Three of the Best Kiteboards Currently on the Market

Oct 13, 2025

The three best kiteboards currently on the market have more in common than meets the eye.
In this post, we compare the three concepts and highlight their similarities and differences.

Board Selection

For a closer look at the three best kiteboards currently on the market, we have selected the following:

(Listed in alphabetical order)

CARVED IMPERATOR PRO

LIEUWE FALCON

WOODBOARD CRBN LITORAL

CARVED IMPERATOR PRO

The CARVED IMPERATOR PRO is a masterpiece of board craftsmanship. It is handcrafted, featuring a thin-layer carbon fiber weave and a wooden core.

Regarding the shape, the bottom features a pronounced keel that curves into a double concave towards the sides. This, combined with the overall shape, provides a very smooth ride even in choppy conditions. The double concave transitions into a slight single concave at the tips, ensuring optimal guidance during takeoff.

LIEUWE FALCON

The FALCON is a very lightweight Big Air kiteboard. Years of research and development have been invested to make it a comfortable Big Air booster. It offers incredible speed, pop, and response without the usual drawbacks of a typical stiff carbon kiteboard.

Its visual appeal is convincing.

WOODBOARD CRBN LITORAL

The new CRBN LITORAL has almost the same shape as the classic CRBN, but the single concave on the bottom has been replaced by a double concave.
This ensures soft and directionally stable landings, a significant advantage for airstyle and Big Air. The loose feel underfoot, incredible upwind and low-end performance, and the highly responsive edge have all been retained.

Looks and feel harmonize perfectly, truly another masterpiece.

What are the Commonalities?

1. Made in the EU

It may be no coincidence that the three best kiteboards currently on the market are manufactured in the European Union, not somewhere in the Far East. All three brands have managed over the years to carve out a significant role in the kite market beyond their home territories.

Beyond the high manufacturing quality in the EU, this is also a statement – a statement for fair working conditions, high environmental and occupational safety standards, short transport distances, and a responsible use of resources.

2. Carbon Fiber and Wood

Regarding materials, all three manufacturers utilize carbon fibers or carbon fabric woven from them, combined with a 3D-milled wooden core. This is a quality feature that clearly sets all three models apart from the majority of kiteboards. Processing carbon fibers is demanding, but the results are convincing in all three cases.

3. Double Concave

It’s also no coincidence that all three boards mentioned in this report feature a double concave on the bottom. This offers several significant advantages:

Soft landings as the keel breaks the water’s surface tension, directional stability during landings and in chop, and the defined pre-load that translates into pop during impulse response.

Furthermore, every concave bottom also benefits from a Bernoulli effect, which generates additional lift.
Underfoot, this translates into a loose feel, improved upwind performance, earlier planing, and more high-end control.

4. Top Deck

All three designs feature a grab channel that extends almost the entire length of the board. Anyone who has attempted Big Air maneuvers knows that a short grab channel, merely hinted at between the bindings, is difficult to grip.

5. Aesthetics

All three selected models showcase the high-quality carbon weave and/or carbon fibers in their design, allowing the materials used to be inferred from the exterior. This creates an exceptional aesthetic where colors or graphics take a backseat.

The Differences between the Three Kiteboards

What sets the three best kiteboards currently on the market apart?

CARVED’s IMPERATOR PRO and LIEUWE’s FALCON both feature a straight channel running along the board’s axis on the outside, while WOODBOARD incorporates a channel curved along the outline.

The differences may be marginal. What is certain is that the Bernoulli effect is somewhat more pronounced in the WOODBOARD LITORAL’s narrowing channel than in the other designs. Conversely, the straight channel running along the board axis in the IMPERATOR PRO and LIEUWE FALCON could provide marginally more high-end control.

Kiteboard Care and Storage

Oct 1, 2025

In the surf shop or webshop, the kiteboard of your choice usually looks great: bright colors, no scratches, and an intact surface without cracks or bubbles.
Here are a few tips on how to keep it that way – so you can enjoy your kiteboard for a long time.

Water

A kiteboard is built for use in water. All components are selected to be permanently resistant in both fresh and salt water.
Resistant means: The materials do not change.

I myself once found a kiteboard floating in the water while kitesurfing in Egypt. It was covered in barnacles on both sides – so it must have been floating in the water for some time, possibly years. But after removing the barnacles, it looked quite presentable again.

Conclusion:
As long as the board stays in the water, you can’t really go wrong.

Sun

In the production of high-quality kiteboards, a fiberglass laminate with a surface film forms a close mechanical and chemical bond under high pressure and heat. The graphic is also applied to this film.

There is no 100% UV-resistant film on the market for this application. Most are quite resistant to UV light – but no matter which film is used, prolonged exposure to the sun can lead to changes:

• Surface becomes cloudy
• Finish becomes matte
• Yellowish tinge may appear

The riding characteristics remain unaffected, the effect is purely visual.

If the board remains unprotected under the tropical sun for years, the UV radiation can even cause the film to peel off.

Heat

High-quality kiteboards, which are manufactured under high pressure and heat, usually have no problem with heat.

Different with cheap foam core boards:
The air contained in the foam bubbles expands when heated → bubbles can form on the surface.

Sometimes the bubbles go back after cooling, but:

A bubble is always a sign of delamination – usually the end of a board.

Note:

• Cheap foam boards: Never leave them in the sun.
• High-quality boards: Especially in tropical regions, protect them from midday heat – especially with dark colors.

Cleaning Agents

The best cleaning agent for a kiteboard is: water.

Basic Rules:

• After each session: Rinse off
• Before winter: Clean thoroughly

For Adhesive Residue:

• Olive oil helps.
  The oil molecules penetrate under the adhesive, and it can be removed with circular movements.

For Heavier Soiling:

• Diesel oil or gasoline help, e.g. with heavy oil stains.

❌ ATTENTION:
NEVER use acetone or acetone-containing cleaning agents!
A single application is enough to ruin the surface.
This includes e.g.: Brake cleaner, K2R, acetone cleaner.
Acetone = poison for kiteboards.

Stones

A kiteboard is designed for water – but you still ride over a stone in shallow water every now and then.

What to Do with Scratches?

• Only superficial? → Remove protruding material with a sharp knife.
• Fabric damaged? → Seal with fiberglass particles + superglue.

Small scratches are usually not a problem, as long as no water penetrates. Because due to hygroscopic expansion, the board can otherwise delaminate.

Important:

• Seal first, then continue using.
• The above method works very well with a little skill.

Storage

If a kiteboard is not used for a long time:

• Rinse thoroughly
• Protect from temperature differences
• Store in a dry place

Why Dry?

Mildew stains can form on the surface in damp cellars. A contributing factor is mold spores. These can be removed with acetone-containing mold removers – but as you know:

Acetone must NEVER be used on a kiteboard!

Conclusion:
A dry, cool place is the best storage place for your kiteboard.

Maintenance

Straps & Pads:

• Disassemble, rinse, dry, store separately
• Remaining salt water can drastically reduce the lifespan

Inserts & Screws:

• Lightly grease, e.g. with:
  • Machine grease
  • Olive oil
  • Lard
  • Butter (yes, it works!)

Conclusion

If you take care of your kiteboard, you will enjoy it longer.

With a few simple basic rules, you can significantly extend the fun and lifespan – no matter whether you are on the lake, in the sea or in the tropics.

The brand new Woodboard TRASH – The ultimative Freestyle & Wakestyle kiteboard!

Sep 10, 2020

Construction

Compared to the previous model from 2020, the 2021 model is a little harder in the overall setting, a tad heavier (138 -> 3000g, 143 -> 3100g) which gives the rider a little more orientation in aviation, and with a significantly faster impulse response.

The three-dimensional wooden core is reinforced with beech wood in the middle of the board, and the tried and tested Quadrax glass fiber fabric is used as the scrim material. The WOODBOARD TRASH has unbelievable pop due to the deep channels and the fast impulse response and lands soft and directionally stable. The double concave does a great job here, even shitty landings are easy.

The Trash 2021 is available in lengths of 138 x 41 and 143 x 42, the 133 x 40 is still available in the old design.

Engineering

On the picture you can see how the board offers resistance to the water when jumping, whereby a maximum of energy can be converted into height. The arrangement of the channels was optimized with the help of the flow simulation.

Check Instagram for our #woodboardengineering posts or visit our Engineering page for more interesting technical research!

Characteristics

The Trash is the perfect kiteboard for unhooked freestyle and wakestyle, also really suitable for hooked freestyle. You can rely on it while doing a handlepass as well as a megaloop. Use boots or common straps, it is up to you.

The board has the grip and pop you need for your freestyle tricks! The multichannel on the tip guarantees maximum resistance at the point of take-off, and prevents loss of strength due to slipping or flexing. The hard overall characteristics effectively convert the speed into air, while the double concave breaks through the surface tension during impact and ensures a pleasant and controlled landing. 

Also it is equipped with an extra hard and abrasion-resistant running base for fun on the slider or kicker!

What our riders say about the Trash:

What I love about the new Trash? Actually everything. It looks better than the old one, it is stiffer so the response during the takeoff is much better. I can rely on what I feel before the jump and I know, even if I mess up, the landing will be still soft and controlled. This is important for me, there is no progress if you are afraid of something, you can even get hurt!

Bibiana Magaji

I lile to mix it up – handlepasses, big air or just a normal board off. For all this applications the WOODBOARD TRASH is my first choice for a good session.

Lucas Pisoni

I’ve never had such a good board under my feet as the WOODBOARD TRASH. It’s just amazing! Thanks to the designer!

Michaela Lang

I like the high rocker line combined with the double concave on the bottom ! This makes the Trash so unique. I can always rely on this setup and gain confidence to land my tricks, even in the stronger winds.  

Niklas Ramirez

I am really into the chop-eating freestyler, great feeling to be able to correct (almost) all landings after the explosive pop. All day riding and fat downwinders are honestly always a joy – thank you knees!

David Trost

Have a look on our TRASH video:

Some impressions from our workshop: