7 steps how to learn directional with ease.
“OMG it must be really difficult. Not for me, it’ s for the big boys.”
No ladies! It may look difficult, but if you are comfortable on your twin- tip, you have mastered toe side and you turning and curving on twin tip with ease. Directional kite surfing is one of your next possible steps.
Switching from a twin tip to a directional board isn’t easy at first, as the position and stance are quite different. BUT from my own experience, we ladies have much better feeling for directional boards as our balance and body flow tent to be naturally better.
So if you are fascinated by kite surfing, don’ t hesitate to jump in.
Kite surfing on a strapless board is one of the most rewarding things you can do, while powered by a kite.
But before you head to the waves you have to first know how to get up on a surf board without straps. Let me share with you few tips and the way how I started.
STEP 1: Borrow a bigger directional board for a day or two
Rent or borrow yourself directional board so you get the idea how it feels. I recommend the size 5’6 or slightly bigger with 20+ volume.
My personal tip: Don’ t go for huge fat low wind boards as some may recommend. This would make the ride slightly easier but the manipulation and water start would be quite difficult and exhausting.
STEP 2: Start of on glass flat water with bigger kite and light wind
Before you hit the waves find yourself flat-water spot where you can learn much faster and smoother.
Some recommend smaller kite and bigger volume board. I personally recommend medium size kite, which is more steady and slower and you can focus more on your new board.
My personal tip: With my weight of 55kg, I would use 10m kite in about light wind* 13-16 knots.
* Avoid complete light wind, even if that could maybe feel safer for you at the beginning. In that case, you will be focusing on keeping kite in the air rather than position of the board and you goanna straggle to learn.
STEP 3: Learn to body drag with the directional
To get out from busy bay or overtake boats at the beach, you batter body drag at the beginning and feel safe than to risk to don’ t have the situation under control.
Even without any straps on, a surfboard is actually quite easy to body drag with once you get the hang of it. You can use the board’s fins to body drag very efficiently. While powering your kite slightly with one hand, rest your other arm on top of your floating board.
With your hand on top push your board perpendicular to your kite lines, pressing down on the rail to make the board edge upwind. The board’s fins will make your board slide upwind, pulling you along. You’ll be surprised how well you can body drag upwind using this simple technique.
STEP 4: Practice water start
My biggest struggle was to keep the board on my feet while water start.
Beware that most people struggle with the water start as there is suddenly so much volume in front on your front foot. If you think about twin tip, you stand in the middle of the board…on a surfboard you stand very much towards the back as the surf board is designed to pivot around the back of the board.
Let’ s do this!
Walk out or body drag until you are in at least knee-deep water.
Place your feet to the board. (The inserts for foot straps give you a hint where to place your feet at the beginning).
3. Apply pressure to your heals as you gently fly the kite back and front on top of the wind window. This will allow the water pressure on the bottom of the board to keep the board against your feet.
4. If you are ready to go, simply dive the kite and point the board slightly down wind.
5. Remember to keep your knees bend as you get up
6. Once you are up, you can apply edge pressure and head up wind.
STEP 5: Get yourself beginner board
Now, you are hooked and in love with the feeling of freedom so it’ s about the time to get your own board on which you can learn and progress.
Get a board with a relatively wide tail and little rocker (flatter shape) for stability, and the ability to be set up with 4 fins (“quatro”) for light winds.
You’ll find such a board much easier to learn to get up and jibe on than a regular shape surfboard. Once you master the water start and upwind riding, you’ll still be able to use the board for having fun in small to medium waves under 4-5 feet.
Wahoo from BIG BLUE Boards is beginner board shaped for ladies who want to learn kite surfing on directional board. Its full top deck and concave shape keeps you on the board and makes your take off and ride super easy.
Thin profile with wider edges allows you to grasp the board firmly even with small hands.
Wahoo is extremely light and has lower volume than light wind boards. Lower volume makes switching feet at the beginning a bit more difficult, but not impossible. On the other hand, the lower volume and small weight makes it easy to handle, manipulate and grasp while jumping. It has great upwind, and lively feel in the surf.
Once you master it, you will feel very confident, as it’s super stable yet still very playful board.
Just for the record, Sistas. You don’ t need any foot straps. As you don’t need side wheels on your bike. Learn strapless from the beginning. Yes, you can! …Later on, on big waves, you may need them, but most probably not.
STEP 6: Practice balance and turns in flat water
Start with practicing jibing (going down wind), curving, toe side riding.
Continue with turns from toe side to front site, switching feet, quick turns.
Practice over and over and over again in the flat water until you nail it.
Once you are able to easily get up on your surfboard from the position in the water, you can start working on hopping on your board to get started.
STEP 7: Ride in small waves and chop
Don’t rush for wavy spots. The more comfortable, balanced and stable you feel in the flat water (specially in turns), the more confident you will be in wavy ocean.
Dare to surf middle size waves – yes, you can!
#kiteboard #kitesurfing #directional #womenskiteboarding #kitesurf #kitesurfboard #kitesurfingwoman #kite #lombok #waveriding #kitingwaves #kiteholiday #BIGBLUE #kiteboarding #bigblueboards #kitetips #board #kiteandtravel #kitefriends #LEARNKITEBOARDING #PROGRESS #womenskiteboarding #kiteboard #womenenterpreneur #womeninbusiness #womenskiteboarding #kitebrandforwomen #BIGBLUEBoard #beauty #beautytips #kitetips #kitegirlbeauty
Comments