Before I moved to Australia I was on a 17m Best TS with a big 145 Best Breeze board and was at the point where I could stay upwind but I've now had about 6 hours kiting in your lovely windy country, all of which I've spent heading downwind which is extremely frustrating as you can imagine after thinking I'd had my last walk of shame!

Just out of interest, is the gear I'm riding with now making things a bit more difficult? I'm on a 12m Core Riot XR2 Crossride (2012) and a Caution Redline 142 board. I've had a read on the tides making upwind more difficult but even today when I was out at low tide I struggled and ended up walking. I know I could go for a big door or surfboard but it would be nice to know if I was relying much more on my equipment when I was able to stay upwind

I've put a couple of pics in for if you gurus can tell just by shapes,