I have been kiting more in the last two weeks than ever before, which was not much. In order to work out my board skills I started visiting the wake park in Penrith and in Baldivis, so now I am actually kiting and its getting easier. The downside is I like wakeboarding now too.

This last two weeks I feel like I have progressed a huge amount and the kite control is coming together with the board skills.

One thing I was wondering was, am I riding the same as everyone else? I did a lesson in Jan, and the instructor was happy with my riding but said I have a very upright stance. I am sure this is from the wakeboarding as you only really have to edge around the corners and riding flat is more fun in the straights.

When I am going along and someone else is coming the other way and we are getting close, I am happy to turn/throw the kite downwind and ride the board flat. Its fun. Do other people do this?

When I am heading upwind, and I have no problem at all getting upwind, I still enjoy riding the board flat and 'surfing' the swell and chop. I must look like a kook doing it but it seems way more fun sometimes than just carving an edge. Are other people doing this as well and I just can't see them, or should I give up kiting and go wakeboarding?

That last bit is a joke by the way, kiteboarding does nothing to your arms like wakeboarding does and it feels like a walk in the park in comparison.

yes
yes
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Whatever feels good for you do it, everyone's got their "thing" discipline that keeps them stoked, if you're is riding straight at the kite who cares what other people think do that

if you haven't watched the ewan jaspen sea and behold vid yet, this is a great example of powered riding stance, and cross over to cable / wake influence or direct riding - he is obviously ripping and they are advanced moves, but the fundamentals are there.


in general i prefer a slightly wider stance kiting, and sink into it a bit more - ie. hold more power from kite for load and pop/launch - but i agree with quikdraw, it's personal preference and ride whatever feels right for you - who cares what others say when you are cruising along and not hurting anyone else or ruining their day

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littlewing said..
yes
yes
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You missed the last no answer

Plenty of folk I know who would rather ride wake when its not windy and kite when it is. You get the best of the both sports then (wake boarding in the wind is never as good as on a flat calm day)

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weebitbreezy said..

littlewing said..
yes
yes
no

You missed the last no answer

Plenty of folk I know who would rather ride wake when its not windy and kite when it is. You get the best of the both sports then (wake boarding in the wind is never as good as on a flat calm day)

Tell me about it. When I was learning at the cable park at Penrith, you would go there in winter when it was freezing, but the water was dead flat and smooth as anything. There was hardly anyone on the cable at all, so the water would be perfect. Not so fun when you fall into the icy water, but otherwise good.

Also, tripping an edge on a wakeboard is not fun at the cable park wearing boots. Your board stops dead while your body keeps trying to move. At least with footstraps you come out of the board and it doesn't hurt as much.

I agree with the points that people have made, that if I am enjoying myself, what does it matter. It just feels weird, as here I am trying to carve around on the swell and pretty much parking the kite in neutral when I do it, and everyone around me is just going back and forth. Perhaps I am not close enough to see their use of the board?

Even the heading downwind thing seems a bit unusual. I get caught between two kites, and its easier to throw the kite downwind and follow it between the other kites. I just get blown away at how much fun that is as the board is flat and you foot steer it more like a snowboard than anything else. I guess I am kiting in the beginner area, so its probably not common to see people doing that.

Thanks for the comments, as I was worried I was doing something weird. It seems that it doesn't matter either way.

Spot on FN

and your choice of board, ability to ride toeside, preference to ride goofy or natural etc etc will all just keep adding to the fun


best thing about kiting is the variations and not having to just do one thing/mow lawn

keep enjoying!

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FormulaNova said..
I have been kiting more in the last two weeks than ever before, which was not much. In order to work out my board skills I started visiting the wake park in Penrith and in Baldivis, so now I am actually kiting and its getting easier. The downside is I like wakeboarding now too.

This last two weeks I feel like I have progressed a huge amount and the kite control is coming together with the board skills.

One thing I was wondering was, am I riding the same as everyone else? I did a lesson in Jan, and the instructor was happy with my riding but said I have a very upright stance. I am sure this is from the wakeboarding as you only really have to edge around the corners and riding flat is more fun in the straights.

When I am going along and someone else is coming the other way and we are getting close, I am happy to turn/throw the kite downwind and ride the board flat. Its fun. Do other people do this?

When I am heading upwind, and I have no problem at all getting upwind, I still enjoy riding the board flat and 'surfing' the swell and chop. I must look like a kook doing it but it seems way more fun sometimes than just carving an edge. Are other people doing this as well and I just can't see them, or should I give up kiting and go wakeboarding?

That last bit is a joke by the way, kiteboarding does nothing to your arms like wakeboarding does and it feels like a walk in the park in comparison.

I been getting some gains in my arms from kiting, check it out