Can anyone comment on riding the waves / surf board with a bandit?

I have B4s and just got a surf board (North Whip) a year ago. Before I get on the waves, I've been trying it out on the flat waters and I have to say that I struggle. Maybe it's because been using it in light winds (although I have been told it's a light wind machine) or maybe it's not quite the right set up.

Someone said that I should get rid of the footstraps to have more freedom on the board - I will defo try that this year as I struggle to keep an edge going toe side and always drift downwind.

I can imagine that B4s are not the perfect kite for a surf board but they can't be that bad. Other option is that I'm just S**t.

Any other flat water tips? I need some decent riding time on the flat to be able to venture into smaller surf.

Cheerio !

Kuzi, What size board? How Heavy are you? What size kite? What wind strength?

I struggled at the start I had a firewire in light winds and a 14 metre rebel... Then I Took the straps off and went out on my TT and my 10 metre in 18knts. rode that for a bit and jumped on my surfboard. Widened my stance tried to get more of a feel for the board and the fins. Then it clicked.

I have windsurfed and surfed for a while but with a kite it takes practice. The Whip is a great board for learning on. My brother is a snowboarder and surfer and got the twin tip pretty quickly. He absolutely struggled with the surboard... Then I told him to relax and I got out an old skim board... We both took turns doing flips and shuvits and stuff... He relaxed and then I got him on the surfboard and bang of he went...

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Kuzi said...

Can anyone comment on riding the waves / surf board with a bandit?

Someone said that I should get rid of the footstraps to have more freedom on the board - I will defo try that this year as I struggle to keep an edge going toe side and always drift downwind.

I can't comment on the Bandit but what harness do you use?
I changed to a Dynabar on my Dakine harness and it made toe side so much easier. I would thoroughly recommend one to ride surfboards with.
Also try and put most of your weight on your front foot until you have some speed. You may have to place your rear foot forward of the back strap at low speed until planing.

When you start riding a surfboard you need to commit and leave the tiwntip at home for a few sessions. before you ride in light winds you need to get the technique down in normal wind.

for getting upwind keep most of your weight over the front leg and take your rear foot out of the footstrap and in front of the fins

For riding upwind on toe side keep weight over front leg and bend knees more and twist your hips so there parallel to the rail of the board. if you feel really powered just squat down.

you only need your foot in the back strap when riding waves
while learning to ride a directional the kite doesn't really matter.

Are Bandits any good for waves?

Mitu Monterio rides bandits and is one of the best kite surfers on the planet

Yea I've seen Mitu, He's pretty good :)

I have no worries on the twin tips, been killin it lately :) But the Surf board I do struggle. am 95kg, use Whip 5.8 I think and 12 & 10m B4, Use the Flight control Flying Objects harness <- LOVE IT

I used to windsurf and snowboard (do some snow kiting as well) and have figured out that the pressure needs to go on the front foot on the whip - that's why I thought it could be a good idea to take the straps off. I defo lean on the back foot tooooo much ! !

Seems like I need to do exactly what Pedleym said, leave the twin tip home and give the Whip a proper go in stronger winds (It's not going to be easy tho as I just got my Torch/Gambler set :))

I'll also try the other suggestion of using the front strap only.

THANKS ALL

buy a B5 , big difference, then you will never ask that question again

The 4's do pull like trucks

5's were a huge jump up in smooth flying with 25% less diameter in the leading edge and 6's are plush as in comparison to both

Do bears **** in the woods! Speaking from B5 and 6 perspective.

Mike

Bandit 5 or 6 way better for waves.
The four is a good kite but much slower handling.
If your looking for a bandit 5 cheap there are three 11m kites left on the uk eBay Site being cleared by the distributor at £460 each brand new kite only. Hell of a bargain new for the price of second hand!
The 11m in my opinion has the largest usable range. It is an amazing kite!
Most shops still selling the 11m ones at £720!