Narrow vs Wide Boards: Beginners to Advanced

[B-Walnut]

Been noticing folks showing up with long narrow downwind boards to learn winging at my local spot.. 

After seeing them struggle to balance in flat water, I've recommend they borrow a slower wide SUP board and paddle around.  Usually it takes one/two session with the paddle to sort things out - like being deliberate in movement, counter balancing, knowing the max buoyant point on the board, etc...   After building confidence standing on the board, I then tell them to start with a wing.  Many have said the rush to get the latest gear didn't serve their needs, and would have been better to ask local folks what to start with.  In my observations, downwind boards make it harder for most beginners to lean the sport.   

It's interesting seeing the different balance points of beginners. I see some who are on 120l boards, 34" wide with all those added foam things, and they still can't balance. Others, specifically women (in the small sample I have) really excel with narrow boards. I've seen plenty who just can't get on foil with those big boards but you give them a DW board and they are instantly up and riding.

It's all different teaching methods too. I, personally, would never tell someone to practice standing on a board without a wing. That seems to be a thing people have started teaching recently and it makes no sense to me. I saw someone religiously do that because they were told to and they spent 6 months trying to balance on their board without a wing.

In the end, better mentorship and teaching methods are needed. I've only met one kite instructor over the years that seemed to be a good instructor. I see tons of people just sitting on jetskis watching beginners flail and get paid for it. One piece of gear can have a big impact, but the right guidance is needed.

[Dontsink]

I think beginners would progress easier with a cockroach start from day one, it just makes winging in stronger wind,choppier water and smaller boards a lot easier.
A big advantage of narrower board designs is that they allow for a very painless cowboy to stinkbug (sit astride like a surfer and go to knees).
I wear a big kneebrace and have some hip arthrosis but on my 6' x18" i can cowboy start with no problem or pain.