I bought a strapped surfboard a while back and, well, this **** is hard. I'm a rubbish kiter, no doubt about that. Maybe not rubbish, just new. I've only got a year under my belt and i'm not long on talent. I am competant and comfortable riding in pretty much any spot/conditions. I can do weak ass jumps on the twin tip and ride toeside alright. This surfboard thing is intimidating though and I'd like some help. I know that I'll get this sussed in time but i'd like to try to reduce the learning curve a bit. I know I sound like a tool but I just want to be fully comfortable on the surfboard before we're in the grips of winter again.
Would any shop or individual like to throw a clinic in the metro area? I'm sure there are a few people keen to try a surfboard or who are in the same boat as me. Could be a good opportunity for a shop to show off/sell some gear. It would be cool if one of the site sponsors were keen.
I'm happy to pay for the privilige. I don't expect anyone to teach for free. Post up if you'd be keen to attend and maybe someone will notice. Could be a fun format too with some coaching then a downwinder or something.
*braces for inevitable redthumbs, people calling me a noob, a debate over the legitness of something, and Rowdy telling me he banged my mom or something. Man this place is entertaining.*
Hi,
There are many online video's on the topic gybing a directional kite board. What I did was watch the vids then out on low wind flat water to practise. I didn't worry if I fell off to start with, just turned the board around and sailed back in.It's good to make sure the deck of the board has plenty of progrip or wax.
Here is the link localkitespots.com/vmap.aspx
Good luck!
Guess that this thread would be about Karma.
Hope you´ll find what your looking for, mate.
i will give you a clinic just pm me you will have to come to me ok north of the river
any one welcome
Cheers guys that's great. I'm not fussed about driving so anyone who is available on the next windy day will suit me just fine. I can get down to the river on weekdays after work but I'm happy to drive just about anywhere on the weekend. I usually kite Woodies, Saftey Bay, Melville, or N. Cott/Swanny.
I'll send off a few PMs with my mobile. Just give me a shout when you've got some time and the damn wind turns up again. Anyone else keen to come get some pointers with me?
Cheers
Josh
Wind came in a bit late today but filled in nicely. I had an absolute RIPPER of a session on the surfboard. It's starting to come together. I still can't gybe for **** though. My feet just aren't quick enough to get out of the straps and I can't get the flick right to get it round. At this stage, on a stbd tack I just have to stop, switch feet and head back the other way. It aint cool but it lets me stay upwind.
On a port tack, I can carve around to toeside. It's still a bit sloppy but I can keep going. If I do sink a bit I can do a toeside water start. Again, a bit sloppy, but it'll get better. I can just hold ground riding toeside, not making much upwind. I can see how having the right harness really helps. My ION hummer can slide around a bit and really helps.
Any suggestions on the transitions? Maybe taking one foot out before trying to gybe? When carving to toeside, some times I just end up pointing downwind and bringing the kite over the top, letting the bar out a bit as it passes 12 so I don't get lofted, and try to maintain a consistent edge so i stay powered. Too often still I end up overflying the kite downwind and just sinking uncerimoniously. Can someone walk me through the timing of steering the kite/initiating the turn with the board?
Keen to get together for a downwinder and I can get a few tips.
Select to expand quotepmsl i love the statement so true lol
*braces for inevitable redthumbs, people calling me a noob, a debate over the legitness of something, and Rowdy telling me he banged my mom or something. Man this place is entertaining.*
Try loosening the straps, this may make your gybes easier if you are struggling to get the feet out. When I ride with straps I have them about as loose as they'll go.
You can also take out your back foot and place it in front of the strap to make the transition easier.
It will depend on your kite, but for me I find it easier to just pivot the kite at about 10 o'clock and fly it straight across the window when I want to change tacks. This keeps the speed up carving to toe-side. Shortly after sending the kite you can do your carve and you'll feel it pulling you in the opposite direction. Keep the carve heavy on the back foot so you don't lose too much ground down wind (this is more about keeping behind the kite than losing ground). Where you carve and head downwind the kite will fly too far to the edge of the window and you'll lose power. Then once you've changed tacks, bring the kite up to 11 and gybe.
at least ditch the back strap
maybe get a wide ass board... a 20ish wide will be way more stable and will keep floating at low speeds
you need to relax more and bend the knees
dont go one strap asking for knee problems
Had an epic day Saturday. Did a downwinder from City Beach to Mettams Pool. Unreal day with plenty of wind and swell. It's coming together nicely and I'm hooked. Something as simple as "bend your knees more and relax" was so helpful.
Going to take the straps off and spend a day on flatish water learning to gybe properly.
Peoples suggestions of taking off the straps to learn to gybe are spot on. It makes the job mush easier and you dont have to think so much about what your doing.
In straps it is harder, but not impossible.
Here is how I do it and works pretty good even on a small board.
To start with raise the kite kind of high so you can ride the board flat. Get your front foot nearly out of the strap, just so your toes are in.
Put your back foot up near the front one so your riding with your feet nearly together at the front strap.
Take out the front foot out, turn your body so now its the back foot. As you turn your new front foot should go into the strap.
The key is to not ride with your feet together for too long. With practice you can switch without really leaving them together at all.
Another tip is to keep your back foot out of the strap when your tacking in and out. Leave it just in front of the strap. It levels out the board much better and helps heaps in going up wind. Just put in when your back in near the waves.
Thanks Corey i appreciate the tips. I'll give that a go next time out. If i can get a day that's not as full on as Sunday was, I'll take the straps off and have a go without. I'm working with a shaper mate to do a 5'10", thumbtail with a recessed deck with full length grip as a dedicated strapless board. More as an exercise in shaping than because I need it. I seem to be spending more time on the surfboard than the tt lately. Having so much fun just having short little 2 hit rides on crap little waves.
I had another epic day on the surfboard on Sunday. My carving turns are a lot smoother are feeling pretty stylish. Makes it a lot easier to set up to actually hit the waves I eye up rather than just the ones I happen to end up in front of. Easily making ground upwind toeside now and riding more relaxed so it's easier on the body. Definetly need to work on the gybes to get them right though. I'll try to commit a day on flatter water to try to start to get the technique right.
Loving it. This is great.
Josh
i know this is an old post but i'm in the same boat. Living at brighton and have 'the mutant' from a seabreeze swap. Only just got a chance to try it but now i want to get into the swell.
Just get out and have a crack when the conditions are right. Mellow swell but with plenty of wind so you aren't struggling to ride toeside with ease. You can try and practice in flat water but if you are already really comfortable on the tt you'll be fine.
