Hi everyone, for some reason when i get up on the board i start to stop like the kite wouldn't have enough power ( i usually kiteboard with wind at 15 knots) and then sink back into the water, i was starting to think thats its because i was edging to fast by then i started going more down wind and the same thing happens (the kite just pops out the wind window,
been kitesurfing over 4 months now and still can't ride with confidence.
please any help will be more than appreciated

cheers

Standard newbie errors:
- letting the kite get too close to the edge of the window (both top and side)
- pulling the bar in too much and losing air speed
- trying to go too far upwind with not enough power (both from edging too hard, and not going downwind enough to get board speed at the start)

PommyMike said..
When you say one of the newb errors is letting the kite get too close to the side edge of the window, is that only controlled by board direction or is there much you can do with the bar and kite?

Excellent question.

I think this sounds like "newbie fear", which is where beginners are too scared diving the kite hard, especially in moderate winds. To me 15knots is moderate.

If you could pick a more higher wind day, you will learn far more quickly and progress with the upwind skills.

It also depends on the kite, brand, board size, your weight, etc non of which was provided.

But not diving the kite into the power zone properly is a common noob mistake. Don't take offence. I was a noob once too.

Bring the kite back to 11 or 10 on the opposite side and just dive her into the power zone. You'll most likely get yanked off the board, but that's ok. Lean back and let the kite lift you up. don't try and stand up yourself. Keep that board poiting towards the kite (or downwind) and keep tension on your front lines (the ones from the harness). No tension says to the kite - depower, depower!

Practice.

Bigger kite, more wind, wider board, go down wind more.

This stopped happening for me when I kept the kite moving rather then diving it and then trying to park it right away. Dive it down then immediately back up. Keep it moving till you feel the kite power up. When yout go out in better wind this won't be necessary.

gkawo said..
Excellent question.

I think this sounds like "newbie fear", which is where beginners are too scared diving the kite hard, especially in moderate winds. To me 15knots is moderate.

If you could pick a more higher wind day, you will learn far more quickly and progress with the upwind skills.

It also depends on the kite, brand, board size, your weight, etc non of which was provided.

But not diving the kite into the power zone properly is a common noob mistake. Don't take offence. I was a noob once too.

Well i don't know if I'm not powering the kite hard but it sure pulls me out the water pretty fast onto the board

the kites i am using are slingshot 10m i was using this one when i just got into the sport so it thought me how to fly the kite
and the other kite were a Nash aero 12m which blew up on the beach because i put it on shells, it handled ok except it was old.
And now i was using a gaastra jekyii 12m bow kite which is great with wind at 15 knots all you really have to do is pull the bars in and it pull you right up,

I'm using 135 twin tip board, my weight is 70kg

i also tried using a strapless regular pro surfboard and that went really well i got up the second go and rode for a bit until i got over powered and face palmed



but yea i think that practice will make it happen sooner or later once i get out with stronger wind.

One of the hardest things to get your head around is bar pressure - no bar pressure means the kite isn't big enough for the conditions - but the tricky part is that if you oversheet the kite and choke it then the feeling of no bar pressure is the same !

So as mentioned above the ideal is to have constant bar pressure and preferably with the bar about mid depower point - almost never happens so don't stress it - but that's what you should be aiming for !!

If you are able to get up on the board briefly and then fall back in the water - yes its a combination of kite to small, board to small, not flying the kite in and out of the power zone to keep the "ideal" constant bar pressure ( yes you will be moving the bar in and out a lot to try to achieve bar pressure 'nivana' !) - or just edging too hard and killing the kites power - but that can also happen due to not flying it efficiently !!

Keep at it and think about the various elements of good kite and board control - it will all of a sudden come together !! Def get a mate that knows how to kite to check you out and give feedback - good luck!

Plummet said..

Heres a rule of thumb for 80kg rider

10-15 knots = 17m
16-20 =12m
18-25 =10m
25-30 =8m

if your fluffing around with a 12m in 15 knots your underpowered.

That is the best wind chart I've ever seen. It's pretty much spot on, at least with LEI kites. With foil kites (flysurfers, etc), give or take 2 to 5 knots off.

so true surpher:
I used to have that problem about pulling the bar in, and as you said it just stalled the kite or makes it fly to the edge of the wind window,
but as some of you mentioned, more wind is the case for me...i think.

thank you all for you comments
hopefully next time i will be able to get up and ride

cheers all.