What is a Kite Landboard?

A Kitelandboard is a landboard designed to move across numerous types of terrain with the use of the kite as a form of traction allowing you to ride hills, jump off flat ground and ride as fast as you dare.

How does a Kite Landboard work?

Kite Landboarding is very similar to kitesurfing. Using the kite as a brace, as well as your power source, you lean against the board and while manoeuvring the kite you will enable you to pick up speed, perform tricks and slow down, even in low wind.

The power kite will provide so much lift, it will actually help you balance on the board and allows the skilled pilot to easily achieve big airs. When you first get going you quickly speed up as the power kite pulls you forward. Once you've learnt where to position the kite in the sky and how to balance on the board, you’re away.

I am a beginner to this sport - which board is best for me?

The following recommendations are intended as a rough guide and assume that the flyer is using just one kite in each case.

• weight
  
• age
  
• wind speed that you will fly your kite in
  
• activities you want to do
  

Usually, it is necessary to combine all of the above factors in order to help you choose the right board.

There are numerous reasons however for different boards, but as a beginner you really should choose a board that is easy to steer - is built well with dampers to absorb vibrations and a board with good string footstraps that you can easily slip out of when in trouble.

Warning though - in stronger wind conditions, unless you were an experienced pilot, boarding with a directional board is still a bit of a handful - YOU will always know best.

Try these:

Kheo Flyer
Kheo Trooper
Scrub Furnace Creek
Scrub Silver Reef

Board selections are difficult and really the question should be what board will I get the most use out of doing the sport I do? Face the fact that some days the equipment you own just will not be useable in safety. On the other hand even days when the wind is just too light. Limits either way may also be determined by pilot skill level.

When you learn you will want to learn to kitelandboard in straight lines, and learn to turn and most importantly learn in light winds. Therefore a board that is light and long in length and easy to steer will prove a much better choice and quicken your learning curve.

View our kitelandboard range

I am looking for a kite to landboard with ?

Our Choice is a kite between 3 and 5m for learning - simply because it's mid range. Warning though - in stronger wind conditions, unless you are an experienced pilot, it'd be a bit of a handful - YOU will always know best.

Try these:

Flexifoil Blade
Peter Lynn Peel
Peter Lynn Arc
Flexifoil Skytiger
Ozone Little Devil

Kite suggested is for persons about 12 stone/75 kilos.

I am looking for a landboard to do speedruns ?

Our Choice for speed runs on a landboard is only personal preference but we believe that a board for speed runs should be very stable, wide, with larger wheels for better traction and with footstraps or bars that can be easily slipped out of when in trouble.

We suggest:

Kheo Flyer
Kheo Trooper
Scrub Furnace Creek

I am looking for a landboard to do freestyle with ?

Our Choice for a freestyle board is only personal preference but believe that a board for freestyle should be lightweight for jumps, have either footstraps or snowboard bindings, have larger wheels for traction to hold more power against the kite.

We suggest:

Kheo Flyer
Kheo Air-S
Scrub Furnace Creek
No Sno Kiteboard

I am looking for a board to do both freestyle and speedruns with ?

Our Choice for a board that does both speedruns and freestyle only personal preference but believe that a board for both should be lightweight for jumps, have either footstraps or snowboard bindings and have larger wheels for traction to hold more power against the kite.

We suggest:

Kheo Flyer
Scrub Furnace Creek
No Sno Kiteboard

How do kitelandboards differ from other mountainboards?

• Kite mountainboards tend to be slighty heavier which tends to be needed for the traction when leaning against the kites power.
• Foot placement tends to be further over the edge of the board as opposed to on top
• Kite mountainboards have larger wheels to help with the pull against the kite as well as riding over larger obstacles and vibration when boarding at speed
• Kite mountainboards have much stiffer steering to compensate with the pull against the kite allowing the rider to go upwind and board in straighter lines.

Why would I need larger wheels?
Kite mountainboards have larger wheels to help with the pull against the kite as well as riding over larger obstacles and vibration when boarding at speed.

The power of most kites can also generate so much pull that you will soon find that you are sliding sideways towards the kite as opposed to across, whereas with the larger wheels, these will also allow you to hold enough power to jump through the air of flat ground as opposed to mountainboarders who use ramps to launch themselves.

Larger wheels are also good for riding through long grass and over small dips or moguls.

Why should I need to adjust the foostraps on my board?

One factor we recommend when kitelandboarding is that you position your footstraps or bindings over one edge of your board. You will soon find when moving with the board and the kite you will be leaning as far back as you can against the kite to keep going in one direction as opposed to towards the kite.

Positioning your foostraps on one edge of your board will get as much of your weight leaning against the board that you will be able to hold more power and get up to greater speeds and larger jumps.

What should I buy a flexible board?

Buying a flexible board is great for doing big air tricks, the board will cushion your landings and allow your to dig in harder when leaning against the board.

The ride is more comfortable also with every vibration taken out over rough terrain making riding easier and less work on your legs.

What should I buy a four-wheel board?

Four wheel boards are good for pulling big airs and sliding out to slow yourself down. The four wheel design also gives you the added extra of being bi-directional allowing you to speed along, stop and then go in the opposite direction without having to turn on the board. The four wheel board tend to be slightly longer also which is great for stability and speed runs.

Try these:

Kheo Flyer
Kheo Air-S
Scrub Furnace Creek
Scrub Silver Reef
No Sno Kiteboard

Board selections are difficult and really the question should be what board will I get the most use out of doing the sport I do? Face the fact that some days the equipment you own just will not be useable in safety. On the other hand even days when the wind is just too light. Limits either way may also be determined by pilot skill level.

What should I buy full foot bindings ?

The full foot bindings are excellent when riding at speed as they tend to hold your feet more securely which allows you to lean further back and get big air, which then of course opens new windows to pulling grabs and flips rather than concentrating on trying to keep your feet in the straps.

For a full foot bindings board - try the NoSno Kiteboard

**Full foot bindings are really for experienced to advanced riders who have got to know their board and are confident with riding at speed and jumping**