www.seabreeze.com.au/forums/Kitesurfing/General/Edging-tips/

The whole 'dick to the sky' things is not bs... Give it a try if you're not doing it, along with really looking upwind over your front shoulder which should turn your shoulders and position your whole body pretty well for going upwind.

My stance changes a bit when I'm overpowered, I normally sit down more towards the water and bend my back leg and then dig in the tail to wash speed and move the kite to the edge of the window.

Also, be aware that you will loose a bit of ground each tack, so if you are making short tacks and coming back to the same spot, try making slightly longer tacks.

This is what works for me.

The Progression videos have a pretty good section on this, either pickup the DVD, or if you have an iPad you can download it through their app.

All that turn your shoulders and stance and point your hips stuff is completely irrelevant to going upwind. It all contributes to developing a better and more efficient style but none of it will get you upwind.

The reason you are not making ground upwind is that you are stalling the board and partially stalling the kite. As a newbie you just don't have the feel or experience to know when everything is working properly.

To go upwind:
- start with the board in a neutral trim, say about 20 degrees from flat and pointing across the wind, maybe slightly downwind.
- have your body distributed about 60% on the front foot and 40% on the back foot.
- push the bar out about 20-30cm and start riding.
- do shallow turns so that the kite stays mostly in the power zone.
- feel the power of the kite through the chicken loop into your hips, not through your arms. The bar is for controlling the kite. The chicken loop is the power transfer mechanism.

- As you ride feel the power of the kite. If there is plenty of power then ease the bar in and edge upwind. Use the whole edge. Do not stomp the tail in. That will just stall the board.
- As you cut upwind be sensitive to over sheeting the kite and over edging the board. Ease off the edge and push out the bar and keep the kite moving in the window.

- When you come off the back of chop or a wave then edge a little harder and use the wave to cut upwind.

I think this is very helpful, especially Gorgo's comment. I am experiencing exactly the same problem, when the wind is at the low range of my kite. But I also have completely opposite problem, when the wind picks up. I go too much upwind and if I want to come back where I started I have to zigzag downwind. I've seen other guys going downwind without zigzagging, just strait down, along with the wind. Looks so easy, but I can't make it. Would really appreciate it, if someone can sort me out.