Simplified tutorial on kiteboard building

Rider about 200#.
If there is enough wind to jump on an efficient light wind board, like a slingshot glide, then there is enough wind for a rockerless wakeskate.
I had enough power to ride on my 15M c-kite where guys on 12M sles and surfboards felt there was not enough power. My 15M c-kite is very fast turning and I just did a downwinder (I could go upwind on the glide, but yawn ), but had lots of fun on the wakeskate and was the only guy on the water.
I’ve made less than 10 boards, still keeping it low tech.
I use 1/2″ plywood out of a 4′x8′ sheet. It’s enough to make about 4 boards and only costs about $20. I draw the shape with a pencil, then cut with a jigsaw. Then I smooth the edges with a sander (60 grit, 120 grit). I fill any imperfections in the wood with wood filler. I then sand down the filler to make it smooth. I then varnish the board. I then mark and screw in holes for the fins. I then epoxy the board. I then glue on foot pads with contact cement. I’ve been using 12″x12″ interlocking pads that you can find at a sporting good store that is meant to go under exercise equipment (~$1/sq foot). I then attach the fin and go for a test ride.
To try to put a little rocker in boards, I put the ends of the board on a vhs cassette tape box, then stack a bunch of textbooks on the center and let it sit for a couple days, then epoxy the following day. If the board has any natural concave (side to side as opposed to nose to tail), I use that for the bottom of the board.
I’m currently working on a plywood fish surfboard for ultra low end which will be 2′ wide and somewhere around 6′ long.
The other board I’m working on is a rockered concave board (like the Ocean Rodeo mako wide) which will be “composite”, meaning I’ll be gluing 2 sheets of 1/4″ plywood together, which will be a learning experience I’m sure. That board will not be strapless though.
I’ve only used 5 ply plywood that you’d find at a hardwood store like Lowe’s. This wood works fine for cruising boards. But boards that are going to be jumped on, you’ll want to use a stronger wood (I broke a plywood spleene session 141 and plywood slingshot glide both while jumping). I think the inexpensive plywood is spf (spruce/pine/fur). For boards that are going to be jumped on you want to use a hardwood like birch. I have no regrets using cheap plywood as I’ve been able to cheaply experiment with a lot of different shapes, sizes, fin configurations, and glassing methods. As I’m finding what shapes I like to ride, I’ll start using birch, for the boards that I’ll be jumping on.