I'm really new to kite-surfing and I am loving the learning process as frustrating as it is for me.

I am ok at getting out the water and cruising with my stronger right foot at the back (I'm natural), I'm getting a bit frustrated when it comes to turning, I'm not quite sure I'm doing things in the correct order when it comes to turning and I'm struggling to fight my natural tendency to want my right foot at the back.

Is there any tip or drill I can do to try and train my brain and override my instincts on this. It's so frustrating. I feel so awkward trying to turn, and it's no fun belting it in one direction and having to swim back the other.

Cheers Kitch

Thank you mate, hopefully we get some wind this week and I can get in the water after work and keep practising, I'm going to try your tips along with some of the other advice I have read on prior threads.

I suppose old habits are tough to change, especially when your'e an old geyser like myself. Thanks for the advice, any tips at this stage are going to help me improve my skills in the water.

Kiteboarding is all about muscle memory. Once your muscles know how it all feels then it all drops into place and you just do it. All it takes is practice.

Unfortunately the usual method of self-training of ride out, drag in, walk up the beach means that you a) only practice on one side, and b) only get a few minutes of actual riding practice out of an hour session (youre getting a heap of walking up the beach practice which is not such a bad thing.)

The best thing you can do is go for a downwinder and spend the whole time riding in both directions. No walking up the beach. No dragging about.

- Go out in cross-onshore conditions (so you get blown ashore if things go wrong).
- Launch from a beach with a heap of landing options 2-3-4-5-6 km downwind.
- Hopefully team up with others to share a ride back (if you can't get a group think about public transport back, or walking with your gear packed)
- Ride and ride and ride and ride ....

Try first on a skateboard with your "un natural" stance (feels wired at first)
From their it's either cable park or straight onto the kite
Cheers

Shodgan said...

I've been watching a few clips on YouTube, they make it look so effortless and have all the time in the world, when I do it, its a rushed panic and ends up with a face-plant of sorts!! An.

Hey Shodgan, yep, I had the same thing. After the second one, I just wanted to throw my toys out the pram and go home. On reflection, it probably would have helped doing some 'mock' water starts to my right (weaker) side so I could get used to flying the kite this way.

Suggest you give it a go, just practice flying your kite from 11pm down through the wind window (not too deep) but resist pulling on the bar (which you'd normally do to water start). Instead, pilot it back up, reset and try again. This should get you used to launching the kite in the 'wrong direction' and allow you then to focus on body position/feet.

Anyway, good luck. I swear, it will just 'click'.