Hello Dl33ta,

I am rubbish. Let me just put that out there.

But I saw a video the other day of some guy doing an upwind jibe, I.e. spinning the board to point upwind and round... and to be fair, it was more flat water than jibing in the surf... but maybe a work around for flat water....

If you're having trouble with bar pressure then you're probably over controlling the kite and gripping the bar too hard. All the power should go through the chicken loop into the harness. You should only have finger pressure on the bar. Maybe use your trimmer a bit more.

Gybing is a mandatory skill when riding a directional. Partially because you need to gybe from time to time, but mostly because it frees you from being locked into a single stance and locked into the straps.

You need to do it because:
- it lets you rest
- it hugely improves upwind performance
- it makes your riding much more flexible
- it's huge fun when you get it right

There's lots of tips for gybing about swapping before or after turning and it's all BS. You need to be able to swap you feet any time because it's all part of being free to do what you want on the board.

The most important thing with riding a directional, and that includes riding straight or gybing or whatever, and that is you must have your body weight around the centre of the board. As long as you have one foot in the centre then you can do whatever you like with the back foot.

Something that supports that transferring the power of the kite down into the board. Imagine the power of the kite going in a straight line down through the front lines, through the chicken loop and down your legs into the centre of the board. If you do that you can wander around on the board all you want and it will keep planing.

Honestly, once you understand weight distribution and gybing you'll wonder what all the fuss was about. It is soooo easy to gybe and switch feet and to do it stylishly.

How many guys do you see slogging along on their surfboard with the nose flopping up and down, and walking back up the beach or doing downwinders.

There's no rule that says you have to swap feet, there are some riders way better than me who never do. But if you can't swap feet then your severely compromising your enjoyment of a directional.

Imagine this, you're riding around on the inside in tiny surf in light winds. You line up a little peak and carve a turn on it while swapping to heelside as you drop in. Pump in a few little carves, crank a turn on the inside then jam upwind to repeat. You can't do that just slogging along on toeside.

They may appear to you they are tearing arse d-wind (if you are still in TT mode & trying to stay upwind) but on a d-winder they/we are actually riding the waves with kites that drift downwind.

IMO the faster you go usually results in a better session but its nice to stretch it out sometimes also.

I went straight to a strapped surfboard from lessons, and I have to say it took me a while to learn to gybe, and more specifically switch feet. Gorgo gives some great tips. Now I'm getting used to riding toe side as well and the combination is brilliant I reckon.

Staying toeside is good for a short period, eg about to be monstered by a wave and make a quick turn to get away from it and not risk a foot switch stuff up. Switch to heelside is far better when you want to stay on a tack.... more relaxed and go faster and point higher up wind at my skill level.

Here's a really good link for upwind jibe...

Funnily enough after a nice long downwinder today on the SB and watching one of the guys gybe around strapless I'm all inspired. Next run I'm unleashing the inner kook and going to have a go, not that anyone will think I'm less retarded than with straps on but I'll know the difference. Think I'm over the TT for the moment, way too much work but I haven't been riding the SB long enough that I forget how to ride switch so it should be all good.

Got to say, loving the strapless. The hardest bit was convincing myself to take the straps off. Definately a different mode of riding, having to slow down a lot more for the wash but 100% more enjoyable. Gives you a few more options as well, went out and got a second hand bigger SB for some light wind action. Had buckets of fun on it yesterday with the light wind kite and 10-14 kts of breeze.

Strangely enough I found it much easier to start toeside strapless which was totally unexpected, not sure what that is all about. Another strange thing was carving turns from toeside to forehand were a bit akward as well. I'm guessing that is due to inadequate back foot pressure as turning the other way is sweet as.

Next challenge is riding switch and gybing

Dl33ta said..

Got to say, loving the strapless. The hardest bit was convincing myself to take the straps off. Definately a different mode of riding, having to slow down a lot more for the wash but 100% more enjoyable. Gives you a few more options as well, went out and got a second hand bigger SB for some light wind action. Had buckets of fun on it yesterday with the light wind kite and 10-14 kts of breeze.

Strangely enough I found it much easier to start toeside strapless which was totally unexpected, not sure what that is all about. Another strange thing was carving turns from toeside to forehand were a bit akward as well. I'm guessing that is due to inadequate back foot pressure as turning the other way is sweet as.

Next challenge is riding switch and gybing

Strapless puts your feet in full control of the board by placement and foot pressure - no more cranking on straps. It feels much more natural.

When I first tried gybing it felt impossible. Learning on a bigger board (Sector 60) gives you more time as it doesn't sink as much if you slow down.

That's what I really like about kitesurfing - you just keep learning - and can feel like a beginner all over again.

I can gybe my SB no problems now - I can pre turn gybe or post turn on my natural stance, but only post turn gybe the other way.

It is worth practicing all scenarios. If you are in the surf and about to get slammed you want to do the fastest chicken turn possible.