Going upwind well and pop.

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Created by

Calvin6m > 9 months ago, 25 Mar 2014

Calvin6m

77 posts

25 Mar 2014 8:33pm

Hey guys
After 2 years of kiting i still find i can't go upwind easily, having a freestyle board with slider fins and vegas kite wouldn't make it any easier i know. Could anyone give me some good tips on going upwind easily as i know some people just do it effortlessly.

And secondly could i have some good tips on how to pop really high?

Thanks
Calvin

pedleym

168 posts

25 Mar 2014 9:10pm

flatten your board off a bit and twist you hips to where you want to go vegas should go up wind just fine

NickT

1094 posts

25 Mar 2014 9:20pm

Take your front hand of the bar also, it opens your shoulders up allowing a better upwind angle.
Trim your kite too, riding powered pulls you downwind faster, there is a happy medium in the middle powered to under powered

cauncy

8407 posts

25 Mar 2014 9:28pm

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NickT said..

Take your front hand of the bar also, it opens your shoulders up allowing a better upwind angle.
Trim your kite too, riding powered pulls you downwind faster, there is a happy medium in the middle powered to under powered

and add the hand in water, brings you around even more, some kites and boards don't get upwing as easy as others though

cauncy

8407 posts

25 Mar 2014 9:37pm

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Calvin6m said..

Hey guys
After 2 years of kiting i still find i can't go upwind easily, having a freestyle board with slider fins and vegas kite wouldn't make it any easier i know. Could anyone give me some good tips on going upwind easily as i know some people just do it effortlessly.

And secondly could i have some good tips on how to pop really high?

Thanks
Calvin

Select to expand quote

adopt this stance, and youll be trucking upwind, but as I mentioned certain kites and boards allow this, a high powered kite like the edge will, most kites ive ridden will but only for a limited time as they stall, needing you to lessen off your edge allowing the kite to recover, in a straight onshore you need to maintain a good stance which is a great training device for staying upwind as youll eat sand if you dont

Calvin6m

77 posts

26 Mar 2014 1:37pm

Yeah, i find i slide along sideways alot when edging hard even on a freeride board. Am i riding to powered do you think?
Had a session yesterday in the stormy weather and i was getting bounced around alot when i edged hard.

Calvin6m

77 posts

26 Mar 2014 1:41pm

You mind me asking where that spot is in the picture, Looks nice
with Flatwater and waves

Fly on da wall

725 posts

26 Mar 2014 5:07pm

Ditch the slider fins.. unless your riding sliders. Get at least 2inch fins.
Try riding a bit powered up.ie a bit of depower trimmed. Being powered
you need too edge,n if you are riding underpowered on a board that you got cheap like I've seen a lot with new kiters getting a great deal

on old stock that shops want to clear out
at your expense, it might be too small... So bigger fins n board n possibly kite,or you struggling just to mow the lawn!

juicerider

790 posts

26 Mar 2014 3:50pm

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Calvin6m said..

Yeah, i find i slide along sideways alot when edging hard even on a freeride board. Am i riding to powered do you think?
Had a session yesterday in the stormy weather and i was getting bounced around alot when i edged hard.

Sounds like you are not edging properly, try to really use the edge of the board, get your kite lower, only just above the water when you are fully powered.
I'm going to give you the complete opposite advice to Brisbud and it is up to you what you do with it.
The fins make no difference at all to going upwind on a twin tip if your technique is sound, you should be using the edge of the board. The fins are only there to help tracking. Try taking two, or if you feel brave all your fins off, and get used to the stance and the way your board feels, this will make sure you weight your front and rear feet correctly. This will also ensure you keep your kite low. Sail like this for several sessions till you are used to it. Now when you can go upwind without any fins, then put your slider fins back in.
Or if this does not work for you, then you can compensate for poor technique with bigger fins.
Let me know how you get on
JR

Fly on da wall

725 posts

26 Mar 2014 8:13pm

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juicerider said..

Calvin6m said..

Give complete oppsite advice.. that's what forum's are for. So people can get independant advice and not what a shop want's to brainwash people with.

I only have about 12ish years experience kiting and your symptom's sound like what I've seen alot of this season. I't's happened since day dot. Too small a kite
and board,aset up for expereienced kiter's,sailor's in solid wind's. Generally learner's are out in moderate wind's and need the equiptment too suit.

But far too often shop's sell them too small a kite so they struggle too get going and small kite's can be very dangerous cause they turn so quick and build
apparent wind very fast when there is enough wind for them,unlike a big kite which is what's required in good learning conditions. Everyone I taught
got going so much easier on a 15m rather than a 11m. No brand name's mentioned as I kite for fun. Not for your cash!

Yeah, i find i slide along sideways alot when edging hard even on a freeride board. Am i riding to powered do you think?

Had a session yesterday in the stormy weather and i was getting bounced around alot when i edged hard.

Sounds like you are not edging properly, try to really use the edge of the board, get your kite lower, only just above the water when you are fully powered.

I'm going to give you the complete opposite advice to Brisbud and it is up to you what you do with it.

The fins make no difference at all to going upwind on a twin tip if your technique is sound, you should be using the edge of the board. The fins are only there to help tracking. Try taking two, or if you feel brave all your fins off, and get used to the stance and the way your board feels, this will make sure you weight your front and rear feet correctly. This will also ensure you keep your kite low. Sail like this for several sessions till you are used to it. Now when you can go upwind without any fins, then put your slider fins back in.

Or if this does not work for you, then you can compensate for poor technique with bigger fins.

Let me know how you get onJR

flyingcab

VIC

942 posts

26 Mar 2014 10:07pm

keep ya front foot straight will improve your style of riding as well... (better than POOO stance)

KiteBud

1606 posts

26 Mar 2014 8:34pm

Calvin, each time I saw you this season you were overpowered which is probably the main reason you're not going upwind well. Remember you are still a very light guy so if bigger guys are looking well powered using 9 or 10m kites you should be on a 6m or 7m.

Good news is your stance is very solid now, you're just going too fast to make any ground upwind and your kite is too low when you're overpowered, try keeping your kite higher, this will help in going upwind easier. Otherwise in general slow down your speed, you won't do better upwind if you go too fast. Also put more weight on the back foot, this will increase your edge angle and avoid the skidding.

Hope this helps,

Chris

Calvin6m

77 posts

26 Mar 2014 11:22pm

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cbulota said..

Calvin, each time I saw you this season you were overpowered which is probably the main reason you're not going upwind well. Remember you are still a very light guy so if bigger guys are looking well powered using 9 or 10m kites you should be on a 6m or 7m.

Good news is your stance is very solid now, you're just going too fast to make any ground upwind and your kite is too low when you're overpowered, try keeping your kite higher, this will help in going upwind easier. Otherwise in general slow down your speed, you won't do better upwind if you go too fast. Also put more weight on the back foot, this will increase your edge angle and avoid the skidding.

Hope this helps,

Chris

Ok Thanks, will give it a go next session.

weebitbreezy

633 posts

28 Mar 2014 12:02am

If it feels like you are getting pulled downwind no matter how hard you edge it could be, (and was in my case when learning) you flying the kite to far into the power zone. If so edge hard to slow down a bit and sheet out a little. Kite should fly further to the edge of the wind window. Adjust trim and truck upwind.

saltydawg

132 posts

28 Mar 2014 1:35am

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weebitbreezy said...
If it feels like you are getting pulled downwind no matter how hard you edge it could be, (and was in my case when learning) you flying the kite to far into the power zone. If so edge hard to slow down a bit and sheet out a little. Kite should fly further to the edge of the wind window. Adjust trim and truck upwind.

May be on to something here find the balance between sheeting out while keeping speed and u should fly upwind.

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