Not even twelve months ago it was commonly documented that kiteboard racing wasn't really about the gear or the riders, it was all about who fell off executing the most tacks or gybes.

While this is still the case, it's becoming far less common to see racers fall off completely during a tack. Only a year into the first real season of kiteboard racing, the good guys aren't even dropping off the plane as they go around a tack! Now, a fall is considered slumping in the water for a mere second before powering off in the other direction. This reliability is something that all racers strive for, because when you know you're going to make that next tack, you can get on with the rest of the problems on the course.

According to the pro's, it's all about the flick. Getting your weight off the board and flicking the nose around is crucial to making a good tack. Combine that with diving the kite hard, placing your feet in the straps, maintaining board speed and keeping the board flat. An easy way to practice is on a surfboard, because they turn so much faster you can do the tack without worrying about the board so much. 

There are all kinds of theories on the best way to turn the board around, but one thing's for sure, it takes practise!   That's why having a birds eye view of the whole thing can really be handy. Check out this video below which is taken from a GoPro Line Mount, facing down towards the kiter.   It's a great clip which illustrates how to get around on a kite racing board.

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