You could probably benefit from a bigger board and kite, however riding the board a bit flatter and getting speed up before edging hard might help. Also try not to dive the kite too much as this can kill the power quicker then diving it slower and keeping it in the zenith longer.

I'm 100kg and can ride a 12m C on a 132 board in 20 knots easy.

You're probably doing one of two things

1) Not edging soon enough. Your getting up, planing, but not turning upwind/edging quickly enough against the kite so it loses power and drops you back in the drink. Think about it, as soon as you're at speed and going in the same direction of the kite, it will lose power. (same as if you run towards the kite whilst standing on the beach)
Turn the board upwind (edge against the kite)
2) Edging too quickly. You're killing the power of the kite before you get any speed.

One of the many instructors on this site could probably help more, but that's the two scenarios I can envisage and it's probably (1).

As you can see, it's a bit of a balancing act. Keep trying young grasshopper.

simple .Get an instructor to critique your riding and advise .your description makes me suspect that you have a technique problem (I am an instructor)

I felt the same last season, like I needed either a bigger board or a bigger kite. I'm 60kg and have 134 Spark. 10m bandit III. problem solved this season! Srapped and unstrapped 5'10" surfboard, now some days I'm lit on a 7m core GT. still love my Bandit, so much, but have also added a wave specific BWS Noise 8m for those 15 knot days with swell (oh how we love thee).
Some good advice here, don't edge too hard before up and planing, or buy a kite/surfboard and enjoy them in their native environment, the ocean.

Thanks for all the helpful info I have an IKO instructor I can get to come give me a hand to get me back on track

Another question I brought the S.Bow 11m first and then got basically given the 2 C kites and I like how they fly but what would be more powerful the 11m Bow kite or the 12 C kite??

I have used both and the 12m C kite feels way more solid and punchier but it might just be me with a lack of experience

Thanks again you guys have to great

double post -

To big or not to big that is the question!

Timmy, as a fellow noob I can relate to your problem, it sounds like the problem I was having- getting up on the board then not having enough power & sinking.

The problem for me was that I was oversheeting the kite; basically I was pulling in too far on the bar when board starting, but whilst I was able to get up on the plane, I was robbing the kite of it's power & hence sinking back down pretty much straight away.

I had to learn to ease up my grip on the bar & just use my finger tips to hold it in the correct position.

I'm not sure how to describe it properly, so here's a quote I nicked off the web- it's from a kite tuning instruction, but it seems to describe what was happening to me;

"Do not ‘over sheet’ the kite. The first objective is to set the kite’s maximum power while allowing it to fly efficiently across the sky. More power and quicker turning is achieved by tensioning the steering (back) lines. This is called ‘sheeting in the kite’. There is however, a point of diminishing returns. Too much back line tension will depower the kite, cause it to fly slowly across the sky and not allow it to fly to the edge of the power window. Be aware of and try to recognise these symptoms."

Hope this helps.

Hey Tim,

I agree with oceanfire, you're probably 'choking' the kite (pulling the bar too much).
Try to unload your arms and let the kite pull from the harness. (Don't try to pull yourself up using the bar)
When the wind is to light you might have to keep 'sine' the kite a few times until you get enough speed. When doing that sheet in when diving the kite, sheet out to let the kite fly back up.

Cheers

The kites are a bit older but the lines are almost new, I appreciate all the help guys looks like i'm heading out today and prob the next 5-6 days wind looks good so lets see what I can do

Thanks again for all the help

lostinlondon said...

Sounds like you are pulling yourself up on your bar rather than letting your kite do the work through your harness, you will choke the kite. Its all about getting the kite to fly THROUGH the air like a wing, not to catch the air like a toy kite.

Don't be afraid to allow yourself to pick up some speed! Things get easier with a bit of pace.

After you dive the kite from 1 to 9 and you get pulled up on your board you need to get the kite back up to 11 - 12 quickly. (Starting to the left) This gives you your forward speed and stops you falling back into the drink. As the speed comes on you can start to edge against the kite. and bring it smoothly to the 10 o'clock position.

If you get a week of solid practice in you will improve really quickly and one day you will wonder why you weren't able to do it in the first place!

great advice .An earlier post had a snippet re depowering .Pulling the bar in and choking the kite with low air speed is actually stalling the kite and yes you do lose power and will need to push the bar away to get the kite out of the stall and get it flying again and producing power (most people refer to depowering when the bar is pushed away and the kite goes to the edge of the window just to avoid confusion)

Now you guys mention it I am pulling myself up with the bar until I remember to relax (coming from a wakeboarding background I do it without knowing) I will make a better effort today when I head out after work and report back tomorrow

Now bring on the wind

When I'm waterstarting and underpowered I put the kite down to about 45° in the direction I want to go, then send it up past 12. This will give me some extra lift before I do the next power stroke to get me moving. Then after say the second or third stroke start edging harder and pull in the bar.