Im sick of walking.Im up and riding but having trouble staying upwind.Any hints or tips from any newbies that have just mastered
this . Cheers

Hey I'm a Newbie, well still learning after 6 years.

The Downwinder Idea is great. gives heaps of time to practice without your brain being too focused on where to land.

don't be scared of power and speed.

build speed and commit to harness. this promotes a better stance.

then look where you want to go. watch the wind vanes on the water and aim to run into them at a slight angle with speed.

Pretty soon it will happen, then you will be asking how to go down wind.

Or get heaps of practice and come to fiji in August with us.

Best Winds
Tony L
ABK

Gidday Tony,I'm for Fiji,will send email about deposit ect shortly.

Seven days with a support boat and crew,"try and keep me away"

hey down winder on today dude look at the post by dave...

"Downwinders do rock",did a mini,mini one today, was at Point Henry (vic)and there were a fair crew there.Was going out from the point and coming back in a few times, but due to worrying about other kiters, (not that they were doing anything to worry about)I would end up to far downwind. I thought bugger it, theres a hole open cove down there, I'll go down to the first access area. It was so sweet, butter flat and using the full width of the cove was fantastic, I learnt so much in the one run, it was worth the walk back (wasn't thinking that walking back though, F#ck it's a long walk).
Think next time the winds like that there, I'll drop a push bike off at the first access point, so I can ride back. Might look like a bit of a Wally riding back to the point on the road,but hey, when it's that sweet, who fkn cares?

For those that know Point Henry,I was told that the wind in that area is supposed to be sh$t.I found it better than at the point, the wind was running straight down the middle though.

Thanks to the kiter that came over to check when I was down wind

Congrats on the first jump Guy77.Also started around Feb and as yet hane not attempted a deliberate jump so far,lots of"oh ****,I'm in the air stuff",but no deliberate jumps.
I've had problems when stacking and the board ends up behind you(mainly in swell and waves), but figured out the other week whilst doing a downwinder that if the board is behind you,set ya self up nice and straight,send the kite up,get a nice boost and just flip your board to the front.
I would say that downwinders have added to my learning curve 4 fold,that extra time on the water to play with foot position, body angle and speed ect.I had a good play yesterday,and when it's comming together,it sounds right. My son is looking over my shoulder whilst I'm typing this and commented,"what do mean sounds right?".How do ya explain it,best sound(feeling) in the world.It's obvious I haven't thrown a leg over in a while,otherwise it would be the second best sound in the world.