Posting a few shots of the elusive tacks and jybes of racing. I am certainly no expert and there are many ways to tack and jybe. Feel free to comment and pull apart!
When I tack, I have found it better to leave the kite in the power zone for at least the first half of the tack. You need a lot of power to drive the board up wind. When I tack a surfboard or easy turning board, I find you bring the kite across much earlier than with a raceboard. I first move/inch my rear foot out of the strap and onto the rail and rear as possible. Then drop my weight and drive the board up into the wind. Kite is still in the power zone in the original direction. The board slows and you feel resistance as the fins are now effectively sideways. Against this resistance, then do a little hop with pulling down on the bar. Get the new front foot in and at this stage I just place the rear foot anywhere for balance on the board. Bring kite across agressively and do a powerstroke in opposite direction. Then get back foot in - which surprisingly can be the hardest step.
You make it sound and look so easy.
I must admit that I am really struggling. I can not seem to nail it. Well.... unless it is by accident.
