I please need some help, I did the lessons and know what to do but I struggle to get on the board and going........ I really want to kitesurf this weekend without struggling, I would like some tips please

Dave Whettingsteel said..

If you are still struggling, its probably worth taking some more lessons. Although the money might hurt, its worth it in the long run as it will build your skills and confidence.

Good luck and keep trying, you will get there if you stick at it!

Cheers

Thanks Dave, does the size of the board make a big difference?

Stella101 said..

Dave Whettingsteel said..

If you are still struggling, its probably worth taking some more lessons. Although the money might hurt, its worth it in the long run as it will build your skills and confidence.

Good luck and keep trying, you will get there if you stick at it!

Cheers

Thanks Dave, does the size of the board make a big difference?

When you are at the early learning stages I don't think the board is a big factor, unless you have something rediculously huge or tiny for your body weight. It's really all about learning how to fly the kite, controlling and utilizing its power to get you up and running. As Russ says, check what kite size people of a similar size to you are using as a rough guide as to whether your kite is about right. Learning to assess the wind can be tricky when you are new as well if you don't have a sailing or windsurfing background for example.

If you are learning at Melville, the wind can be lighter close in as well which makes it harder to get up and going. Hope that helps, but persistence is the key. It can be quite daunting at the start, but you soon get past that phase and wonder what all the fuss was about!

When beginning you'll find yourself either going over the top of the board or the board skidding out from under you, stalling is also a common problem as your a tad underpowered , forget board size and break your water start down into 3 stages, doing this keeps you on your board and kite in the sky instead of flailing around trying to relaunch your kite and retrieve your board,
Wade into the water and set yourself and board with kite at 12, just practice small runs of just a couple of meters, returning the kite to 12 and sheeting out will bring you back down into the water and back to you original position , do this outgoing and incoming but remember to give yourself room when incoming it gives you a feeling of what powers required and let's you practice your water starts , your kite needn't go past 10 o'clock or 2 o'clock during this process, this is IMO where quick progression to getting up on the board is made,, when someone's at this stage I'm confident they'll be doing some decent runs after the next stage when teaching them, keep us posted

go on youtube and theres plenty of lessons there. Theres a series called "progression" thats very good that i found benificial. I am at the stage where i can get up on the board and go for a while but i can't edge yet. Can't wait until i can edge. Its all very exciting. I've been learning/practicing for what seems like forever.
Good luck with it.

When your in the water about to get up make sure your in the correct stance already as you would when riding, so back leg bent and also make sure board pointing in a diagonal direction with legs strong.

I remember the key to my starts were diving the kite hard, aim down wind a lil, and as long as I kept my front leg straight and back leg bent a little she was all a goer... but in the end it was a couple friends who did give slight pointers to get me up and going. Always best to get another kiter to critique your stance and tecnique then you will progress quick...

I don't have a problem getting up any more it's just I can't seem to get the kite in the correct position to progress forward
I dive the kite get up and head down wind but I'm not quick enough to position kite and sink again,,, but I won't be beat I will keep trying till it comes natural

eezeegowin said..

geordieboy said..

I don't have a problem getting up any more it's just I can't seem to get the kite in the correct position to progress forward
I dive the kite get up and head down wind but I'm not quick enough to position kite and sink again,,, but I won't be beat I will keep trying till it comes natural

I've had that problem too. I found that I was not diving the kite far enough into the window. If i did I'd faceplant. I found that making sure I had my front foot pointed directly at the kite as it dove down stopped this. I could be as aggressive in my power stroke as I liked and then have enough power to turn cross wind and up wind. I'm a big fella and this has helped me.
Make sure you let the kite out at the bottom of the dive, coz crashing it into the drink is embarrassing

Thank for that I'm prepared to try what it takes looks like we may be able to get out this arvo so I will try that