Twintip or Directional
Roderick is an expert in twintip and directional kitesurfing.
After years of kiting on his twin tip, he decided to try directional kitesurfing.
Which one does he prefer? Twintip or directional?
Read what his thoughts are on the two different disciplines.
Starting on a twin tip or a directional?
About 12 years ago I started kitesurfing in the Netherlands. My dad gave me and my brother a kitesurfing lesson and I was addicted right away. It was such a great feeling to fly over the water. It gave me a sense of freedom. And a massive rush of adrenaline. Like everyone else, I started taking lessons on a twin tip. It went pretty easy and I bought my first twin tip when I was 16 years old. Whenever I was free from school I went to the beach to fly a kite and, if possible, surf the sea.
European and World Championships
The first 9 years I was completely in love with my twin tip. Learning new freestyle tricks and try to jump as high as possible. In the end I was able to compete in the European and World Championships. In the old days we always had straps on the twin tip, but after a few years it evolved into boots. The advantage of boots is that you are able to edge faster, ride faster, jump higher and have better controlled landings. The downside is that you are not able to do board-offs or one-footers because you are stuck to the board.
Butter smooth water
When I ride a twin-tip, I always try to ride on flat water. Or at least as flat as possible. The advantage of super flat water is that you can control your take-off much better than when riding in choppy conditions.
Twintip kitesurfing on flat water
The attraction of the waves
After several years of riding on smooth flat water I decided to try something different. I wanted to see if I could kite on waves. That was when I first tried a strapless kiteboard, also called directional kiteboard. I felt like a complete beginner again. The way you position your feet in a directional way and how to rebalance your weight on the board was an absolute eye-opener for me. I loved the feeling of being a beginner again and learning something completely new. Suddenly I was totally out of my comfort zone again.
Wave kitesurfing
Twin tip vs. Directional kiteboard
The difference between a twintip and a directional kiteboard is mainly in the shape and construction. A twin tip has a square shape and there are always foot straps or boots on the board. A directional kiteboard has the shape of a normal surfboard and often has no straps. With a directional board you can surf the waves very comfortably. It’s like normal surfing only with the support of a kite. A twintip is especially for very high jumping and freestyle tricks.
Trail and error
I noticed that the joy in kitesurfing with a directional was as high as when I just started kiteboarding. Constant trial-and-error was exhausting, but satisfying. Once the conditions were not really suitable for my twintip, e.g. choppy waters, or the wind direction was not good, I took out my wave kiteboard and could ride up and down in the waves for hours.
Surfing with a kite
Trying to make turns and really surf with a kite was, and still is, an addictive feeling. I noticed that my level was rising rapidly. I pushed myself in a positive way to get better. Now, 6 years later, I can also participate in the World Kitesurfing Championships on a strapless kite surfboard. I enjoy the biggest and best waves in the world.
Kitesurfing has so much more to offer
Right now I’m riding my twintip and directional and I’m letting the conditions determine which board I take. At the moment I prefer big waves and surfing with a kite. But I can still really enjoy freestyle on my twin tip. Try new tricks and jump as high as possible. The great thing about kitesurfing is that there are many more disciplines. I also love surfing, hydro-foiling, strapless freestyle or big air.
From twin tip to directional kiteboard
Looking back, to when I started kitesurfing, I think it’s best to learn how to kitesurf on a twin tip. Mainly because you have straps on the board. The straps give you more control. But once you’re able to ride up and down on a twin tip with enough confidence, you’re more than ready to try a directional board. I can certainly recommend a directional kiteboard, because it keeps the enthusiasm high. And it’s a great feeling to feel like a beginner again :-).