Hi all, I'm fairly competent in all the basics, but I am really struggling learning to ride toeside. I can transition into the toeside position easy enough, however it feels very uncomfortable and awkward, and I always fall within 10 - 20 metres.

Can anyone tell me, when riding toeside, should you:

- Allow the harness to rotate around your body, so that the loop is coming off your hip rather than in front of your belly button? I feel like this would help, because it feels like the kite is constantly trying to twist my body around.

- Position your feet any differently within the footstraps than when riding heelside? I know that the weight placement will be different, but do people do anything differently with their feet - like pulling them slightly out of the straps and rotating them?

Any other tips people think are helpful would be great, I've watched a few youtube tutorials, but still can't get it. Thanks in advance.

James

Just lean into the lines, towards the water. One hand on the bar, right in the middle and keep the kite at 45 or slightly higher (don't have it at lunch time). Once you have that you should be able to cruise forever and can work on going upwind. Just leaning into it will make it click! The hips are doing most of the work here so unless your gear is hurting you, should be fine! If you can, join a downwinder crew. That's what I did and it made my toeside learning really fast.

Try it when you have a bit more power. If you are having to work the kite to keep going its that much more difficult. With a little more power you can be sloppy with your weight distribution and still ride along. Then you can start playing around with weight distribution (more front foot pressure, more toe pressure)

Also its a lot easier in flat water. If you don't have much space to build up speed to transition then you can waterstart to toe side so you get more time practising before you need to turn around

A heel to toeside transition on dwinders at incoming swell is great to refine your toeside skills, especially on dwinders

I've found that many riders try to point too high when starting after their turn .

NorthernKitesAUS said.. !!?? What's downwind riding got to do with riding toe-side.
Disclaimer: Yet to do a proper long-distance downwinder

A proper down winder.....awesome...
They toe-side too
www.kiteworldmag.com/video/the-magic-river/

I suppose on topic comment should be made... some thoughts...nothing new but might be a slightly different way of looking at the issue which lights your bulb!!!!

1). Do heel side runs work out an angle you can easily hold choose targets in the distance. - Use this as a guide for your toe side path..
2). Look at the edge angle you are holding when heel side and try to work out where board axis is ( front to back). it is not necessarily symmetrical. When you are going toe-side what sort of edge are you holding - similar to Heel side.. to get the angle you may be leaning over more than you think you are (=that axis is biased towards the heel side). So it is easier to over balance when less power from the kite and or slowing down. The solution as per Gateman - bend from the knee - this allows you to get the edge but keep your weight more centered over the board.
3). Remember when you first started getting the hang of heel side... That balancing act between going up wind (ish!!) and down-wind and the power in the kite..?? Well it is essentially a replay... what worked for you then replay.. The trick for me was to always keep moving .. so S tracking and flipping back to heel side re-loading and having another crack. If you don't already, when you are about to change direction on heel side, try flipping the board to Toe-side and then down looping the kite and follow it around to end up back on heel side going back.

My toe-side is never as efficient as heel side - = there is a power limit available and below that I do not try and track for any long runs on toe-side.. I mostly ride directional strapped in, on waves, until I loose the straps it is unlikely to improve..
Keep asking and give us an update...
cheers
AP

Gybe to switch toeside.

ride it.

Toeside sorted