Hi Folks

Need a bit of advice after getting my arse absolutely handed to me while trying to gybe (spelling?) a North LTD 69 2013 race board.

Very humbling experience as I have been kiting for over 10 years and felt like I was back at day one trying to learn to kite all over again. Granted today was only my second day on the damn thing but I did not make a single gybe..... I have been riding a Airush Sector and complete planning gybes almost every single time. These boards are chalk and cheese.

Thought I would upgrade to a dedicated race board and would not have too much difficulty adjusting, how wrong I was. This thing does not like to turn..... Get the board half way around and it rails up on its edge and wants to go straight downwind...

Also, having trouble going downwind, holding a straight reach or upwind tack, no problems at all, but bearing off and this thing is a beast.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

Oh, I have a new found respect for anyone who can ride these well, I had no idea it was that challenging......

check out the videos made by gunner on you tube



he also does vids of normal tacking and roll tacking:

As you are going into the gybe raise your kite to 11, as you start to turn

bring your back foot out of the back strap and put it in the opposite front strap at the same time you need to downloop your kite.old front foot should be towards the back of the board. its crucial you have the new front foot in the strap so you can control the speed of the downloop. ride away then un-twist your lines.

Without downlooping the kite, a gybe is very difficult

Ahh! that brings back memories. This is how I do it, best to start gybe when already heading down wind. Put both feet in front straps and start the turn by loading inside foot. Down loop kite a little after starting the turn. Get your outside foot back when you feel you can. You'll start nailing them after the first 1000.

You need to commit to the gybe.. Going in half arsed and you'll crash..

Thanks for the reply folks. Those videos made a lot of sense and certainly nothing like I was attempting. I will persevere......

Here's one which shows the timing of the kite being down-looped during the gybes.

Thanks again for the tips and videos. Gone from having absolutely no idea to now making around 50% of my gybes, given they are not too smooth but at least getting around. The down looping makes all the difference.