Hi guys,
Ive just started riding upwind and now really starting to enjoy kitesurfing and not having to walk up the beach haha.
My question is I have a cabirina spectum 144×43. I am 6'2 about 90 kg. Im wanting to know if there is a better board for keeping an edge in for riding upwind easier? Any advice would be helpful thanks

Having learnt to go upwind on a freestyle board, which took a while, and then switched to a freeride board, I can tell you that freeride boards RULE at going upwind. Less rocker, softer tips, bigger fins. The trade-off is, they don't pop off the water too well for your tricks. Let's face it, the lawn won't get mowed if you spend all your time in the air.

If you were on an out-and-out freestyle/wakestyle board, I'd say get a freeride board to learn on, because the real fun doesn't start until you can go upwind, so the quicker you get there the better. However, Cabrinha rates the Spectrum as freestlye/freeride/all conditions, with 'great upwind tracking'. It sounds like it shouldn't be too bad for going upwind, so I'm going to go ahead and agree with Lofty ^^^^^ You'll get there, and the longer it takes you, the better you'll be at it.

Any commercially made board will ride upwind fine. Hell, I've even riden a flat rectangular plank upwind.
If you are struggling you are either severely under or over powered, or are still lacking skill.
Just remember weight back, edge in. Keep that front leg straight.

Best thing you can do is forget about "trying" to go upwind. Just work on improving your stance, your balance on the board and most importantly improve your kite handling - get the power locked in so you can park the kite in the middle of the wind window. Do all this and start riding comfortably and you riding upwind with out even trying.

This video might help a bit with the stance side of things:



Let us know how you get on.

Hi ayersy,

On top the the usual tips you were already given, you have to understand that a longer and wider board can make upwind riding more difficult, especially in strong winds and choppier water. Smaller and narrower boards are easier to edge and cut across any form of chop much better than a larger board. At your body weight, depending how strong the winds are in your area, I would recommend your next board to be something around 136x40.

I often use larger boards for students at the very beginning of their progression (easier to get up and balance on and need less power from the kite). When they start to be comfortable on the board and want to learn to ride upwind, I give them a smaller and narrower board, makes it much easier to edge and go upwind. Mind you we teach in strong winds and very choppy water most days.

If you ride flat water and below 20 knots winds, then your current board size is fine and should be easier to edge and go upwind...you just have to be more aggressive with your edge (lean more, turn hips more, etc.)

hope this helps
Christian