QLD
2338 posts
Tried a surfboard today with straps and it was easier than expected (no transitions though!). Hit some shallow water after my 4th run and went over the handlebars and ripped off my front strap. Thought I'd give strapless a go with mixed results...
In shallow water with my ass on the bottom I could hold the board in place with my feet no probs. However when I was out the back and wanted to turn around I found it hard to hold the board in place long enough to water start - the chop kept moving it out from one foot or the other... Any tips apart from more practice?
Surfing in on the windswell waves also got me wondering how the rest of you experienced kite surfers ride in the surf. I know everyone has preferences but I guess you need to make a call on how you're going to ride and practice that - ie. do most ex-surfers just ride toe side/ heel side OR learn to ride and surf switch foot as well. OR ride (straight) switch foot but only surf toe side/ heel side?
After riding a TT switch, the surfboard going staright is no different but trying to surf switch is seriously hard after so many years of surfing.
Im new to this so this may be a stupid question but id like to hear which way people chose to go?
NSW
1654 posts
Getting back on the board will get easier with practice. When you are out in the chop point the nose of the board more downwind before you put your feet on the board. As you start to lift out of the water you can start to point more up wind.
I have been surfing for more than 40 years and I had never been able to ride goofy, but practice after learning to kite it got easier. Riding a tt helped me learn to be more relaxed on the goofy side. When I first jumped on a surfboard riding goofy just felt wrong, but now its all good.
I generally always do long tacks on my goofy and switch to toe side just before I hit the lineup. Doesn't matter whether or not I use straps (which is rarely), I ride the same way.
It is easier to jibe strapless though.
Then next hurdle will be when you ride strapless going out into the surf and have to ride goofy as you bounce over the whitewash on your way out into the lineup. When you get that down, you know you have dialed in your skills.
It will come, just keep at it.
QLD
2338 posts
Thanks dafish - thats how I was thinking. The TT has made the straight runs on the wrong side much easier but it really feels bad on a wave.
Need to keep practising my toe side
Cheers
WA
296 posts
I've been learning to jibe and ride toe side well on flat water. I've done 3 sessions and i've seen an marked improvement in my consistency of successful jibe/transtions, i find after kiting on a TT i prefer heal side tacks, not sure how i'll go on a wave tho, maybe see how toes side feels for me. I'm hopeing that the flat water stuff will be time well spent so when i'm down the beach i'll have those skills dialed and can adjust to suit the surf/waves.
I think practice practice practice is the key like everything in kitesurfing.
NSW
1654 posts
Hey Cherub,
practice in the chop because when you are out in the surf you will see how often you get bounced off. I can jibe smoothly 10 out 10 in smoother water, but once you are out in the surf and there is so much water moving around it all changes. The quicker you can make the transition the better. Also in the surf you will be surprised how quickly you can get back on your board when a big wall of white water is headed your way trying to swallow you up!
QLD
701 posts
so how do you 2 jibe i have been praticing and my results are .....drinking a lot of water . i can only pratice in small chop as i dont have flat water here is it just a matter of pratice pratice and then klick it all happens cause iam close to saying stuff it .
NSW
1654 posts
I jibe on my natural side by carving a turn while sending the kite the other way. As I am three quarters around I swap feet so that when I have finished the carve I am switched and headed back upwind. However, while riding goofy just before I initiate the transition I swap my feet first then go into the turn. The faster you can do that move the easier it is to get out of trouble in the surf. Watch how Patrick Rebstock does his rescue of that girl in the surf, do a quick search and you will find it. Suburb jibing and quick thinking.
QLD
2338 posts
So Dafish- when your actually surfing a wave do you ever surf switch foot or normal. What I mean is I'm goofy and will either surf goofy backhand or forehand NOT try to surf switch foot for the sake of surfing forehand... Is this what most guys are doing ??
WA
1347 posts
^^ some people sacrifice a season to learn switch. For many who grew up surfing/skating, making the transition to switch is starting from square one!
NSW
1654 posts
Skaters are the best at getting into kiting, followed by snowboarders who ride both ways. They feel comfortable with speed in any direction. In my experience most surfers only ride their natural way unless doing a "one off" move just for fun. (the exception of this was a friend at Tavarua who was a natural footer, he took off and pulled into all his waves at 6 foot Restaurants because the wave was so perfect and fast he could ride the barrel deeper and better than on his backhand. He never did that out at Cloudbreak though)
Personally, I like riding waves on my backhand as much as I like it forehand, except when I am surfing a heavy tubing reef break, in that case I prefer my forehand. With kiting I have managed to get a few small tubes on my forehand, but never on my back hand as the railgrab hand is holding the bar and my other hand is pointing the way or stalling in the face.
I have ridden waves back hand (rights) while riding goofy. It doesn't feel too bad now and is getting smoother, but I have yet to try riding toeside on my goofy. That would feel very strange but I should give it a crack anyway.
For the most part I don't mind jibing and moving my feet and will ride just like I surf, with power and speed.
QLD
2338 posts
Last time I surfed a heavy barreling reef break on my backhand the cook spent the best part of an hour picking coral out of my head and giving me 10 stitches while my mates stood around cracking jokes and taking photos....
