Just wondering,

What sort of progression steps would people recommend with the aim to be able to ride comfortable on a directional?

I'm just able to ride toeside on my twintip in my preferred direction (regular), but often come to a halt when I drive the nose of the board under some small waves (chop) while trying to stay upwind.

I have no hope of staying upwind when riding on my toeside, so am making a few tacks to get some fair ground upwind then practising toeside back to the starting point.

1. Is there a trick to stay upwind whilst riding toeside, or it's merely the same principle as normal? What progression steps would you recommend toward achieving confidence on toeside? Is there any point focusing on switch riding as well?

2. Would I be better actually getting a directional and practising on that?

3. What's different from a kitesurfing directional board to a normal surfboard? I've seen guys on here mention that some board's struggle staying upwind etc. The reason I ask is the obvious preference would be buy a cheap old banged up surfboard and put some footstraps on it rather then have to spend hundreds on a kite-specific board. Can you improve the boards upwind ability with things like fin setup?Thanks.

Buy one, get out and ride... don't overthink it.

Progression facebook had a link to their tips for learning directionals, nothing you won't figure out yourself.... except tacking.

Select to expand quote

Kamikuza said..
Buy one, get out and ride... don't overthink it.

he probably needs a graph before he gets in the water doesn't he?


#losethestraps.

Just grab an old 6 ft surfboard and work it out, you'll soon learn what works for you.

Yeah might just buy a cheap old board I guess.

Really ditch the straps straight up and learn without them?

My surfboard is wider then normal, mainly because I'm no good at paddling, I assume for kiting, if it's too wide it would be harder to get a good edge?

Dunno abou the surfboard technology... I asked around and went for the recommneded Slingsot Dialer and I like it. The only other directional I've ridden to date is a Niash Bullet and it was horrible... so I'm happy with my purchase Dialer is quite wide, but tapers to a narrow tail... no idea!

I started strapless and found it easy - but I only have lake chop to deal with. It's amazing just how bad foot positioning you can get away, if you're determined enough to keep your balance. I dont think strapless has hindered my learning at all, and I like being able to bail off the board completely. I have straps for it and might use them in the future... if conditons warrant it. I've used the Dialer at a sea beach with 6 foot waves and didn't have any trouble getting out.

... and I'd never surfed til I go the board last July.

Take your wider than average surfboard to the beach and try kite on it. You'll answer most of your questions that way.
Give it a try, nothing to lose

There is a wakeboarding drill on you tube for riding toeside. practice it
You will be riding toe to hunched over not allowing a good edge
From what you have written I assume your still on a twin tip.
Riding a surfboard just needs a little more front foot pressure

Edit:-

The Shinnster is an easy directional to switch to from a twintip because it feels much the same. Just stick a pad on it and use a wide stance.

Like most have already said, just go out and do it. Strapless is not hard and you won't learn to do it unless you take them off. Riding a twin tip is a lot different then a surf board so figuring out toe side on one will not necessarily transfer.

I took 3 ordinary surfboards out recently in onshore chop just to try them out. It was about 18 knt with a 10m kite. I went from biggest to smallest. First one I tried was a 6'6 MR flying fish. fairly wide board. Its an awesome surfboard but was quite nasty with the kite. I thought it was too wide. The next one was a 6'4 epoxy more of a high performance board and was much better. I reckon it was less effort to ride toe side that a twin-tip because you don't have to edge as much. I also tried a 6'0 that was better again but it started getting heel dents so I stopped using it.

Select to expand quote

terminal said..
The Shinnster is an easy directional to switch to from a twintip because it feels much the same. Just stick a pad on it and use a wide stance.

mad kite skills
this ones good too

Select to expand quote

mazdon said..
mad kite skills
this ones good too

The larger Zone looks quite like a 3 fin version of the 2013 Nobile Infinity 5' 7" quad.

Interesting that they have inserts for a hydrofoil - that could be a good selling point for some.

Conor, toeside on a directional is (i think) easier than a TT. you're less likely to diver the nose under the wave (due to relative size).

Next question is: are you going straps or strapless? The latter makes toe side very comfortable as your feet are free to turn towards the direction of the board. Takes a bit to learn to start strapless.... like being a beginner again...

Good luck

Nah, starting strapless is dead easy... so long as the water cooperates.

Been kiting for a year now on a TT and pretty comfortable with it. Just started on a directional for first time (old 6'2" surfboard) and wondering whats the best stance to aim for?

Fooling around in flatish water it seemed that more front foot weight helped ie nearly nearly 50/50 with both knees bent? Am i on the right track since it feels like the poo stance ive been avoiding on the TT?

I found the surfboard pretty bouncy in the chop and pretty damn slow too so im wondering how much better a proper kite board will be on this front?

cheers

hey bara
where are you riding? river?

a heavier, narrower board will typically go better through chop (google surfing tow board). many kite specific directionals for strapped riding will suit you better for this if you just want to blast around and punt occasionally
many "proper" kite boards are going lighter, wider and lower rocker for surfing mushy waves now too though, so you still have to be more specific to the style of riding you want to do when going kite board specific and spending the $$$

i'll assume you haven't put straps on the old banger and are just learning the ropes. try shifting both feet around to forward and off center of the usual spots you are using, try sliding them all over during a long tack, and see if you can find the "sweet" spot for those conditions on the day. my advice is to forget what your stance would be on a wave, and move both feet further forward so that board is more on the plane in general tacks (which is what you are intuitively heading towards by observing more front foot pressure needed).
keep using both legs slightly bent as shock absorbers for the chop, but that doesn't mean you can't lean back in your harness still and avoid the dreaded "poo stance". leaning back will also allow you to apply some lateral pressure with your backfoot towards the fins (my back foot is usually just forward of fins on board if trying to get upwind more - then shift back onto pad if turning onto a wave).

and keep enjoying - the options are pretty limitless.

Thanks Maz some good pointers there!

I'm lucky enough to be riding at "the pond" out my front door which is why I've taken a year to get off the TT - too much damn fun.

No real wave action nearby but the plan is to get into the waves once we move down south later in the year so time to get some basics down so I'm not trying to learn on a heavy sw reefie

From what your saying I reckon i should probably stick with the surfboard for awhile yet. Damn it was sweet getting back on the TT and carving after an hour on the surfboard though.

Thanks

yeah mate, stick with it.
you should be able to fly around in the pond or outside once you are getting your weight right. i probably go faster on my surfboard at times than on TT, but that is probably also because i am usually just loading the TT and trying to line up a ramp haha

some invaluable stuff to be learned on flat water and build confidence for evading whitewaters and close outs once you hit the waves.all the smooth gybes, riding toeside and riding switch functionally, will pay off. don't sweat once you are south though - there is plenty of flattish water inside the reefs at gnarabup when you are down, plus augusta still has some fun onshore mush on the outside to play in if margs main is a bit out of your league to start with (no shame there) . duns/busselton can get good on ENE to NWerlies too without the waves thrown in the mix - variety is the spice of life!

edit: i forgot to ad, secrets is just around the corner for you too - i'd be all over that place if i lived out your way!

I've only been kiting on a TT for a year. Is it too early to go strapless ? I haven't exactly mastered toe side yet...

There's a lot of talk about the Shinnster. Where I kite in Sydney it's very choppy so unsure it's the best place to ride strapless ?

At the end of your regular session, hop on to your SB and ride for 20 - 30 min.
Do this every time ur at the beach and slowly but surely you'll get it.
I focused on learning to jibe so toeside came later for me but i can still make
better upwind by jibing. So I only stay toeside if i'm on a wave.
Put both feet right over your toeside rail, both facing forward, also bring your
back foot up a bit. If you have straps, bring your back foot out of the straps.
Cabrinha have soft straps that are really good cause you can stand on them
and they are soft and not bulky so they don't get in the way.
Hope some of this makes sense for ya.
cheers

2nd session on the SB yesterday and those tips defo helped so thanks again maz. Was going nearly as fast as the TT by the end by focusing on planing the board more. Feet way forward compared to surfing placement. In fact front foot slid off the nose at one point nearly resulting in an unplanned castration. Better get some front foot grip as the wax ain't really cutting it.

Asylum after 2 hours on the SB I'm finding I can ride better toeside than the TT at least on my natural side. Goofy is a very different story but for now I can toe to heelside carve on my natural side and back again so i can get around. Now I guess I need to figure out a gybe but damn that looks tricky.

Select to expand quote

Alysum said..
I've only been kiting on a TT for a year. Is it too early to go strapless ? I haven't exactly mastered toe side yet...

There's a lot of talk about the Shinnster. Where I kite in Sydney it's very choppy so unsure it's the best place to ride strapless ?

Strapless is easy, seriously. Ride the board, don't just stand on it.

Select to expand quote

Bara said..
2nd session on the SB yesterday and those tips defo helped so thanks again maz. Was going nearly as fast as the TT by the end by focusing on planing the board more. Feet way forward compared to surfing placement. In fact front foot slid off the nose at one point nearly resulting in an unplanned castration. Better get some front foot grip as the wax ain't really cutting it.

Asylum after 2 hours on the SB I'm finding I can ride better toeside than the TT at least on my natural side. Goofy is a very different story but for now I can toe to heelside carve on my natural side and back again so i can get around. Now I guess I need to figure out a gybe but damn that looks tricky.

My board has strap holes so I started with putting my feet in the middle then figuring it out from there. Think of foot placement as trimming the board, both front to rear and side to side. What mazdon said...

I can toeside on the directional better than on TT too, and oddly enough I can carve heel to toe on my goofy tack... but can't at all on a TT!

Gybing is easier than it looks... on one level, anyway. Once you got the board and kite coordinated, getting the feet around is almost easy - I found that keeping most your weight on the front foot while switching is the way to go...

Watch some vids, try and memorize the steps then go out and do it!

Thanks for the selection of tips.

Will throw the surfboard on the roof next session,
just need an old banger a bit smaller that will fit in the car.

I think I'll take the suggestion of riding 20-30 mins each session on the SB and slowly build it up. Can't wait

When I first started on a surfboard, a tip I was given was to leave the TT at HOME .......worked for me.

Don't do it when you're tired, you'll get frustrated and hammered and give up too soon.

Cheers I shall try sometime. What size surfboard though to start with ? Any will do ?!

heaps of variables and heaps of choices to make Alysum. mostly depends on how big you are, and also the shape and rocker line of the surfboard.
assuming you are around 5'10" tall and 75-80kg, 5'8 - 5'11 board, maybe a little flatter and a bit more width at nose
but you'll be fine starting on 5'11 up to about 6'3" with a more performance surfboard rocker line probably. just get a banger and get out there!