Go for more lessons perhaps.

More weight on the back foot! work the kite more!

Just keep at it man. Once you break through and can stay upwind it will all be worth it. Plus winter gusty wind wont be helping either.

Did two full days of paid lessons , then been on my own , I am 90 kg and using a 12 metre switchblade in 15/ 20 knots , not game to kite anything stronger just yet as I already broke my tailbone and sprained both ankles , accidentally boosting out of water start position and landing in shallow water . Thanks for the advice and encouragement , will get more lessons. Cheers!

What exactly are your issues, NFL?

Sounds like you're underpowered for your ability... but you learned the first lesson - stay away from the shore/shallow water.

Efilnikufesin said...
Greggor! Yeah I think just more practice is what I need , Just a little impatient to get riding I suppose . I have done a couple of very short runs but wasn't able to sustain power in the kite , I have recently found out I haven't been directing the board down wind enough on my initial launch , so it's back in the water for another go! I am riding a naish twin tip I picked up online it's about 152 long .

Focus on short runs of just 3 or 4 Mtrs returning the kite to 12 and slumping back into the water, repeat outward then back to shore, you'll gain a feel of what's required power wise and board positioning, doing this repetitive motion will have you up on your board quicker than going for the longer runs, I use this method when teaching and find they progress a lot quicker, you learn nothing about getting up on your board when trying to relaunch your kite after a failed run,

Keep checking yourself on pulling the bar in too much and chocking the kite.
Let the power come through your harness and not your arms.
Pratice and it will Come.

Thanks everyone who commented on this subject , your input is greatfully received ! Regards.

Your username should be Efilnikufecin

/justsayin

Hi mate, I feel your pain just because I went through the same thing probably more recently than most on here. I actually feel pretty competent now, trucking upwind and probably at that level between beginner and intermediate.

Support what everyone is saying about being a bit underpowered. I know as a beginner you freak out a bit thinking the wind is too strong etc... And before too long you realize you are actually probably a bit better off a tiny bit overpowered than under, especially if your kite is recent and depowers well and has all the safety stuff on it.

The only input I can give you from experience is when I was learning everyone said to me "one day it will just click like a switch and you'll instantly get it" I always thought they were full of it, but bugger me they are right.

The same will happen for you, it will just click and all of a sudden you'll be trucking along with a smile from ear to ear while still tryin to look cool.

Another common mistake beginners make is not straightening out the front leg enough. It feels a bit wierd until you get comfortable with your own stance. Straighten the front leg to start with it will be heaps easier.

Oh oh oh.... Also as one earlier said take the power through your harness not your arms. Just lean back on the sucker and it'll help get you upwind.

Finally I'm a bit heavier just like you and found a seat harness (hold back the mocking please) helped me 100% so might be worth a try???

Where's your local beach? If your in Vic I know heaps and heaps of helpful kiters that will help get you rockin along!

Noobs - your 'front' foot is the 'Accelerator' and the 'back' foot is the brake !!!!
Water start with front foot pressure only... Try pressing both in your car ;)

Efilnikufesin said...
Greggor! Yeah I think just more practice is what I need , Just a little impatient to get riding I suppose . I have done a couple of very short runs but wasn't able to sustain power in the kite , I have recently found out I haven't been directing the board down wind enough on my initial launch , so it's back in the water for another go! I am riding a naish twin tip I picked up online it's about 152 long .

152cm long but how wide? My first board was about 146 but narrow, like 36cm. Useless.

No need for a bigger wind, a bigger kite probably yes. Again, was struggling with 9m, got myself an 13m Bow kite, went to Bali and bingo!
Took me a year before that, with some injuries like yours. That was 5 yrs ago. I'm 60kg, riding 12m in 15-25kn. Get 14m and you'll be up in no time...
Get an 16m or a bigger slow kite too and forget about 12m for a while.

I found that when I put too much power in, I find I can make it work by pointing my board downwind towards the kite, then turn upwind when the power has died down.

While I was learning it took me a while to dial in the power stroke, but I found that if I did the above I could cope with too much power.

If I didn't give myself enough power, then I could either sink back and try again, or sine the kite up and down like a loony until it caught.

Another thing that helped me was figuring out what angles I should be riding before getting up - looking at the other kiters and giving myself a landmark to aim for. I spent a lot of time trying to go upwind too much, which isn't helpful!

Kamikuza said...

kiteboy dave said...
Your username should be Efilnikufecin

/justsayin

No it's spelled correctly

nokceruoy

SaveTheWhales said...
Noobs - your 'front' foot is the 'Accelerator' and the 'back' foot is the brake !!!!
Water start with front foot pressure only... Try pressing both in your car ;)

Yeah I found this one useful. Weight on front foot = go faster.

+1 also on not choking the kite, on the upstroke, let the bar out a little bit.

You can't beat time on the water, and trust us it will click, then you'll be hooked for life. err.... until you unhook that is..... (alright, this is a kiting dad joke).

Just bought a 14 m draft ( wow what a kite! )and a 145 naish hero , not underpowered any more . Gonna take a week off work armed with all this great advice and give it a red hot go ! Thanks again everybody ! Seabreeze rocks !P.s thanks to kite rite yorkey's knob for steering me in the right direction .

erewuoythgir azukimak