board design styles used

For comparison, we tried four different board designs. We wanted to know which board worked most effeciently for tacking, changing water topography, various wind conditions, and preserving our own energy levels. Thus, the following secitons compare each of the four board types used

1. Kitesurfing (Surfboard w/ straps)
2. Traditional Surfing (Strapless Surfboard)
3. Wakestyle (Twin tip kiteboard)
4. Stand Up Paddle board (SUP)

questionAIR synopsis

As most riders would have guessed, large boards with more surface area are far superior for long distance downwinders.  They are less demanding on the body and will carry the rider in less wind with a smaller kite and can adapt to more wind and water conditions.  If you like the surf feel and are going for a less physically demanding ride, using a surf board would be a smart choice.  If you are going for speed, ride a surf style board with straps. 

As an avid wakestyle rider, I got into the sport of kiteboarding because of the jumping and hang time aspect, not the wave riding.  With that in mind, I sacraficed the relaxed long distance riding for the ability to boost and pop off the water on demand where and when I wanted. As mentioned in the answers more than once, the twin tip was more strenuous but worth it. 

The above riding styles are fairly constant and familiar in the kiteboarding scene.  Furthermore, everyone chose their type of board with confidence in its ability to perform the task due to prior riding experiences.  The variable on our trip; however, was the use of a Stand Up Paddle board by Yani Dilling.  It is apparently clear that this type of down wind vehicle for long distance riding is exeptional based on Yani’s experience and feed back.  The ability to sit, stand or kneel offers the rider a chance to rest certan muscles while still covering ground.  In adition to low physical output, this mode of transportation requires very little wind and is still functional with out a kite in the event the wind dies.  One would be able to store extra equipment and survival gear on the board and be completely self-sufficient in the event of group sepparation.   I believe this is only the start of long distance kiting and with more trials and research, I can foresee SUP’s becoming the transportation of choice for long distance downwinders.

The downside: This isn’t the vehicle to ride in the shallows as Yani Dilling discovered after he ran over an oyster bed and got draged off his board.  Due to the sevarity of his oyster wounds, he wasn’t able to complete the second half of the trip. 

riders & gear used

Trey Sedalik  

board ’09 Naish 5’7” global custom surfboard strapless

kite ‘09 Naish Torch 9m

Dale Slear 

board ‘09 North Jamie Pro 132

kite ’09 Ocean Rodeo Rise 8m and 12m

Hunter Stunzi     

board ‘09 Ocean Rodeo Macco 135

kite ’09 North Rebel 12m

Ryan Reichlyn

board ’09 Naish 5’7” Surfboard

kite ’09 Naish torch 9m

Noah Simmon        

board  '09 Litewave Vision 133,
’08 JS Flyboy 5’11” Strapless Surf board

kite ’09 GK Trix 9m

Yanni Dilling

board ‘09 Stand-Up Paddle Board

kite ’09 Cabrinha Switchblade

Gretta Kreusi        

board ‘09 130 Naish CF Thorn
5’0” Global surf

kite ’09 Naish Helix 9m

Wittaker Warrington

board ‘09 Ocean Rodeo Zen 135,
'09 Ocean Rodeo Mako Wide Pro

kite ’09 North Vegas 9m and 12m

what was your most efficient tack?

Kitesurfing
Ryan Reichlyn (Naish 5'7" surfboard straps and Strapless) Since I was on the surfboard, for the most part I was just looking for waves. My tack was straight down wind. The second day was the best surf and glad that I went strapless that day to really get that surf feel.

Gretta Kreusi (’09 Naish 5’0” Global Surf board & 130 Naish CF Thorn) It depended on which board I was riding.  On the surfboard it was riding regular footed straight down the line, and 45 degrees in flat water on the twin tip.

Traditional
Trey Sedalik (Naish 5’7” global custom surfboard strapless) I found it most comfortable to ride regular footed switching from heel side to toe side.  For the barrier islands and reaches that were more West to East (making the relative wind direction more onshore) I would ride switch heel side. This would relieve the muscles used riding regular and allow me to edge harder offshore if need.

Noah Simmon (Strapless Surf board and ’09 GK Trix 9m) I found that riding the wave line was the most efficient tack when close to shore. When we crossed any open water I found that a 45 degree tack down wind was most efficient.  When the wind picked up, I had to focus harder on foot placement and be more alert because of riding strapless.

Wakestyle 
Dale Slear (North Jamie Pro 132) 45 Degrees downwind was my favorite and most efficient.  It kept my board on edge which allowed for a smoother ride in the chopy conditions.  It also allowed me to go faster than straight downwind due to physics I don’t quite understand but know work.    

Wittaker Warrington (‘09 Ocean Rodeo Zen 135) 90 Degrees cross wind with onshore wind in the shallows. The last stretch through Debordieu and Litchfield was the most efficient since the wind was dead onshore making the last stretch one long tack.

Hunter Stunzi (‘09 Ocean Rodeo Macco 135) I thought that the stiffness of the board was particularly helpful across the range of conditions we experienced.  I would say I was riding in a slightly modified traditional kiteboard style.  I think this allowed me to be       aggressive/ maneuverable when necessary to clear jetties, piers and other obstacles.  

SUP
Yanni Dilling (Stand Up Paddle Board) My most efficient tack was regular foot.  The wind was side on shore from the right (SW) during the first leg of the trip which allowed me to essentially hug the coast on a broad reach without necessitating any tacks.  Riding the SUP was surprisingly easy and fast, at times too fast to go at maximum speed when I was riding outside of the waves, the chop making it a bumpy ride.  During the leg from SI to the beginning of the Bulls bay crossing I actually rode just off the beach, making use of the flat water between the waves, looping the kite and riding at a very fast yet comfortable speed.

How did your board choice do in calm vs. choppy waters & waves?

Kitesurfing
Ryan Reichlyn (Naish 5'7" surfboard straps and Strapless) Was glad that I kep the straps on the first day because we covered more deepwater spots and the straps help deal w/ the chop.

Gretta Kreusi (’09 Naish 5’0” Global Surf board & 130 Naish CF Thorn) The surfboard faired nicely over the chop, was killer in the waves, and was less strenuous to ride.  The twintip involved more concentration, but transitioning my weight from one leg to the other allowed each foot to rest. The twintip was ideal in the calm, shallow flats and that’s where I picked up the most speed. Switching between the two boards made the journey a lot more comfortable.

Traditional
Trey Sedalik (Naish 5’7” global custom surfboard strapless) We were very fortunate to have killer conditions just about the whole way. The 5’7” global was killer in the surf and handled the chop well too.

Noah Simmon (Strapless Surf board and ’09 GK Trix 9m) Riding through the chop on a strapless surfboard in open water was a bit more chalenging and demanding both physically and mentally.  I wouldn’t ride anything else in the waves though because we had some of the best sections of surf I’ve seen on the South Carolina coast.  Calm usually means shallow and as soon as I let my guard down, I fell head over heals when crosing an inlet after bottoming out on a sandbar.

Wakestyle 
Dale Slear (North Jamie Pro 132) Of course, calm water was my favorite, and having a twin tip allowed me to skim over shallow areas whereas the riders with surfboards had to stay out a ways and watch the depth due to the fins.  The Jamie Pro was quite decent in Chopy water, as long as I kept the board on edge and rode off the tail of the board, it was fine.  Having a twin tip allowed me to switch from left foot to right foot forward easily to avoid cramping and fatigue on one side.  The occational jumping was a nice option to have as well.

Wittaker Warrington (‘09 Ocean Rodeo Zen 135) It was a good choice for the first part of the first day when it was windier and good for the second part of the second day when it got good. However I could have gone with a surfboard for some of the time for a smoother ride since I was getting pretty tired.

Hunter Stunzi (‘09 Ocean Rodeo Macco 135) While riding a twin tip or slightly modified twin tip is a bit more work on the legs than a surfboard I was able to edge harder into waves and enjoy big jumps and wake style riding in the flats.  I enjoyed the versatility of a twin tip over other board types since we were riding in unfamiliar territory.

SUP
Yanni Dilling (Stand Up Paddle Board) The SUP faired exceptionally well in all water conditions although naturally smooth water was the best for making fast progress.  In the waves it faired also very well as I could make use of the swell to stay in relatively flat water, thus expediting my progress.  Chop was a little more tricky to deal with at max speed so I just laid off the throttle a bit to keep the board from violently slapping the chop as it would if I was going too fast.

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Did wind conditions have any impact on your riding?

Kitesurfing
Ryan Reichlyn (Naish 5'7" surfboard straps and Strapless) Surfboards take the chop the best and wind direction didn't matter but mainly the fact of being able to deal with the chop over a long trip.

Gretta Kreusi (’09 Naish 5’0” Global Surf board & 130 Naish CF Thorn) The only time the wind direction became an issue was just after the Winyah Jetty when the wind was off-shore and shadowed. This was the second day and I was fatigued so the effort really took a toll on my already tired body.  Overall however, the wind couldn’t have been more steady and ideal—making the trip unbelievably fun.

Traditional
Trey Sedalik (Naish 5’7” global custom surfboard strapless) Not really. I just wanted to surf.

Noah Simmon (Strapless Surf board and ’09 GK Trix 9m) The side shore wind at the beginning involved more kite movement inorder for me to progress downwind which was a little more tiring.  My favorite direction that we encountered was the side off wind at North Island past the Winyah Bay channel.  It cleaned the waves up and the tack angle was more favorable for hitting the lips.   The hard on shore wind was a little tricky because it was choppier and I was more proned to being side swiped by a rogue wave.  

Wakestyle 
Dale Slear (North Jamie Pro 132) Yeah, Side shore allowed easier jumping off the waves; however, there was a slower progression up the beach because I had to continually tack.  The off shore groomed the inside for wave riding; however my board couldn’t carry me through the lulls, therefore creating a very unconsistant ride.  By far, the side on shore wind was the best condition for this board.  It permitted me to venture inside the break kissing the shore line, which allowed for a very fast progression down the beach.

Wittaker Warrington (‘09 Ocean Rodeo Zen 135) No, I just wanted to ride a twin tip the whole time.

Hunter Stunzi (‘09 Ocean Rodeo Macco 135) Wind direction had little or no affect on my board choice.

SUP
Yanni Dilling (Stand Up Paddle Board) Not much of an issue.  I had already determined to ride a SUP as I believed this would be the easiest vehicle for long distance and I was keen to determine wether an SUP could be loaded with supplies and so create the most independence possible.  The day before the trip I made a test run, leaving from my house on 51st and actually kiting upwind to 28.5 SI.  The upwind part took some time but the performance was impressive.  Three long tacks got me there.  On the ride back I timed myself to get an idea for how quickly I might expect to go.  I made the 5 odd mile trip in about 15 minutes.  The ability of the SUP to go upwind efficiently and downwind at speed and the fact that I would be able to continue kiting in far less wind than a kiteboard or short surfboard could maintain made me feel pretty secure (probably too secure as it turned out).  I had a paddle on board as well so even if the wind died completely I would still be able to get to shore or even continue on at a reasonable pace.  The board had plenty of room to carry my kite were it to come to that.  In fact, I could easily have strapped a twin tip to the board as well so that once I got to a good spot for some real riding I could have.  I also believe that I could have tied a surfboard to the back like a skiff.  If the wind turned off shore for some reason it would have been of little concern too.

Rate your fatigue level at end of each day
on a scale of 1-10
10 = Most Fatigued
1 = fully ready to ride to the next city.

Kitesurfing
Ryan Reichlyn Day one: 3 Day two: 8

Gretta Kreusi Day one: 10 Day two:11

I planned as if I was about to run a marathon and packed glucose and power bars in my camel pack—which was necessary because I felt like I needed to refuel at each stop. I don’t know if it’s because I was the only girl, or because I was smaller than most of the riders, but I’m glad I did because it took every ounce of my strength and concentration to keep pace.

Traditional
Trey Sedalik Day one: 6/7 Day two: 8/9 Day 1 was probably a 6 or 7.

I was pretty tired but the pace we kept wasn’t really that bad. I was hydrated and ready for day two. The mistake was staying up until 2 in the morning eating junk food and drinking beers! Day 2 was an 8 or 9. I could definitely have gone a lot further, but the sun beat me down pretty good. We traveled a lot slower the 2nd day, since I was the caboose. This added stress and took away from the fun of wave riding. I think the whole trip could be done in 1 day with 18 knots out the south. Next year I plan to do the whole state over two or three days. Overall, A KILLER TRIP with the best group imaginable down one of the prettiest stretches of coast line in the world.

Noah Simmon Day one: 4 Day two: 8

Day two was a bit harder to start after sharing brews with the buddies around the bond fire til 2am. Maybe not the best idea, but after such an incredible first day it was hard not to celebrate.

Wakestyle 
Dale Slear Day one: 6 Day two: 10

The camel back was a tramedous help both days. I had plenty of sunscreen on; however, next time I’m wearing sunglasses because my eyes were incredibly bloodshot and light sensitive in the days that followed the trip. Although the twin tip was more demanding on my body, I’m glad I chose it, because I like to jump and switch directions with ease.

Wittaker Warrington Day one: 4 Day two: 10

Hunter Stunzi Day one: 5 Day two: Day One

I think not knowing the distances we had or were going to cover made me more conservative. I was definitely fatigued and tired at 48 miles but I was not as poor as the second day. I rate my first day fatigue at 5. I certainly did not drink enough water the first day. Day Two: I awoke sore, fatigued, not well rested and mal nourished. I approached the day with the attitude of finishing but quickly became more aggressive in an effort to expend all of my remaining energy. I would rate my fatigue level at 9. I think multiple days of 40+ miles is very hard on the body. I also rode the North Jamie pro 132 the second day which was considerably more taxing on the legs than the Ocean Rodeo Mako. If I had it to do over I would have stuck with a twin tip to get the most out of the various conditions.

SUP
Yanni Dilling DAY ONE: 0

FATIGUE WAS NOT AN ISSUE AT ALL. THE ABILITY OF THE BOARD TO ACCOMMODATE ME SITTING ON IT, KNEELING ON IT, OR STANDING ON IT MADE IT EXCEEDINGLY EFFORTLESS WHEN COMPARED TO RIDING A SHORT SURFBOARD OR TWIN TIP. I WOULD SIT UNTIL MY BACK BECAME SLIGHTLY FATIGUED, THEN KNEEL UNTIL MY KNEES BECAME SLIGHTLY UNCOMFORTABLE, AND THEN STAND UNTIL MY LEGS GOT SLIGHTLY TIRED SO I NEVER HAD ANY REAL FATIGUE ISSUES. ROTATING FROM ONE RIDING POSITION TO ANOTHER MEANT THAT I NEVER GOT TIRED IN THE WAY ANY OTHER VEHICLE WOULD HAVE CAUSED. A FEW TWEAKS TO THE BOARD COULD EASILY HAVE GIVEN ME A SEAT WITH A BACKREST MAKING SITTING EVEN MORE EASY AND A PAD FOR MY KNEES WHEN KNEELING (THE SUP'S DECK BEING UNCOMFORTABLE AFTER A WHILE). I FEEL LIKE THE SUP REALLY WAS THE PERFECT CHOICE FOR LONG DISTANCE TRIPS.

More on the SUP
by Hunter Stunzi USA Sailing Team, Silver Medalist in 2008 Olympic Sailing Trials. 
While you can’t jump and really attack waves it appeared to be the most efficient means of covering long distances.  While the speed was lower than the other boards the angels were much lower, or close to 180 degrees from the TWD (True Wind Direction). The large board created comparatively higher line loads than the lower buoyancy lighter boards.  This had the seeming affect to cause the kite to sit further back in the window, (given the conditions) creating greater apparent wind angels for the kite and more powerful direct downwind pull.  While it sounds counterintuitive (a faster rider higher apparent wind kite further back in window; the SUP seemed to cause the opposite to occur, even at lower riding speeds.  I would attribute this to the size, weight and drag created by the board and skill of the rider.