Snowboard for kiting

[envy_dirtbag]

Hello All-
Looking at purchasing a new board for the upcoming snow kite season and I was looking for some recommendations on a snowboard that will work well for kiting. I am 6'1'' 195lbs, any help on what type of board / size would be great.

Thanks-
Grant

[Pete]

Something wide enough for you to have a comfortable stance without your toes and heels hanging over the edges.

[Futahaguro]

Have you ever snowboarded before? Unless you are really good at snowboarding and you want a new board anyway I would not buy a new board. Hit Craigslist and find a beater first. Just make sure it has some decent bindings because the cheap ones will pinch and cause you problems. If you can, I would bring your boots you plan to use with you when checking boards/bindings out so you can strap in and see what you think.

Like Pete said, make sure it is wide enough for your stance preference. As far as length, I doubt you want to go longer than a 165, unless you know what you are doing and want to lay down some carves on a kite:) I would just browse Craigslist and look for a board that says it is for big feet, which I am assuming you have. If they actually list the width I would try to find one wider than 28cm. I have size 9 feet and ride a 25cm wide board @ 20/10 (degrees) and I will hit my toes if I really carve hard.

I have no affiliation with this board but it was the one I found the fastest.
http://minneapolis.craigslist.org/ram/s ... 79514.html

[speedsailor93]

I picked up an Aboards Reverse in summer cheap on eBay that seems to get pretty good reviews as a kite specific snowboard due to the reverse camber. Will hopefully get to test it this weekend if the snow cooperates. You may also want to get a cheap 'beater' board for when the snow conditions are poor....like most of last winter! I keep a switchblade on my beater board as many times the snow partially blows off the lake, leaving drifts with ice patches between them.

[envy_dirtbag]

I have a "beater board" to use for nasty conditions, an old Ride that I have ridden for years (have been snowboarding for 15 years). I am using boards less and less on the hills and more on the lakes with kites. This is why I was curious if there were any kiting specific board companies people would recommend, along with any specific models people have ridden that prove shredtastic in the winter. Thanks all for the info.