I enjoy watching Mitu - the F-one rider showing us weekend warriors what is possible if you have a job that most of us would love !! He actually rides strapped and unstrapped depending on the conditions - and even uses a leg rope occasionally !!
And yes he can change feet while on a wave - WTF ??
So I reckon ride strapped when its needed and ride unstrapped when its right ! This big push to be an unstrapped hero is bollocks ........... just my 2cw
Good work. How did you go?
Just find some quiet, shallow water and learn there.
I spent a frustrating year with a strapped surfboard, before I lightbulb went off and I removed the straps to learn. You feel so much freer.
Don't worry about waves just yet. I never surfed, so just play about on 2ft-high waves, love it, and after a 2hr session don't come in with all my knee and thighs cramped, as I did on a TT.
There is a third option if you don't get on with surfboards. Perhaps you prefer the powered feel of the kite and wave when wave riding? If you are not a surfer searching for the ultimate surfing experience using the kite only to power you back upwind, then you could also consider a mutant. A mutant will give you better wave performance than a TT while still giving you the option of TT style riding.
I got the surfboard rode it for 6 months. Sure it was nice on the wave face. But I hated it for everything else. I hated the limitation of the foam core construction, hated not being able to ride the shallows or the fact that I needed to worry about fins being smashed off on rocks. It didn't boost as well and wasn't as smooth in chop.
So I built myself a mutant. Sure, it doesn't turn as tight on the wave face, It turns tight enough for my style. Plus I enjoy the **** out of it for everything else. I can ride any wave a guy on a surfboard can ride. I'm riding in swell that sends all TT riders for the beaches, Plus when the conditions get real hectic washing machine surf and stupid winds the surfboard riders stop having fun and head into the beach also. I'm left riding by myself on those stupid days enjoying the **** of the conditions.
Site note. I'm not a surfer and have no desire ride a wave like a surfer. I'm a mountain biker and want to ride the waves like my on personal jump park. So jumping is primary for me then followed by a sweet wave ride on the way back in. I want to do that on one board. I don't want swap boards. The mutant give me the grin levels that neither standard TT or SB can give me.
Update on the past week-end
Hi guys and thank you for all your precious suggestions. So, this is what happened last week-end.
Overall I had an average of 18-20 knots Saturday and 15 knots Sunday.
This is what I have achieved so far:
- Water start sucks. It is damn difficult. You have to catch the right momentum, while the board gets dragged downwind with you. Honestly I think that footstraps are just an impediment for a proper water start, so I removed them
- I am goofy and riding left side or right side was just fine. Lovely sensation. Carving is a total different story, I just have to learn how to control kite and carve and not end put with my nose completely upwind
- I also found that it's easier to recover when you loose speed, just point downwind, move a bit the kite in the power zone and as soon as the surfboard starts to plan you are back on track
I still have 2 problems, anyway:
- I had to do 1 body drag and with a surfboard is almost impossible, how do you body drag with a surfboard? You don't?
- Water start is hard as hell, how many sessions will take in order to have a good handle of water start in deep water? 5-6 sessions?
Anyway I can say now that is addictive, for me, coming from surf/SUP/Windsurf the surf board is way more funny than a TT, but I don't like freestyle, so that's why.
If you're struggling getting up on a surfboard, you may find it easier by sending the kite in the opposite direction. Rather than diving it down, send it towards 2 o'clock or 10 o'clock (depending on your heading). Ultimately, you want the kite to lift you onto the board and then send it down to power up. It's also a nice way to easily hop on the board when leaving the beach.
Lose the straps. Riding strapless is actually easier to learn.
Select to expand quoteraffaeu said..
Update on the past week-end
I still have 2 problems, anyway:
- I had to do 1 body drag and with a surfboard is almost impossible, how do you body drag with a surfboard? You don't?
- Water start is hard as hell, how many sessions will take in order to have a good handle of water start in deep water? 5-6 sessions?
Anyway I can say now that is addictive, for me, coming from surf/SUP/Windsurf the surf board is way more funny than a TT, but I don't like freestyle, so that's why.
Hey raffaeu, glad it is all starting to happen for you! Sounds like some solid progress 
When you say 'body drag with a surfboard' do you mean you were trying to body drag while holding the board? Or body drag to the surfboard?
I'm not sure why you would need to do the first one, but the body drag skills should be the same as with a twin tip. If you are trying to body drag with a surfboard then you can plant a hand a bit in front of the middle of the board and body drag with one hand. Not really a skill you need but sometimes something i do to get out of the way of a pounding wave without losing the board.
The strapless water start will certainly help to dial in your kite skills, as there is a bit less room for error. The process becomes automatic, but i'll try and break down what i think i do...
a) bend your legs into a crouch
b) grab the tail of the board with your back hand and pull it under your back foot so your back foot is on the tailpad with your leg still bent.
c) bring your front leg onto the board with a 30 deg or so bend in the leg. If you can't reach the board, straighten out your back leg which will cause the front of the board to swing towards you
d) make sure your back is into the wind same as you would on a TT. twist your body if you need to
e) point the board about 45 degrees downwind by straightening your front leg a bit (you won't need to do this as you get better but start around there)
f) bring the kite to about 11 o'clock (assuming your taking off goofy to the right), and send it to about 1 o'clock while putting weight on your back foot. Unlike a TT you don't need the big punch of speed to get you planing - you are more interested in getting you standing using the kite, then bring it down to 3 o'clock or so to get moving once you are up. key differences - weight is more on the tail than a TT, we are not trying to edge, we are trying to plane. If you get lifted off the board or go over the front, then move the kite a bit slower.
This skill gets significantly easier the faster you can do it. practice on flat water making it a fluid movement, ideally when you fall off the kite you should be able to grab the board as you come off, flick it under your feet and be back up and riding in a couple of seconds. This skill will save your session! Once you start hitting some solid swell, you are generally going to be falling off in the white water, and the next wave is 4-15 seconds behind, ready to pound you. So if it takes you any longer than this to get back on your board, then you are heading for a world of hurt!
If you can, spend a session just focusing on the water start, it is going to save you a lot of time and energy in the long run. If you already have a surf/sup background, then you already know what to do on a wave, spend some time dialing in the waterstart, board retrieval, going upwind and getting over whitewater, and you'll cream it.
once again jack forbes kills it with solid advise. DO WHAT HE SAYS MATE! stay patient, it will come faster then you think
Select to expand quoteAdam'KiteRepair said..
once again jack forbes kills it with solid advise. DO WHAT HE SAYS MATE! stay patient, it will come faster then you think
^^ I like this guy!
Select to expand quoteRobbo2099 said...
Lose the straps. Riding strapless is actually easier to learn.Learning to ride strapless is a snack. It just takes a little practice and within an hour you'll have it nailed. Light wind is best when learning and a kite between 7-10m is best to learn to ride a surfboard.
Yes riding strapless is real easy so that mite be all good n dandy but then comes the jybing part after years n years of kiting and a few years of riding strapless I embarrassing STILL can't jybe.....
Tips?
Select to expand quoteraffaeu said..
Update on the past week-end
Hi guys and thank you for all your precious suggestions. So, this is what happened last week-end.
Overall I had an average of 18-20 knots Saturday and 15 knots Sunday.
This is what I have achieved so far:
- Water start sucks. It is damn difficult. You have to catch the right momentum, while the board gets dragged downwind with you. Honestly I think that footstraps are just an impediment for a proper water start, so I removed them
- I am goofy and riding left side or right side was just fine. Lovely sensation. Carving is a total different story, I just have to learn how to control kite and carve and not end put with my nose completely upwind
- I also found that it's easier to recover when you loose speed, just point downwind, move a bit the kite in the power zone and as soon as the surfboard starts to plan you are back on track
I still have 2 problems, anyway:
- I had to do 1 body drag and with a surfboard is almost impossible, how do you body drag with a surfboard? You don't?
- Water start is hard as hell, how many sessions will take in order to have a good handle of water start in deep water? 5-6 sessions?
Anyway I can say now that is addictive, for me, coming from surf/SUP/Windsurf the surf board is way more funny than a TT, but I don't like freestyle, so that's why.
I chuck the board in the water, send the kite to get a bit of lift and jump on the board
when in water over my head I put my feet on the board send the kite and go go go
maybe practice 1. With your twinny, until you are be able to just jump on and go, shouldn't' take more than 2-5 sessions
2. flip the board so the bottom rail is submerged, put your feet anywhere until you can feel pressure and turn the kite until it pulls you to standing
once you have practised 100+ times, is like riding the proverbial
ps no straps
