Try looking here mate should get the info you need.
Practice and more practice
www.seabreeze.com.au/forums/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=43411&SearchTerms=body+dragging

Just takes practice. Holding the bar with one hand, not powered up, other arm stretched out pointing where you want to go, make sure your legs are also stretched out so your body is in a straight line parrallel to the water`s suface, on your side, not facing down (or up). and just relax and take your time. Might have to make a couple of passes before you get to the board. You`ll get the hang of it eventually. Good luck.

Another Great tip in conditions that you can barely see the board - is to count 10-20 seconds in each direction, restarting of course from when you cross the board line... this will help you avoid dragging your self off into the sunset & it happens alot, just check out lost n found

Remember Name Mb no. reward

Cheers

gumby esq said...

... I'm a raw recruit with a 2006 slingshot turbo diesel (10m) and have been using it in relatively light winds (15 kts + gusts)...

With a 10m old kite and 15 knots it is a very hard job to even stay upwind with your board on!

It's not a right size kite for this condition and even with the best technical tricks you will still lose ground.

The first tack is the most important put in a good one, immediately after coming off and you should only need one more to get to your board.

I do not agree with keeping you kite as low as possible, not on a fuel or switchblade or any other kite I have ever used.

AS with all upwind kiting or body dragging ..... you are best to think of it like this :

you need the kite to fly into the wind.... to pull you into the wind,

in order to do this you need to strike a good balance between POWER, and HOW FAR FORWARD INTO THE WINDOW YOUR KITE WILL FLY but with enough power to pull you forward.

The best method is to get this balance right....almost all the time this means you sacrifice speed for point.... so you will go slower but point much higher.

To do this I fly my kites as far forward into the wind as possible ( smaller kites are best for this as they can really truck up wind ) with the bar eased out, i stand up straighter on my board one hand off, shoulders turned kite high to help hold my weight ( so the pull is up (as in vertical...not down wind ). Once you balance these things getting upwind is super easy......... I use the same method re: the kite position when body dragging.

In my experience those who master this technique when on the board easily point 15deg+ higher than the rest.

I quite like upwinders as you can probably tell

Following on from what KITEHARD says ref the seat harness. Gumby do you use seat or waist?

I struggle with body dragging, can cruise upwind on the board so easy, jump, turn, etc. But can't bodydrag too good, works 50% of the time. I think the point about the seat harness may be valid, I'm gonna try a waist see if it makes a difference.

Actually the last time i used a waist harness i found i couldn't go upwind on the board as well, as i could with the seat.

hey gum

At the risk of igniting the same old argument have you ever considered a board reel? l started using one when l started jumping, against the strong advice of most of the people l kite with, but have never had the board come close to me even when l've come off fully powered after messing a jump up. Normally l have to reel the board in as the spring is really only strong enough to keep the leash under tension so it doesn't end up in a mess. For those considering excommunicating me from the kite boardng community for even suggesting using one l do wear a helmet when l use the leash.

And to answer the obvious question l was never good at draging upwind and am more interested in kiting than practising draging upwind not to mention being really lazy.

SaveTheWhales said...

Another Great tip in conditions that you can barely see the board - is to count 10-20 seconds in each direction, restarting of course from when you cross the board line... this will help you avoid dragging your self off into the sunset & it happens alot, just check out lost n found

Remember Name Mb no. reward

Cheers

Good practice is what the yatchies do, don't keep changing direction too much, a few longer runs as you will loose ground when learning this on the turn, (as above you have to keep in view of the board) when tunring sea anchor yourself, that is get the kite in total neutral zone as you pass it over the other side and depowered, have your body totally deep and as much of an anchor as possible, then back to it. Some struggle with loosing ground in the transition.

I like to do it in 2 runs, get up wind and then accross to your board, less time wasted zigzagging, it won't be long and you will be wondering why you struggled with it in the first place.

Dazza

Just had to add my thanks to the guys who contributed to this one. I've been working on bigger jumps and an inevitable part of this is more crashes and so losing board more frequently. The advice on where to hold the kite, how to steer with front hand and ride in a seat harness has made a huge difference in helping me to body drag to board quickly. I think I'll cancel my leash order - if you can drag properly - a leash just looks like an unnecessary risk that you don't need. Thanks again fellas - learnt a lot.

Roughly 45 deg.or little lower for kite and when you change tacks lean right back in the water as you fly kite through the window so your kite doesnt pull you forward and lose ground.

I had a 2006 TD1 14m when they were new and it was equivalent to a newer 12 or 13m. So definately a bit underpowered for a 10m TD which is probably equivalent to an 8m REV.

yeah, slew the dragon today with the counting trick. 2 big tacks and was struggling to find the board cause i was scanning upwind when it was 40m the other way. was swallowing the chop so knew i was on a winner. the advice about needing to be moving to tack helped too. (fancy! who would've thought?) thanks for all the advice, super useful.

Just affix an inflated goon bag to the board handle! At least you get to have fun emptying the goon bag first I reckon.