How to kitesurf upwind: 3 tips to better upwind performance

Riding upwind for the first time is EXCITING! Let's talk about the 3 things you can do to improve your Kitesurfing upwind ability! Found this video helpful? You can buy Flukes a beer :) flukeskitesurfing.funnelbundl... In this video we cover, how you can use your speed to get upwind better, how your body posture might be holding you back from rising way upwind and how edge control really works.
Riding upwind Kitesurfing is obviously a must... It's the time that you can finally ride your board around and around in a single spot... Hopefully these tips will help you get there :)
if you are wondering how long it will take to get upwind on your kite, not long, just foloiw the guilines in the video and let us know how you improve!
How to kitesurf upwind: 3 tips to better upwind performance

[@infoanalysis]

this guy is freaking awesome just saved me $300 in lessons No one ever talks about this because it is so subtle that dance between edging and downwinding because those micro movements become so en-grained and intuitive.

[@FlukesKitesurfing]

Awesome, Thanks John!

[@pegas2929]

Hey. I can go upwind with the left leg( i ride snowboard with le left in front/can t do switch yet) but with the right leg i just can t do upwind. I cannot edge thoroughly and i get too much speed and get scared and...boom in the water🤪

[@samgrose9520]

Thanks for these well made, awesome instructional vids!!

[@RichardRobinsonStudio]

Great teaching. Much appreciated.

[@simonjordan2523]

Great vid Luke keep them coming 😀😀

[@Nickesley]

best upwind lesson in all the entire youtube universe, thanks a lot! cant wait to try these, have a good one and all the best from Argentina!

[@FlukesKitesurfing]

Awesome thanks Nickesley!

[@eamonshields2754]

Awesome video !!

[@edmartinez777]

I love watching your videos , they're really helpful Thanks a lot Flukes 🤙🤙🤙🤙

[@justgotravel872]

Today I walked the walk of shame 1,5 kilometres and had to navigate my self through fishiboats, I will try see and practice the 3 tips. So excited.

[@jaysonrobidoux2044]

Once again, solid tips! Finally getting up consistently but stance a wreck per what you said about beginners. Cheers!

[@jethrovanderhilst4432]

Thanks learning a lot from your videos. Keep up the good work.

[@davidfuster6919]

Really love your videos. I'm new to kiteboading and all your explanations helped me a lot. Thank you very much.

[@pichaeee]

Great video. You got a good way to explain and simplify a bit complicated stuff.

[@MrDiabeu]

Great vid!

[@YatiriMamadou]

Yeah... best description of apparent wind that I have heard yet. Thanks for the videos!

[@tf6484]

Thank you! I can already kite upwind but your explanation of apparent wind is a game changer for me! Always thought I had to go faster to gain more ground upwind but now I know better. And that finessing of edge control on the gusts and lulls ...excellent video explanations! Thanks again for a great video!

[@FlukesKitesurfing]

Thanks :)

[@ecfilms9113]

Great tips 🙏

[@multimediadude]

EXCELLENT VIDEO!

[@xaviermaulave1423]

Hello, Thank you again for all the tips..... Your teaching is perfect because you are not only teaching how to do but really clearly explain why and how things work. I love your tutorials, they are revelations! Good wind!

[@willemevenblij4044]

Nice video!! A video of a full session would be nice! To see the little things of how you kite, things nobody is giving tutorials about ;).

[@jonathanpeurach7159]

Excellent explanation of force vectors

[@davidamigos.davidamigosnwa4522]

Amazing video

[@viorelplesa5069]

Bravo fluke..i will try the big upwind in lefkada. Thanks

[@haenagirl1]

you are a very good teacher

[@matthewallain5664]

This is by far the best video for riding upwind on youtube. Taking all this knowledge tonthe beach with me this week. Also, been a fan of all your videos since I got into this last summer and they have truly helped me out SO much! You're a great instructor 👍👍

[@FlukesKitesurfing]

Stoked to hear! Thanks heaps for the comment :) Let us know if there's any skills you'd like to see covered in a video & we'll work it into the schedule. Thanks again & we'll cya in the next one ~Flukes KItesurfing

[@dr_jones]

Really great video! Thanks for doing what you do! Clear and practical. An excellent teacher 🙏

[@tcoe64]

Thanks Luke. Your videos are reaching so many people and helping to advance the sport of Kiting. Well done.

[@FlukesKitesurfing]

Oh thanks Thomas!!! :) I appreciate that mate!

[@philippegagnon5761]

Finally someone that can explain my biggest challenge right now...This make so much sense; slow down. can wait to try the tips you just gave me! thank you so much

[@Karamanoglou]

Great videos. Super helpful! Keep them coming!

[@FlukesKitesurfing]

Thanks, we plan on getting a heap of new videos up soon :)

[@markoloughlin8960]

really amazing videos! thanks for taking the time t do these!!

[@FlukesKitesurfing]

Cheers thanks for the comment :) happy to hear you enjoy the channel. Cya in the next one ~Flukes Kitesurfing

[@donsylvester5275]

Brilliant analysis of how the 'open stance' relates to the front leg as straight. Totally novel take on how those two factors are related and interdependent. You've uncovered a critical point here for kiters that are trying to improve. I think we all get the "micro-movement" thing ... but the open board stance relationship with the correct leg posture is a revelation. EXCELLENT teaching moment!!

[@raghuram2815]

Amazing video like always Luke. So clear in concept and demo. You are too good a teacher.

[@FlukesKitesurfing]

Thanks Raghu!

[@pipsawyer8568]

Great vid reinforces the advice during beginner lessons I had 6 months ago and am now ready to apply. I was impressed with the self rescue overview too. Transitions vid would be good please!

[@RodrigoMartino]

Such a great video! Thank you 🙏🏻

[@FlukesKitesurfing]

Glad it helped mate!

[@musling93]

Best explanation of all the videos on youtube! Thank you so much.

[@leod4315]

Yes Luke Rules, good camera work also, absorbing all his videos

[@erissonism]

you are the best teacher, im down in brazil, learning and watching your videos getting your tips, .

[@xelolath]

Watched the video yesterday. Just got off the water after consistently riding upwind for the first time. The trick for me was really to try to edge really hard after gaining too much speed in order to slow down Great session! Cheers from the Netherlands!

[@mannytuzman3461]

What equipment is appropriate to start...which belt which kite??????

[@whyparkjiminnotridejimin]

​@@mannytuzman3461 First you get experience from kite lessons and later you will try different brands.

[@l3utterfish]

Amazing tip the SLOW one, and perfect demonstration! Two thumbs up!!!

[@Kamiel4444]

Great videos! Helps me a lot in understanding the basics. Someone making some air at 13:08 in the background =)

[@viorelplesa5069]

Nice clips. You give a positive energy. Your video was really helpfull for me, though, in light wind i loose ground. Is there a different techinque? Many thanks

[@markimark82]

best video on topic ever!!!

[@FlukesKitesurfing]

Oh thanks Pawel! I appreciate it mate :)

[@michaelseals1261]

Terrific video, very helpful

[@FlukesKitesurfing]

Glad it was helpful!

[@JarcoPenning]

great teacher!

[@FlukesKitesurfing]

Thanks Jarco!

[@pablomarro4591]

Thanks man for this very clean indications. Very helpful video!!

[@FlukesKitesurfing]

Glad it was helpful!

[@user-dy2qq5wh4b]

Yes you totally make understanding the dynamics of kiting much easier...yod def have a good skill set in teaching/ explaining these things! Solid bro!!

[@FlukesKitesurfing]

Thanks John! Glad it helped mate

[@Felix-kd8tn]

Thank you! These videos are full of info that you've clearly got a grasp on. I'm taking my first lesson soon and having this stuff in my head so it's my second time hearing it when the instructor goes over it will be a big help.

[@FlukesKitesurfing]

Awesome Felix! Let us know how it goes!

[@ahmeddiyaee9263]

Fantastic

[@valeriashirvani9628]

Great tips! Very useful for new bees to kiting like me! Much appreciated!!!!

[@FlukesKitesurfing]

Glad it was helpful :)

[@jorditrevole272]

This is exactly what I need. Thank you teacher!

[@FlukesKitesurfing]

awesome!

[@alvaroviggiano2836]

video muito muito bom, parabéns 💪💪👍✌

[@pitterpit9964]

Thanks Luke for all your efforts helping so many around the globe, like me, at the opposite of downunder :-) Looking forward to our summer months hoping not to forget all your excellant tipps and tricks till then. Best regards from Leverkusen, Germany! Pitter

[@FlukesKitesurfing]

Hey Peter, ha-ha, well you can always come back and revisit. i do that all the time with tricks i am learning :)

[@adrianaseekatz3130]

Thank you for this video!!! Amazing

[@FlukesKitesurfing]

Glad you liked it Adriana :)

[@justice6480]

Thanks!

[@hanspeteraavild6598]

This was awsome. Followed your tips and it worked out great. Now I surf upwind

[@FlukesKitesurfing]

Awesome well done! we're stoked to hear thanks for the comment :) ~Flukes Kitesurfing

[@michielschepers9673]

Thanks just starting

[@simonjordan2523]

Great video

[@FlukesKitesurfing]

Cheers Simon! appreciate the comment mate :) ~Flukes Kitesurfing

[@n3lis94]

Thank you so much mate, I watched this video last night and today I noticed so much improvement. Very clear and to the point explanation!

[@FlukesKitesurfing]

awesome! thanks for letting us know it worked for you :)

[@brunocamille787]

Thanks for this perfect video with explanations and demonstration. Really the best on KZbin about upwind issue for beginners like me.

[@FlukesKitesurfing]

Great to hear! Have fun out there!

[@bevcooper9728]

great video to watch for a newbie!

[@FlukesKitesurfing]

Perfect :)

[@foadysfah]

Thank you mate! I have a long way to go until I manage to do it, but this video helped greatly!!

[@FlukesKitesurfing]

Thanks Lucas, let us know how you go and what points helped you on the water :)

[@mountairymobile3301]

Trying to do a little pre homework awesome Fluke thanks for the tips!!!!

[@FlukesKitesurfing]

Awesome!

[@vl6319]

Thanks mate!

[@FlukesKitesurfing]

Cheers Lohan :) thanks for the comment mate ~Flukes Kitesurfing

[@humbertbrito]

Finally someone really helped me! Haha! "Walk of shame"

[@FlukesKitesurfing]

haha glad you enjoyed! let us know how you :)

[@Splescia82]

Mind Blown! I'm having such a hard time staying upwind in light conditions so I can't wait to try these techniques. Thank you for sharing.

[@FlukesKitesurfing]

Awesome Sara! Lets us know how you progress :)

[@luukdeboer1974]

This is really well explained. Top tier instructor!

[@FlukesKitesurfing]

Perfect !thanks mate

[@fecacs9532]

I can already go upwind, but this video helped a lot to improve my technique, and it will be much easier to teach my son. Thanks!

[@FlukesKitesurfing]

Awesome! Stoked it helped and thanks for letting me know

[@Simmo2005]

Yes definitely makes a big difference , very well explained Luke😊.

[@FlukesKitesurfing]

Awesome thanks Jason!

[@facundolamelas3630]

Ídolo, Master, crack ! Se que no vas a entender nada pero si lo escribo en ingles no queda tan épico. Very Helpfull.

[@RobScott57]

Excellent Clear explanations. I know this will help me implement correctly now that I understand, especially how turning the hips naturally coincides with straightening front leg and bending rear leg to set and control the edge. Thanks!

[@FlukesKitesurfing]

Good stuff Rob! let us know how it goes!

[@dj796]

Great video .. start your own kite surfing school if you have not already .. a natural gifted teacher !

[@FlukesKitesurfing]

Thanks DJ! Maybe one day we will do a physical school, for now we are just focused on the videos :)

[@AP-fl1ln]

Thank you

[@ralucajianu614]

Great tips, very nicely explained, thank you! Will try them soon. It'd be great if you could also do an intro video on turns.

[@FlukesKitesurfing]

Hey Raluca, great thanks for the suggestion :)

[@pabloetchepare7160]

You are THE KITESURFING MASTER INSTRUCTOR !!!!!!. And you are MY BEST KITE BUDDY !. No one is as clear, precise, didactic, fun, easy going AND!, you have THE MOST BEAUTIFUL COMPANION !!!!. Thank for all your help on our Hobby ! Pablo, from Argentina.

[@wadsworthsimon]

Quality video. Keen to try this out ASAP. Only just starting out so any help is much appreciated. One video that I'd like to see is one covering how you know if you have too little, to much or just enough wind. The other day it felt like there was a little too much so we came in but looking back maybe I was just being a wuss! Better safe than sorry though.

[@andydunn5673]

Nice lesson buddy

[@FlukesKitesurfing]

Thanks Andy!

[@Lumaport]

Thank you!

[@FlukesKitesurfing]

for sure :)

[@ronblume3071]

You’re a great teacher Luke. What works for me when thinking of sailing to windward is that we climb up the wind. Keep up the good work 👍

[@FlukesKitesurfing]

Thanks Ron! And thanks for sharing how you picture it yourself, it sounds like you may have some boating experience? That would always help too! :)

[@josephdudeington5573]

Great video. I’m still working on staying upwind. I think these tips will help. 🤙🏼

[@FlukesKitesurfing]

Perfect! Have fun out there

[@fernandopereira7212]

Excellent

[@FlukesKitesurfing]

Thanks

[@toroc]

Luke, I totally respect your kite "feel". You never look at it and are able to keep in the air while talking and explaining quite complex concepts. Awesome tips! I really enjoy your videos :)

[@FlukesKitesurfing]

Thanks Tomasz! Yeah, when you fly them enough its surprising how much feedback you get from the lines so you dont have to look :)

[@dovereesserico7861]

When you went upwind like that you motivated me a lot, I hope to improve up to that point !! 🤯

[@FlukesKitesurfing]

Dovere Esserico nice! Yeah keep at it... it won’t take long

[@dovereesserico7861]

@@FlukesKitesurfing Thank you, sunday i will do a downwinder for the first time, hope i will get it!! 🤟

[@brianbaker6198]

I am loving your videos. Going to La Ventana on the Baja Mexico this winter. I am a newbie with about three hours total flying a kite. Got up a couple of times but didn't straighten my front leg to get board in right direction so only went about ten meters. Can't wait to get back out there. Thanks so much, your videos are a great help. Going to watch them all.

[@FlukesKitesurfing]

Nice one Brian, have fun down there :) We almost came to Baja too this season!

[@flojitos]

Hi Luc. Your tips have helped me go upwind. This video is very clear. I hope we could just see your body position closer when you enter the water. The vector description of the real wind effect is interesting.

[@FlukesKitesurfing]

Great! Stoked to hear it helped you get upwind!

[@eugene7758]

This is one of two videos I managed to go upwind after watching :)

[@FlukesKitesurfing]

woohoo congrats on the upwind session! Thx for the comment :) ~Flukes Kitesurfing

[@sagespalding1958]

What was the other one?

[@MrMatsNL]

I've watched quite a few instructional kitesurfing vids but yours somehow seem to work best for me. Thanks!

[@FlukesKitesurfing]

Prefect! glad to hear it mate and thansk for letting us know

[@andrejternov]

Thank you so much for this brilliant tutorial. No strenuous walking against the wind anymore !!! You made my session :) Regards from Germany

[@FlukesKitesurfing]

Awesome Dimi! Your riding upwind now?

[@andrejternov]

YES !!! Due to your really useful and expecially detailed explanation !!! THX

[@FlukesKitesurfing]

Killer! glad to hear it mate :)

[@Consul99]

Tip 3 is really the most important. I was always focusing on trying to bend one leg and straighten the other but twisting the body is much easier.

[@FlukesKitesurfing]

Nice! Yeah i think a lot of people find that one helpful :)

[@warnerb2006]

Mate I am new to the scene and your tutorials are the best I have watched. I have applied them and they work!

[@FlukesKitesurfing]

Awesome thanks Ben!

[@henningbochenek5449]

Great Video. As an idea: If you could film the actual “bad posture” vs “good posture” with a drone and make a split screen showing them parallel it would be even more outstanding! Just in case you are bored ;)

[@davestybay]

Watched your video again Luke. Your description of apparent wind is gold as is your discussion of other techniques to upwind. 15 degrees C max here today, 18 to 25 knot gusty winds bouncing off a line of sand dunes ... think I might be a bit jealous of the beach location you are doing your tutorial from.

[@FlukesKitesurfing]

Awesome, thanks Dave! and haha, yes the Dominican was great. We are in Canada now and it has actually been an amazing season so far :) Just need to find a place we can film and get some more videos up!

[@davestybay]

My son spent a couple of years in Canada, snow boarding. He kited the lakes in Kelowna BC during the summer. Warm weather but the wind can get a bit tricky around the lakes. Canada is BIG so I'm sure you will find an amazing location to kite. Enjoy.

[@FlukesKitesurfing]

Nice! Yes, some of the lakes here are amazing for kiting in summer. Coincidentally the snow kiting video we made was around Kelowna :) Canada is an amazing country

[@WesleySmith1920]

great video. i'm on lesson 2 (haven't tried the board yet), and these were great fundamentals. Could you do a video that just shows common things a beginner does the first time they try to get up on the board, and how to prevent them?

[@FlukesKitesurfing]

Hey Wesley, for sure, great idea and thanks for the suggestion! Have you tried with a board yet?

[@pitamedrahtesel]

Thank you ...

[@FlukesKitesurfing]

For sure!

[@jsnowbrien]

I used to have a bar with an adjustable stopper that I could slide down to keep the kite as powered as possible. it helped me be able to let go of my front hand and get my body in the best position for edging. it wasn't a full on locked stopper though it would slide up if I pushed it the bar with about 20 lb of pressure. have you ever used an adjustable stopper for going upwind wondering what your thoughts are.

[@xpelcapecod]

Getting into kitesurfing.. Just picked up trainer kite today. Hope to take my first lesson in April and then get gear. Can't wait! Glad I found your channel. Here's a video idea.. "kitesurfing etiquette". I know it can get pretty busy out there. And knowing I'll be the newbie, I don't want to piss people off. Thanks! From Cape Cod!!

[@MarreLirre]

Search for 'Kitesurfing Right of way' and you'll learn some good tips!

[@MarreLirre]

Also, good luck! : )

[@joshwestendorf359]

the "walk of shame" is real, looking forward to improving my upwind riding! Awesome video!

[@FlukesKitesurfing]

hahaha! It does feel very real. Good luck and let me know how you progress!

[@simoncossettini9680]

Good Tips - maybe 1 more tip is do big tacks, some people on my local break tend to mow the lawn and don't do big tacks they tend to stay in same area - this becomes a problem when its a reef break and lots of people want to access some waves. Doing big tacks frees up the wave area gets you in a good spot for getting onto waves as well as give you options for avoiding other riders. It can also help by going past the breaks and into swell to get up wind faster and then pick bigger waves on the way back in. Sharing of the available water- smooth and waves etc and rotating your position/ tacks makes it more enjoyable for everyone. Also if you have more experience and skill then consider giving beginners more space rather than boxing them in.

[@yanloiseau2639]

Excellent video, very didactital. I may be wrong or picky, no problem, i'm ready and glad to be prooved wrong, it will help me progress. The diagram drawn on the sand around 4:00 shows that even when riding very slow, with only 10° of apparent wind shift from true wind, the kiter is loosing 10° on each tack versus a crosswind course. Experience proves that going upwind is possible. The angle between apparent wind and upwind course including drift is for sure less than 30°, depending on board drag and edging efficiency. With a 30 degrees apparent wind shift, it would mean a true course 60° to true wind, and therefore 120° between tacks. This value seams to fit better the observation.

[@FlukesKitesurfing]

Hey Yan, love to see the passion for understanding there mate! and yes, a good kiter might be able to achieve 30 degrees better than the perpendicular to true wind line, while an average kiter might simply be able to just keep up wind (to the same spot on the beach.) effectively making their tack zero degrees while a foil board can achieve above 30 degrees. So it depends greatly on technique and equipment. The diagram in the sand might seem confusing as it only shows the outward tack, and this beach is not perfectly crosswind, its cross onshore meaning that you lose a little down the beach on the way out and gain it on the way in. (This can be seen in the example at the end) so the apparent wind angle shifts to the other side and you can make ground on the way back not shown in the diagram. (dont want to many lines in the sand :) . Hope that all makes sense!

[@duprazsnow9057]

Hello Luke where is that kite Beach spot? Very nice and thanks for all tips

[@FlukesKitesurfing]

Hey, this is Cabarete. Its busy there but fun

[@ramirorathhof1425]

Great video lets see if my brain remembers this when riding 😂

[@FlukesKitesurfing]

hahah... Yes.. That's how I feel about the videos I watch too.. Need a waterproof phone to watch while riding haha.

[@ramirorathhof1425]

HAHAHA true!

[@TeamRomeroJacobs]

Hi! Loved all your videos. Started kiteboarding this summer and i have been loving it. Biggest issue for me is actually going too fast. Any other tips on how to achieve slowing down? My friends are just telling me to point my board higher upwind but i can't really do that. Thanks for all your videos, keep it up

[@Harry-TramAnh]

Don't have you kite too low in the wind window, basically keep it higher to 12pm and don't pull too much on the bar.

[@genou007au]

Hi, great video, I am going to go try this and let you know! Where in Canada do you mostly ride? I am curious has I am now learning in the Carebeans (poor me) but I am canadian... so let me know your favorites spots! Will let you know how it went ;-)

[@GeckoCkCkCk]

Speed can result in better velocity made good (VGM) upwind. The upwind force of the board results from accelerating water downwind. Force is mass times acceleration, the faster you are going, the more acceleration you can impart to the water downwind, and so you won't have to move as much mass at a time. (That means you don't have to dig as big a hole in the water with your kiteboard.) The bigger hole you are digging in the water with the kiteboard, the larger the drag. (Fins work better at high speed too.) The kite high lifting your weight also reduces drag in the water. Sliding the board ahead, so the center of the kite lines cross the board behind the center of the board will contribute going upwind with less drag (shallower hole in the water).