Get a skateboard, find an empty car park (preferably with no one around) and practise riding goofy.

It all comes down to practice, its the oposite to what you would normally ride so just try it everytime you ride and before you know it you'll be ridin smooth both ways

Kazan said...

What do you recommend to avoid going right being a natural as opposed to a goofy footer?
For some reason (and I think I need to simply hold my back foot - back!), when ever I try and water start to my right (goofy), my back foot (left foot) wants to switch and become my front foot (turning from goofy stance to natural stance, as that is my "natural" position). This means I end up with the kite powered over my left shoulder and almost behind my back!
At Cairns last week, I went to the cable ski park and tried to ride goofy foot, but it was virtually impossible. I always wanted to ride natural stance and was very relaxed and comfortable. As soon as I tried to start at the ski park on my goofy position, I lose it.
Any tips on this or ways to practice goofy foot?
Much appreciated.

yea had same feeling when i first started,i just told myself that i needed to learn it so that i could get back to the beach, best thing i was told was to sit on my back foot and point front leg towards my kite... give it a go it'll come together soon , practice...

Tezza

Ex wakeboarder here...

I found when I first started learning to ride switch or goofy I had to ride one handed. I'm natural footed as well so I let go with my left hand when switched. That way the pull of the rope can't pull you around back to natural or crash again after the switch.

Of course this is different on a kite. However, if you're at the cable park again try riding natural, then do a switch and let go with your back hand (left) and ride one handed with plenty of weight on your back (left) foot.

You will feel like an un-co flailing whale for a while when riding goofy but it feels more natural as time goes by. Once you get used to the feeling you should be able to do it with while holding on with both hands... or no hands(kidding)... without noticing the difference.

As for learning to ride switch straight on the kite I couldn't really tell you because it seems my wake boarding switch riding transferred to kite boarding without a hitch.

That is awesome advice guys! Thank you sooooo much! I'll just have to stick my left foot back there and try and get used to it. Yeah, I think if I practice on a skateboard goofy all the time, I will eventually be able to add my mind to it once I am on the water. Until I get another chance to go North, I won't see this happening until at least Sep / Oct 2012 unfortunately. hehe
Thanks heaps again!

moon waxing said...

Get a skateboard, find an empty car park (preferably with no one around) and practise riding goofy.

Good tip. Riding switch has a lot to do with changing position of hips, shoulders and back foot pressure.

I've been riding skateboards for 20 years and jumping on switch is like learning all over again!!

I had the same problem when I first started out. i even posted the same sort of question. If you scroll down the screen you will probably find it. It is alot easier when your fully powered up. Dont try and edge upwind straight away. Go with the kite for a few seconds,get a bit of speed and then start to edge. Once you get the hang of it you will forget that your doing it. I can now go upwind better and faster when I ride goofy even though im natural stance. Its all about where you put your body weight. Keep at it and your brain will get used to it and it will become second nature.

Yup just keep practicing and you will soon not notice anymore. I thought it would take me forever to get over riding natural coming from so many years riding goofy while surfing. I barely notice the difference anymore. Now I am hoping I have not done any damage when I go back to surfing next week

My latest issue is trying to land backrolls and front rolls going natural. I end up trying to land it riding goofy and either completely wipe out, or land it toeside and it looks awesome

Sorry! Just totally stoked on the sport!

We did that fence exercise on our lessons when learning water starts. Its a good drill. Its also a good way of learning the hip movement of getting your weight back over your board to deal with sudden lulls so you dont end up in the drink. Wear your harness and loop your safety leash through the fence and back to your spreader bar. That way you can lean all the way back in a typical kiteboarding stance.

Like most folk here r sayin, it's the 3p's - practice practice practice.
It doesn't hurt to analyse what your doing on your 'natural' side and apply that to your opposite.
You can end up better on your weak side because of all the concentration and application.
My first backrolls were on this side cause of the prevelant wind vs wave direction i had no choice.

Good work Kazan,

I did a similar thing the other day... went out on my girlfriends electric scooter (stand up scooter with a handle). I practised jumping round from one side to another, was fun.

I also went to a cable park the other day and tried to spend as much time going toeside as I can as this is now my stumbling block.

NickT said..

If you keep landing goofy or keep switching around accidentally make sure your'e pulling the bar to your lead hip, body will follow and you be landing switch before you know it. Really exaggerate it at first until it becomes habit.
Good habits early will help you down the track.

Yeah that's what I was told too at Cairns cable park. Hold the handle close to the hip closest to it (ie: left hip for natural, right hip for goofy).