Best KB-pro signature (2011)

Product Name: KB Signature Pro Model
Product Category Women’s specific twintip.
Sizes Available: 130 x 40cm
Release Date: December 2010

The KB Signature Pro Model is Best Kiteboarding’s response to the requests of female riders for a board that is ideally suited to their size, shape, weight, and preferred styles of riding. It is a freeride/freestyle board with a strong focus on easy handling, precise control, and comfort. While many women’s boards are simply downsized versions of larger men’s boards, every part of the KB Signature has been considered with women in mind. Pro rider Kristin Boese unveils what other changes we can expect for her signature board, now in its second year.

What design characteristics are considered when making a board specifically for women?

When making a board for female riders we really have to consider every aspect of it.
What you don’t want to do is just shrink a men’s board as things don’t scale the same way in three dimensions as they do in two.
So we started with no preconceptions about how to make the board; each design choice was tested.
We tested several different sizes and variations of width and length based around my signature model from last year.
A selection of five different bottom shapes were made, and the fastest and easiest to ride shape was selected.
We refined the layup to give a little more pop, testing several variations of biaxial and unidirectional glass to blend torsional and tip to tip strength and flex. We then refined the stance widths and heel offset positions for the inserts and finally had one last round of tweaking the rail shape and outline to bring everything together. During the development phase I was also lucky enough to get some great input from some of our KB4girls participants around the world who got to try different prototypes and also had some influence in the graphic design process.