it depends on what board your riding and wind direction.

My experience is predominantly with C-kites but, whenever travelling towards the kite you need to sheet out as much as you can to allow the kite to climb fast enough, so as you do not under run the kite.

You can practice this on flat water, or small waves, by running directly downwind. The kite will almost hover at about 10.00-11.00 in front of you, and you may need to move it in gentle figure eights to keep it flying... rocking from heel to toe as you go... this way you can keep enough tension on the lines to control the kite, without it developing very much pull. Essentially you can just drift downwind at the speed of the wind, or less, depending on the size&float of your board. The kite will be so far back in the window that, when you pull in the bar and edge, the power will be almost instant... on a bow it most probably will be instant.

I have a 11m Sonic and I find that when you're heading for the bottom turn or you have just come off the shoulder into the wave, placing the kite at about 10 or 11 oclock and sheeted out a bit the kite travels with you and keeps to the window edge. This also gives room to work the kite if your speed exceeds the kite a little but should be no problem if you are riding powered up. I find riding powered up on the bow good for wave riding as you can dump the majority of the power if need be and get it back real quick.

Ha! Ha! That's a good one. I like it!
Dig the name too H2flow, creative relevance hmmmm?