Hey guys!!!!!!!!
Today was my first time....... and i LOVED it..... and yes i am talking about riding strapless!!!!
I'll be short and will start from the very beginning...hehe
Found this site about 8 months ago and since that time wanted to try kitesurfing on a skim board, but never really had a chance to do it. Untill today......
The instructor i know let me try his Nobile skim on our local spot. Took me about 2 minutes figuring out how to start, and maybe 2-3 tires to actually start riding. Well what can i say..... it turns out I am a screamer I was going YEEEEEESSSSSSSSSS, HOOOLLLLLLLYYYYYYY SH.......T, YEAAAAAAHHHH, I'm doooooooing it, UPPPWIIIIIIIIIND!!!!!!!!, etc. If it wasn't for word "upwind", i'd sound like bad German pron
To get on a board i used the technique described somewhere here, where you are not jumping on a board but start as you would normally do on twintip (with your behind in water). I found it pretty easy to get on a board and didn't have any issues at all riding the skim with no fins and straps. Being able to ride twintip it was pretty easy, BUT SO MUCH MORE FUN!!!! The feeling was like all the time since i started kitesurfing i was riding with a backpack full of potatoes (not sure why potatoes, just felt that way ) and now i got rid of it and it's soooooooo easy and free. I think those of you who already ride strapless know exactly what i'm talking about.
And all this was on a Nobile board, and as far as i understood from reading the forum it's not even close to what you feel on a REAL (e.g.Zap) skim, which i'm definitely getting in the nearest future (if i can figure out how to get it shipped to Ukraine). So if anyone of you has a used zap skim in resonably good condition and price, please let me know and i'll try to find the way to ship it over here.
So, let me just say THANK YOU for this site and for the whole strapless movement, it all worth it, and i'm joining.