Jimmy Lewis Flight Deck

[Mike Kellett]

Anybody had any experience with the Jimmy Lewis "Flight Deck" light wind board?
Looking for a light wind board that turns, jumps, and has a little range.
Mike

[JRN]

I WAS INTERESTED IN THEM TOO, until I saw one up @ Malmo. It was stiff, not flexy, & according to the Guy who demoed it, sprayed on the rider, & caught edge in the surf. Have you tried the UNDERGROUND products? I really am impressed with mine.

[Michelle]

Seth has one and I find it difficult to ride as its slow and easy to catch the front edge. If you you ride it hard with a lot of weight on to your back leg, you will stay upwind and Seth proved that at SPI last week being the only one upwind in light conditions.

[BBAddict]

I have the flight deck and its probably the one mentioned from malmo. My experience has been that it is a great board once you adjust your riding style fo the board. I have ridden the board in winds from 8 to 20+ comfortably. I love to be the first one out (the wind dummy) and i can always stay upwind when people on doors may not be. You do have to put a lot more weight on your back foot or you will experience the aforementioned issues with spray and edge catching but now that I am accustomed to that I enjoy the board quite a bit.

[Mike Kellett]

Thanks for the info on the flight deck. Upwind sounds great, but stiff and slow doesn't sound like what I am looking for.
I would like a board that is a pleasure to ride and turn.
Jim, what model Underground do you have?
Mike

[wings]

I've ridden one a few times in prewhitecapping winds and it can be super fun.

I do agree that this board can be quite dangerous if you land flat on it; I have a buddy that messed up his knees really bad doing kiteloops in 12-20 mph winds.

I would find something shorter, wider and with some flex if you plan on leaving the water.

[RobH]

Another light wind option that has recieved great reviews is the Nobile extended version, name changed to NHP XTR for 2009. They are hard to come by and big $$$ 140x46 or 143x48. Proably not the best board for the lightest winds, but will be one of the most fun to ride boards for lighter winds with nice pop, flex, and speed.

My only concern with this board is again spray in the face but they made changes in 2009 to attempt to reduce the spray.

[Nathan B]

Mike heres a few optoins
the WLF is a really sweet board . might want to take a look at the 145 for what your looking for. I had the 05 WLF 140 and the constructoin has changed since then and is alot better .
http://www.liquidforcekites.com/gear/board/wlf

the SS SX148 would be a good lighter wind board with performance or I would recomend the misfit 146 , I have only riddent his board twice but rode a 136 alot Jhon Z has the 146misfit and maybe he could chime in on it.
I guess it depends on your size alot also and conditoins,lots of optoins
http://buyslingshotsports.com/kite/2008 ... misfit.htm

[tom_latcham]

Hi fellow kiters:
I love my Crazy fly cruiser for light wind. Mine is the biggest crazyfly makes 145x48. It is fast handles like a dream and goes upwind very well. I have only been kiting for 1 year so have not tried many other boards. However I researched it a bit before purchasing the cruiser and love it. It also handles high winds and waves quite well if the wind comes up while your out. I have been on my 14 in 25mph winds and it still rides good. However that is when I head back to the beach for my Crazy fly raptor 137x44.
I weigh 190 so I usually use bigger boards than some of my lighter friends. Love my crazyfly boards.
Tom Latcham

[wings]

I agree with Nathan about the SS SX. I rode a 155 for a season and loved it. It is such a great board for light wind and I ended up breaking it because I was riding it more than my little board.

But now, after ridding the lunacy, I'm all about shorter length and longer width to achieve the planability needed for light-wind riding--this way you don't compromise the pop and you don't have such a big surface for flat landings.

[Mike Kellett]

I have been through a few light wind boards over the years. I started out with the SX151, then sold that
and went to a Dimitri Pro 135 x 48. I found that wasn't what I wanted/ A little too short and a little too wide for me.
I weigh 185#.
I bought a Mako 150 wide thinking that would be a light wind board, but at 150 x 40 iand lots of rocker its not a light wind board. in fact I can take that board through the roughest chop, or waves at warp speed in winds up to 30 and be in control with the smoothest ride you can imagine. It also carves well.
The closest I have come to a board that I like for light wind is the Session at 141 x 43 except it doesn't want to turn.
I borrowed one from Dean Rizer for my trip to Texas last spring and was staying upwind better than most with bigger boards on a 14 T2.
I guess I'll keep lookin.
Mike

[mdh01]

Mike,
I have a light wind Underground board for sale in the classifieds...it might be just what you are looking for...

2008 Underground FLX 138
length: 138cm
width: 44cm

Mark

[JRN]

MIKE, I've got the jumbo version of Mark's. Mine is 148X47. I seldom ride anything else save for the highest winds. I rode Kurt's big Crazyfly, but feel my Underground FLX has a livelier feeling ride. I guess it comes down to personal preference. You & I didn't like the Dimitri Pro, but Mike & Kurt do...go figure. Besides, no one can match Underground's Graphics...ride it, or hang it up for ART!!! You're welcome to a test drive anyime. JRN

[scottman]

Spleen 154 door, I have always been out in the light wind and am always going upwind no problem. With all big boards there will be spray and hardly any flex and mostly flat. Big light wind boards are not really meant for anything but getting out in light wind, notjumping or wave riding being they are mostly all flat. I find the 154 Spleen door I have a joy to ride, it does have some pop but you have to know how to work it, the board is really fast and the transitioning is a joy.

[Mike Kellett]

Scott, I know a lot of people in Minnesota have the Door type boards and love them. I tried the 64 Door but found it turned like an oil tanker. I willl have to try the others.
Their are a also couple of clones out there by Crazy Fly and Litewave.
The problem as everyone knows is that in MN we get those 8 to 20 or 10 to 30 days where you need float in the lulls but
need a small board in the gusts. Any of the big flat boards are a handfull in the big gusts.

Mike

[steveb]

Mike..how you doing?.
I have a crazy fly cruiser pro 145/48. Doesn't go upwind like the doors but gets you upwind with no trouble. The shorter length makes it turny and easy to do lightwind spin tricks etc. It was actually a little too loose for my taste so I put larger (5 cm ) fins on mine. For the money it's a lot of board with great straps and nice construction, there is a 145/44 version as well. I get going in about 10 mph winds with a 15m on the board.I'm pretty sure Larry has some in stock.
Spleene came out with a board called the rip plus which is very nice 138/44. I've ridden Ryans and it's a sweet board.
A company called Decosse has a nice one I was looking at in Padre, but I don't know where you can get them, nice flex with a shape similar to the cruiser pro.
Good luck.

[Dave Z]

DeCosse...and while you're at it he can make a custom set of twin tip skis or a snowboard for you:

http://www.decossecustoms.com/

[Mike Kellett]

Steve, did you get a chance to ride the DeCosse boards when you were in SPI?
Last spring Sheldon was giving demo rides, but I didn't try one.
He must weigh 250# and his light wind board works for him.

Thanks everyone for your board suggestions. Sounds like a lot of good options
out there.
Mike

[steveb]

Mike, no I didn't. I just looked at it, nice flex and construction. Shapes very similar to the cruiser pro, little more rounded at the ends but a very similar rocker.