Hey guys, Iv got a problem that hopefully some of you guys will be able to give me some tips on to over come it.

Now i can kiteboard going left, with my right foot back because thats my natural stance. I can cut up wind, increase and decrease speed as well as a little bit of a pop off a wave. But when it comes to turning around to come back with my left foot back i just cant seem to do it! its very fustrating.

Iv been coming back toeside because otherwise i cant cant back in. But i want to stop this and learn the proper way! I feel like i just cant get up and going in that direction. Iv almost got it a few times but my board just skips along down wind and i fall over the front.

Is this a common problem.... What things are there to keep in mind to help me progress?

Menox,I think we all had that problem,especially if you come from a surfing,skateboarding background.
Standing the other way around just dosent feel "natural"
When your riding on your good side really look at how your standing,where your weight is on your board ect.Then try and copy that on your "un natural side".
It might seem like you will never get it ,that it just dosent feel natural to stand the other way around,but keep at it and soon you will feel comfortable both ways.
I now find that I can go upwind,jump,backrolls ect better on my un-natural side.Dont know why.
Dont give up.
I did the same as you and rode toe side so I was still on my good side,Now that I have been riding both ways and have been trying to ride toe side I have trouble doing that when before it felt easier than riding on my un-natural side.
Now when Im out there I have to think weather Im on my good side or bad side,,both feel good.

Yep.

I remember thinking 'why does the wind drop every time I want to go right'?

Its as much a mental thing as technique (dons hippy wig), visualize riding with your left foot back, picture it in your mind, the board, your kite, your stance....

It will come with practice mate

Visualize Grasshopper,soon you will be ready.

I have the same prob dude.
I come from a skating and wakeboarding background and I am having trouble.
Have thought of buying a skateboard and just riding goofy when there is no wind to keep the practice up however, not sure if it will help, but can't see it doing any harm.
Just keep at it dude - we will get there.

Its like learning how to get up and riding,going upwind,knowing when to sheet in or not to sheet in ect.One day it just clicks then you wonder why it was so hard.
Keep at it,it wont happen overnight but it will happen.

i am anti-decktrus or howedver you spell it..so its pretty much both the same for me.

try keeping your back leg bent and straighten out your front leg. i had the same problem when i started and this was the only yhting that worked.

lotsowind junglist and kiterzac got it right. both good ideas. keeping the back leg bent allows you to put more weight on the back of the board in case you didn't know. more weight on the back gives lots of control like how you stand on a surf board. you'll get it in no time.

thanks guys, i will deffinately keep at it! I cant wait to confidently ride both ways!!!!!

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menox said...

thanks guys, i will deffinately keep at it! I cant wait to confidently ride both ways!!!!!

Careful someone might take that the wrong way but I hear ya pain mate, one day Ill ride switchfoot well to, one day

Cant say it enough.
Bend that back leg, bone out the front.
Get heel pressure ASAP then lay back at let your harness do some work.

ahahahahaha i put my foot in it there......

Im no standing in my room with my kiteboard on my feet pretending to go switchfoot lol

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menox said...

ahahahahaha i put my foot in it there......

Im no standing in my room with my kiteboard on my feet pretending to go switchfoot lol

I cant laugh.I ve got a rope attached to a high branch of a tree in the back yard.
I run "upwind"(away from tree on an diagonal)till I feel the "kite"(tree)pulling me of the ground and practice backrolls ect.
Have got some bark burn on my face from not stomping one of them and face planted into the tree.He He Ha Ha.How embarresment.Dont tell anyone

Get the weight in your harness and over your back leg a lil more, start off going downwind a lil more, and insted of balancing on the board, use the kite to balance.

Gee it took me ages to get toe side, but switch wasnt an issue for me ( i was a kneelo rider :P )

lol lotofwind, i was thinking of rigg'n up a bar set up out the back yard to practice. Id just have to dodge my 49kg german shepard every 3 seconds.

Macca, iv been out on my new ozone kite dude, it rocks so much better then the waroo..... hopefully ill have this switch foot riding down pat soon and we can have a sesh at the heads!

You are not on your own as most people experienced the same when learning. I certainly did, funny thing is, what was my weak side is now my stronger side.

As others have stated, focus on your stance and with practice it will come naturally.

Lol Menox

100 Posts & you still aint got it

Mr 'T' says ' Fool -get some nuts '

Kite to ' The Right ' ONLY,
Expose your weakness

or keep posting about piss weak legs with boardies over top

Ps eventually (goin right) youll circumnavigate the planet and end up back at your car - Just Do It

Had the same problem ended up going to a cable water ski park and kept trying to go switch till i nailed it.
Good luck mate

Top

>i am anti-decktrus or howedver you spell it..

Was it just me that found that amusing?

Its a rite of passage !
Practice Practice Practice and you WILL get it.

I rode toeside ( to avoid putting my right foot forward) for the first three months when I started kiting......... before the leg pain forced me to confront the issue.

It was really frustrating but after persisting for about half an hour it just clicked !

The answer is your shoulders. In just about any board sport, wherever you point your head and shoulders your body will go.

that goes for going upwind, doing backrolls,blah blah. Stop looking at the kite, turn your shoulders and look upwind, look for your spot to land, etc etc.

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kiteboy dave said...

>i am anti-decktrus or howedver you spell it..

Was it just me that found that amusing?

yup, I did. I think it means he stops taking his dexies before he goes kiting so he can do everything, no holding back.

or he is just ambidextrous...

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harry potter said...

Its a rite of passage !
Practice Practice Practice and you WILL get it.

I rode toeside ( to avoid putting my right foot forward) for the first three months when I started kiting......... before the leg pain forced me to confront the issue.

It was really frustrating but after persisting for about half an hour it just clicked !

Yep, the first time I kited, I did this also.

But nowdays I actually prefer my right foot forward and I'd go further to say that has now become my natural side.

I'm also natural, and very much a beginner - however I haven't had this prob too badly because my local (in an easterly) is pt walter, and I have been forced to take off goofy every time. That bias has helped overcome any mono-directional inclinations.

Not sure where you are Menox, but if you can favour a spot that forces the goofy take off, it will help.