 5-8 Alternator does things I don't know how to do. I push it past my limits and it just keeps on going.
    This is the best high wind kiteboard. Smooth, fast, snappy, and totally in sync with the rider.

    So how about it Mark, have I earned a spot on the R+D team yet?
      003.JPG
  18.  
    Ha. Well, lets just say that the 3 boards in our lineup are covering mostly all conditions. We will constantly be adding boards to the kite quiver once things start growing organically. The alternator is a board that we are considering being that we get a lot of response from guys riding the surf shape for kiting.
    •  
      CommentAuthorwindyway
    • CommentTimeNov 23rd 2010
     
    A lot of kite company production surfboards are based on a 5-8 or 5-9 length. The Dominator 5-8 is perfect for smaller days and a 5-8 Alternator built for kitng, would be the perfect compliment for the big days. Come take a ride on my new toy....... it will definitely put a grin on your face. Windy.
    •  
      CommentAuthorBrian
    • CommentTimeNov 23rd 2010
     
    A quick update regarding the newly released 5'8" Dominator... Now with a couple days the water, this board is fantastic for upwind in the quad configuration and at 2 3/8" and 20" wide really skates through the flats. Turning is tighter than the 6'0" quadraflex. Super fun board!
    •  
      CommentAuthorwindyway
    • CommentTimeNov 24th 2010
     
    I've had a lot of time on the water, kiting the Dominator 5-8. It performs best in surf up to six feet and in the quad fin configuration. Ridden as a twin fin it was fun, but in a three fin thruster setup, it felt unpredictable. I'm not sure why, but I guess it was shaped to work best as a quad. The best part of the Dominator is its ability to find wave power when none really exists..... you can catch a ride from a little one foot high piece of nothing. W.
    •  
      CommentAuthormarkg
    • CommentTimeDec 25th 2010
     
    I've been kiting my 6'1" El Fuego firewire surfboard in lighter wind conditions lately & that board rips as a surfboard & kiteboard, especially with me being more of a heavy weight. Strongest I went out in was around 20knots & about 3 foot surf, & although it still performed remarkably well, it was probably getting towards a little bit too much foam for these conditions.

    So my question is, how much difference is the construction method between the normals surfboards & kiteboards. Is it simply more strengthening on the deck or is it more than that? You now have the custom board design with the surfboards. How hard would that be with the kiteboards? I don't even need inserts as I always ride strapless. It would just be nice to be able to pick on of the regular firewire surfboards & get them built to the strength of the kiteboards.
    •  
      CommentAuthorBrian
    • CommentTimeDec 27th 2010
     
    Good to hear about the El Fuego, sounds like it's working well for you.There's a pretty significant difference in the construction between the surf/kite lines with the kite models being beefed up a notch to compensate for the added forces kiting brings to the equation.

    As the kiteboard market grows Firewire will grow with it in terms of offering additional shapes, sizes, technology and possibly someday custom design similar to the surf line. The inserts take into account that a large part of the kiting population prefers the option to ride strapped or strapless. Even with the inserts your still getting one of the most advanced high performance boards on the market.

    Keep the feedback coming and good winds to you.

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