So for something new i have started riding a surfboard strapless. It is great fun however i am struggling with jibing from natural to toeside. I have been putting the kite up pretty high, and flattening out the board. I have made a few but i had alot of faceplants yesterday. Any tips would be appreciated
I found when I was learning to jibe that keeping the kite lower in the wind window and turning it quickly as I initiated my turn kept the power going through the turn. Its important to have some speed or you will just bog down and sink the board. I tend to switch feet about 3/4 of the way through the turn. Going back the other way switching from goofy to natural (I have a natural stance) I make the switch before I initiate the turn, then just carve into it. The other trick that helped me is bringing the kite up high first, then downloop the kite. As it starts its downward decent I turn and make my turn. I find this to generally be a smooth way to turn unless it is super windy and gusty. Also, you didn't mention if you had straps or not, I found it was easier to learn without straps, and learn to ride that way first. Then if you put straps on for heavy beachbreaks etc, your body and feet will know what to do with the jibe and you won't be concentrating on stepping in and out of footstraps. Just keep at, it will come....
You don't have to do anything magical or trickey with the kite to gybe. It just takes practice and a little understanding of what is happening.
The important thing to remember is there is a zone on the board from about the front strap position to just in front on the back strap position. You must always have some body weight pushing the board down in that zone. If you get too far forward or back you will stall or face plant.
You want that zone lined up with the kite lines. Imagine a line going from your head, down through your body into the board then up along the lines to the kite. If you have that position happening you can do anything you want on the board and it will stay powered and planing.
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