When you're just starting out in kiteboarding, choosing the right size twintip kiteboard board can significantly impact how quickly you progress. For beginners, bigger boards are usually better. A larger kiteboard makes it easier to get up and ride, especially in lighter wind conditions. There are many specialty boards available and sometimes they are a good pick if you are aiming for a certain discipline.

The thing is, in the beginning stages of kiteboarding you won’t know which direction you want to go until you have been riding for a few seasons. To top it off, you will be better served with a board that matches your abilities, makes riding easier so you’re motivated to progress and something that won’t hold you back because it’s too advanced, technical or specific in design.

What Size Kiteboard Should I Get as a Beginner? This is one of the most common questions beginners ask when starting kiteboarding. The answer depends on your weight and the wind conditions where you'll be riding, but in general, bigger boards are better for beginners, as they help you get up and ride more easily.

This article will make the case why you should get a larger freeride or all-around kiteboard. These boards are more affordable, more forgiving, help you progress faster in all disciplines and best of all they will make a perfect light wind kiteboard when you do progress to something more advanced like a big air, freestyle or wakestyle specific kiteboard.

Remember this is for a beginner board for the first couple seasons. Not the recommended kiteboard for an advanced rider in a specific discipline of riding.

Men: If you’re a male rider weighing between 200 - 220 pounds, you’ll want to consider a board between144 cm to 148.

Men: between 160 to 200 pounds should look from 138 to 144 cm.

This is a broad range but aim for something bigger in relation to your weight. You will notice that kiteboarding schools often use big boards and for good reason. We often put kiteboarding students on larger boards. They are easier to get up and ride with. The key is to not go to large for your height. Choose something big that you can comfortable control.

Most boards in the recommended range will be fine unless you are very tall 6’5 or closer to 5’5. Big boards are easier to get on a plane and ride and they will help you out in gusty or holey wind. When you lack good kite and board skill they will help make up for this lack of skill until you are ready to control something smaller.

Women: Female riders between 115 to 175 should look at boards in the 135 cm to 138 cm range to get started. This larger board will help you heaps in the first year.

What about children? Smaller riders like children or women closer to 100 pounds and under 5' 3 might consider something in the 131 to 135 range.

Stance is a huge consideration. Be sure to stand on the board in the shop to make sure your stance is correct. You don't want a board with large inserts where you have to stand very wide. 

A freeride aka all-around twin tip board like the Airush Switch is an excellent choice for your first kiteboard. These boards provide a good balance of upwind performance and stability, making it easier to ride in inconsistent winds.

Additionally, a bigger board will help power you through those moments when the wind drops. A board like this is very efficient too as it has a medium rock profile. This means it’s flatter than curved therefore more effective. A freeride board, with its medium flex, simple design, and forgiving nature, is not just a good choice for beginners, it's a versatile one. These boards are not only forgiving on the body and the wallet, but they also provide a fun and stable ride, making them great for the first couple of years of kiteboarding.

Tips for getting the right kiteboard: You should visit your local shop and get a board that fits your budget with a comfortable stance. Alternatively, you can measure your stance and ask the shop to measure the inserts for you. Stand with your feet shoulder-width or slightly wider to find your stance. Now measure from the middle of your foot to the other. Let the shop tell you what the measurement was and from where. They can check the board you are looking at. This is an unnecessary step if you stick to reasonable sizes for your height and weight. But if you are very short or tall, it might be worth it.

A good investment: As you advance, your larger board will still be useful as a light wind kiteboard. You can transition to something more specialized, like a smaller, more maneuverable board for big air or freestyle riding.

Starting with a slightly bigger freeride board is smart for beginners, as it's usually less expensive and allows you to progress faster without feeling like you’ve outgrown your equipment too quickly.

Diminishing Returns: Can You Go Too Big? Yes, there is a point where a board can be too big. For example, a small woman opting for a 144 cm board will likely find that the inserts are too wide for her stance, making it uncomfortable and harder to control the board.

It’s essential to match the board size to your body weight and height to avoid these issues. Avoid the extremes and you should be okay. 

As a competitive park style rider, this is an area I can speak to with great authority. Beginners should not use a wakeboard. While it’s technically possible to use a wakeboard for kiteboarding, it's not ideal.

Wakeboards are designed for behind-the-boat riding, so they tend to have more rocker (the curved shape of the board), which makes them slower to plane. This means it takes more wind to get a wakeboard moving compared to a proper kiteboard. Kiteboards are designed to plane quickly and easily, which is crucial for getting upwind, staying stable, and having more control over your ride.

A proper kiteboard will make the learning process smoother and help you progress faster. If you're serious about kiteboarding, it's best to invest in a board made for the sport. For experienced riders, most modern wakestyle kiteboards are almost identical to modern cable wakeboards. Cables run slower now than they used to, so wakeboards are closer to kiteboards than ever before. I often use kiteboards for the cable and cable boards on the kite. It's incredibly niche and only for a specific rider and style.

Can I use a big air kiteboard as my first kiteboard? Yes but there will be a big more of a learning curve. Smaller, stiff boards are designed to hold down lots of power and sometimes they have extra rocker to soften the landings.

This means you will be committed to riding powered all the time. It will not be as effective in light wind. Many riders do start on these boards now as big air is trending and its not the worst way to start by any means.vEspecially if you get something properly sized. Be sure to not start too small.

Many professional big air kiteboarders use several sizes too small as they are riding dangerously overpowered. This is not the place to start or the rider to emulate when you’re just learning.

When looking for a beginner kiteboard, you can expect prices to vary based on brand, materials, and whether you're buying new or used.

A new beginner-friendly kiteboard typically costs between $300 and $700.

For advanced kiteboards you might be looking at $1100 to $1500 depending on the materials or foot straps you choose.

Entry-level boards are usually made from durable materials and designed with a freeride focus, which balances performance with ease of use.

If you're looking to save money, many shops offer previous year's models at a discount or have gently used boards available.

Buying used can be a great way to get a high-quality board at a more affordable price. Save the headache and only buy used from a shop who has inspected the gear. There any many cheap and terrible kiteboards available online. These are offten dated tech and not worth the money. 

The expert team at Elite Watersports is here to serve. If you have any kiteboarding related questions call us. We can build custom kiteboarding packages, book kiteboarding lessons or simply offer helpful advice. We're your one stop shop for kiteboarding knowledge.

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If you need help deciding on your first kiteboarding kite give Elite Watersports a call. We're happy to set you up with your first kiteboarding kite.
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