Riding

So we have completed our first water start.  However, to stay on the board and get going will require more practice. 

If the wind is strong, you can keep going by locking the kite at 35 – 45 degrees vertically in a forward moving position.

If the wind is not very strong (the board slows down, the pull of the kite becomes weaker), you need to move the kite up & down (in a sine wave pattern) creating more apparent wind (wind generated by movement) to generate more pull.  Move the kite up and down using the sine wave pattern within 15 to 75 degrees vertically.  Remember to move the kite up as soon as you are on the board.

As a general rule, bend your knees to have more balance to stay on the board. 

You are likely to be able to stay on the board only for a couple of seconds in the first few times.  Do not be discouraged.  You need practice to be able to keep balance on the board and control the kite at the same time to generate constant power to keep you on the board. 

When you feel that the pull of the kite is too strong, lean backward and edge the windward rail of the board to counter balance the pull of the kite.

At this stage you will go downwind very fast.  Just let your board "go" and do not attempt to fight it.  What you want to achieve now is just to be able to stay on your board and just "get going", you can prepare to have a long walk back at the end of your run.  Do this until you can get on your board and "go" each time.  Practice this in both directions: going out and coming back.

 		Riding Upwind

Going upwind using the following techniques:

If the wind is strong, just lock the kite in at 30 – 40 degrees vertically, edge the windward rail and press slightly more on the back foot. The board will go upwind. If you are going too much upwind and the board starts loosing speed, you may need to temporarily steer the board downwind to gather speed before steering the board back upwind.

If the wind is not strong, you need to make the sine wave pattern with your kite. When the kite goes up, you should steer the board slightly downwind to gather speed and when the kite goes down, you can steer the board upwind. The board will make a figure S, which goes downwind then upwind, where the upwind leg is more pronounced such that you will end up going upwind.

Turn your upper body to face the direction where you're going. This position helps your legs to turn the board upwind and also allows you to see where you are going. You may have to turn your head occasionally (do not turn your whole upper body) to look at your kite.

When you turn your board upwind, always edge the windward rail 30 to 45 degrees to the water and lean your body 45 degrees backward.

When the wind is strong, the pull of the kite will make you go downwind.   Do not let that happens.  If you are hook-in to the chicken loop, just move the bar away to ease the power.  If you are not using the chicken loop, you have to fight that pull with all you have: your weight, your muscles and your board.  Let the kite carry your entire weight;  use your legs to edge the board very hard and turn it way upwind.  If you fight hard enough, your board will slow down and the kite will "reach" the edge of the forward wind window.  Once it's there, the pull will lessen and you can control both the board and the kite better if you keep on going in the same upwind direction.  Don't point your board downwind or move your kite to get into another overpowered situation.  You will be in for another upwind fight again. 

To be able to go upwind does not mean that you can come back to where you start.  Each time you fall, the kite will pull you around 20 to 50 m downwind.   If you are using a directional board, you have to master the going upwind technique and nail 40 - 50 percent of your jibes before being able to come back to where you start.

Twin Tip Jibe

Jibing on a twin tip board should be very easy as you don't have to complete the jibe and simply fake it to complete the jibe.  Furthermore as you don't have to change feet, the successful rate should be much higher than on directional board. 

Heel Turn Jibe

Move the kite upward and turn your board upwind

Shift your weight more to the front foot and start turning the board downwind with the back foot becoming the new front foot

Dive the kite in the new direction and press on the "upwind rail"  (press your heel) to carve the board to the new direction

 

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