Dose anybody have any advice to keeping ground or charging up wind when riding toe side. As soon as I switch I seem to have less power in my kite, and have to point down wind all the time to keep the board planning? I'm sure its a technique thing so any tips would be super.

Make sure to put lots of weight onto your backfoot and do not hesitate to lean quite low to keep your balance.

Also, keep in mind that going downwind does not necessarily means going faster and is actually more likely to slow you down. Edging increases apparent wind which generates additional pull from the kite: this is why the back foot needs so much strenght onto it, in both heel and toe sides riding on twin tips (not so much on directional boards thanks to the fins).

cheers
Jacques

You are most likely heading upwind too much.....point down wind immediately until you get your balance sorted and then work your way upwind with some speed.

Are you talking twinny or surfboard? On a surfboard you actually spread the weight almost 50/50 so you engaged as much of the rail as possible. On a twinny- what everybody else said.

Smedg said...

As an in experienced surfboard rider,, I find engaging as much rail as possible good when powered up and keeping the board flatter to the water (less rail) and twisting at the hips to engage fins instead better in lighter wind. (on a surf board)

Yeah that too (engaging fins).

cabstar said...

ah thats the trouble im have on the rocket fish to much edge not enough fin thnx

That's a great board-no issues going up wind toeside on one of those. Just get a heap of rail going, use one hand and a waist harness and let it swivel right around so your centre line is pointed at the kite and you're not too twisted. and really lean into the water to get it on it's rail (assuming you're powered up). Won't take too much practice to get it right-I actually do better going up wind toeside (provided there's enough wind).

KIT33R said...

All the above is true. I found lifting the heel of the rear foot (up on your toes) helps heaps.

Agreed, rear heel lifted and I also found it much easier to get the required stance if you twist your front foot around so it is facing more foward rather than sideways to the direction of travel.

IMO you will never get as far upwind toeside as you can heelside, but you can definately go upwind if your technique is OK.

OK how does putting all your weight on the back foot help, you stall kite goes to edge of window,
I find and this comes from wakeboarding, you need to take your weight forward over your front foot, make it even between front and back, use your whole rail on the board to go upwind,
You actually have to push the front foot up wind to get the angle, and it is a really twisted position.
Worse probs is that people break at the waist they lean over there toes with there upper body, but don't actually use there wieght into there toes..
You need to keep upper body stiff and lean whole body over don't break at the waist..
You can actually get more pressure on your toeside then heel side once you get it dialed in but generally you need more power to ride toeside then heels side..

It sounds that you are trying too hard. Inclination/angulation and counter rotation will enable edging.
You can lean in to edge the board bend the main joints and equalise the pressure by absorbing the with your legs. Too much pressure will send the kite too far forward in the wind window and it wont have enough grunt to pull you up-wind. Being too aggressive will bury the rail. If you have good technique it will be effortless.
Use your own body weight to lean in point your belly button to the right side of the boards nose (natural stance).
As your speed and edge pressure build up, regulate this with your legs.
Try and keep the kite movements to a minimum and if you need more power from the kite steady movements are best as you don't want to disturb the action of the smooth planning board.
Remember that the feet are the first thing to adjust as they are what is in contact with the board and it doesn't matter what else your doing right if there is no toe pressure there is no board control. At times you will need more front or back foot adjustments, I find that when cruising I balance my weight over my front foot..

I hope this helps,
cheers,