Types of Kite Designs
It's important to be familiar with the types of kite designs and board designs if you plan to take up kiteboarding. This is one of the most important kiteboarding guides you can ever read. This is because all of the other guides you will find after this will talk about the types of kites and will give instructions based on the different types of kite designs. So you can see that your first step is to understand what these are.
When it comes to kiteboarding, you are going to want to use the kite and board that fits your needs and your style the best. When you find one that has the characteristics you like, you will probably want to stick with it. But before you can be certain which you're going to like, it pays to know about the types that you have to choose from.
Here are some basic types of kite designs with some brief descriptions of what they are:
Bi-directional/ twin-tip- This means that the board can be ridden in either direction. It's the most common type of kiteboard and usually the easiest to learn to ride. It also means that you can ride in all conditions.
Directional – This is a classic type that is designed like a windsurfer. If has a big fin in the back and it is pointed in the front.
Skimboard- this has no fins and a more rounded shape with a
point.
Wake skate- This usually has no fins or might have single fins at each end. It's smaller and thick
Then when talking about the types of kite designs, we will also talk about the feel of the board which can be stiff or flexi. There is also the size of the board which is usually long or short. Then we also want to look at the shape and size of the fins which affect how the board will be lifted. Fins can be big or small or there may be no fins at all.
The shape of the board will also talk about outline, which is what it looks like when lying on the ground, the rocker which is the amount of curve the board has when you look at it from the bottom and the volume which is how thick the board is or how much float it has.
Taking all of these things into consideration, you can understand the types of kite designs which will greatly help you to be able to choose the type of board that is best for you and your needs. If you are given the opportunity, you might even want to try different board styles until you can find the right one for you.