Kitesurfing basics - the active rider

[@valeriygerken4213]

Thank you for touching on small details that matters 🤗 If possible, could you maybe make one more video about another small detail - which is typically not highlighted enough ( I watched at least 50+ different kitesurfing tutorial videos and haven't seen enough attention to it ). You mentioned it briefly in this video, but I think the detail deserves its own video. I wasted nearly 8 hours in 3 consecutive days in water when I was trying to learn how to go upwind. (I had nice kite control + snowboarding / wakeboarding experience) And the mistake I was making - was to lean (sit) lower and push more on to the back feet way too early - so before I've got enough speed I was killing the power in kite and I was slowly stopping and sinking. And at some point I got tired from trying to learn going upwind and decided to simply have a bit of fun in last hours. So I went a bit downwind, which obviously gave me a bit more speed / power and then after 200 meters I decided to slow down. But this time instead of breaking I actually started to go upwind. 😁 And during all of those wasted 8 hours the only thing I was missing was a bit more speed to catch the balance between kite drag and resistance provided by the board. 🤦 Update: Actually found your upwind tutorial. You seem to touch it there. 😁 kzbin.info/www/bejne/gWfJpZSYi7OZntU

[@iz5772]

As a very begginer, I already implement both riding styles. My rides are divided to power time (jumps, long stretches of upwind at high speed, edging hard) and relaxed riding g to ease of the stress from the muscles and lower heart rate.

[@EpicGust]

@@iz5772 you less of a beginner than you think! Good for you! 🙌

[@eliassmith8101]

thats exactly what i always tell my students love seeing my students being the only ones riding when all others have too little power while we are out there having fun

[@sheltontian4972]

make sense. I will try it next time when I am on the water. Thanks for the tip.

[@EpicGust]

You got it! Let me know how it goes! ‼️

[@annasaloni7421]

needed one!

[@toppersurfer]

Very interesting. I will think about that in my next session!

[@EpicGust]

Go for it! Let me know after!!

[@joseflipke7957]

Great examples😮

[@EpicGust]

Thanks! 😃

[@nicolasboudet9302]

Thank you! I’ll definitely try! Last session the wind was very light and the current was strong in the same direction of the wind. I tried my best but unfortunately I lost ground at each way…😵‍💫 May be with your advises I would succeeded to move upwind…🤗

[@EpicGust]

@@nicolasboudet9302 this isnt a lightwind technique rather a way to generate power. Under 15 kn this has to be done carefully as it can end up losing speed. Yet once you create enough speed this definitely is the way to go. A few days ago seen some riders in sardegna struggle with this. Onshore wind onshore waves. You still can pick up more speed only downwind. And current is an enemy. But once you have that speed building and you start applying this the power will remain and you can get away from shore. You will understand this if first you try on a place where the currents are less. If you need to move the kite multiple times to get going you can do this each time the kite is in the rising phase.

[@nicolasboudet9302]

@@EpicGust so in very light wind or against current, you suggest to move your kite up and down , alterning flatting board during kite down phase and edging during its way up… Am I right?😎

[@EpicGust]

@@nicolasboudet9302 very light wind is way trickier than i can tell you in one comment what to do. Very light wind requires a different type of edging… 15 knots is not ververy light. Below 12 knots you need to do an edging that is rather a yaw type of edging to keep the board moar flat but twist it towards upwind maximising surface that touches the water and using fins to go upwind.

[@nicolasboudet9302]

@@EpicGust thank you! I must admit that in my case the wind sundenly dropped to only 8kts and with 3kts of adverse current, there was close to nothing. Despite my Soul 15m2, which was still in the air, it was not possible to go upwind with my TT and my skills! Even with body drag, I wasn’t able to regain any ground. Nevertheless I will use your advices for reference in less tricky situations😎

[@EpicGust]

oh mentioning that you have a flysurfer soul - thats actually great! On soft kites this is MUST as you are the one keeping the kite in its shape by leaning in to the lines and not pulling the bar just as much as it is exactly needed. i came from soft kite side way back - and still love it. Yet every time i give my soft to an average rider, thes struggle cos they look for tension not in the body to be created but in the bar. and well hanging on a soft kites bar equals stall! My point is - you might already being mostly active once you have the speed, you can work to have that more, and as you lean more, the kite will shoot so much forward along with you and you can gain so much speed - that it is in the footage with the drone you can see . that was barely 12-13 knots! some light thermal. And the tech works in strong and thats when the fun begins! let me know once you have tried it.

[@maciejnowaczyk6756]

This is very interresting. Could you give me some tips regarding edging and reaching. When I am well powered I go upwind like crazy!!! I want to get more speed instead of going upwind.

[@leapnlarry]

Ive been kiting since 2003, and i had never heard these terms in kiting, i think everyone starts there session in active and at he end of the session they are getting passive, just getting tired. One way to tell if you are active if you are going upwind bettter than the other riders. Larry

[@EpicGust]

@@leapnlarry hey Larry thanks for your input. These are definitely new for many folks, but as the sport grows and we put more effort into understanding beginners mistakes (not the full beginners after waterstart but everyone who cant jump over 5 m on a consistent basis) and the ways these can be learned, these new terms will rise. In teaching this sport these terms helps for more riders to understand the concept, instead of using more vague terms or waiting years tilI they feel it naturally. Let me challenge your belief- just watch the riders on your spot at the next session and see how big of a wave they have after their boards. I think you will surprised that 70-80 % is riding passively most of the time. Missing the advantage that the proper active riding can give to them.

[@KitesurfingBeginner]

Nice tips!

[@EpicGust]

Glad you like them! 🙌

[@stokakrishna]

as always LIKE at the start of the movie

[@larsw.larsen4173]

Thanks🎉😊

[@EpicGust]

Welcome 😊

[@nx9537]

More spray ⚡ More power. Attack Attack

[@nessimlarafa5556]

Have you considered the weight difference perhaps he is heavier than you ?

[@EpicGust]

@@nessimlarafa5556 fair point. In a lesson the instructor picks kite size considering first this. (in fact in our school we ask that when they make a booking with us , before we even meet, we know their weight) He was my weight. Yet once you get going and 15kn is enough for that, a heavier rider can generate more extra force against the kite. If done right, the Weight becomes almost an advantage once they are riding a good speed as it has more inertia- less muscle force needed to be applied.

[@nessimlarafa5556]

@@EpicGustahh got you , my situation is like him exactly i ride upwind but only when i have enough wnd although i activly ride like the video maybe cause i have a small board 127 and i weight 88 kg . So i was wondering is riding efficeint come with time and practise ?

[@axarothfiefa6676]

It does come with practice but are you on a 127 for sure? Are you sure it's not 137? Either way, a bigger board would help you a lot. 141 or whatever. I weigh 92kg and my smallest board is 139. I would need insane wind to be able to ride a 127!

[@EpicGust]

127 ? isnt it a typo? With your body weight, you need like a 145-155 board. That is the game changer for you. That being said - in the video I assume you are on the right gear. Yes, efficiency come over time but in the beginning, you want to make it easier - so have a bigger board. I have a 133-136 as my small board, and a 150 in case it is lighter. I am 75 kg.

[@EpicGust]

You got the point mate! As you get better you will be able to work it down but there are limitations, even to the best gear!

[@freddydad1]

Passive riders always struggle in stronger winds. Their edge control is not strong enough to be able to handle gusts, i kite with a couple of guys, always on too small kite and always look super stiff and uncomfortable.

[@EpicGust]

That's a very good point! This technique is very beneficial as you get better and ride stronger winds. I often ride 7m kites when everybody is on 9- and I can squeeze all the power out of my 7, jumping higher (more control of my edge and takeoff) and having more control. With this, I am not being thrown around by the kit but i am the one thoriwing the kite around :) Also, these riders learn to keep the kite high when feeling powered, making them able to edge even less cos of the lift.

[@IJzzo]

I think I learned to do that over the time. You find out what makes you going faster when the wind is not so strong if you keep trying and trying. The trouble starts for me when wind is too light and I can not do this anymore.

[@EpicGust]

@@IJzzo thats nice achievement! And yes, thats true many kiter who spend enough time on water learning this intuitively. This video is for the rest - and still majority. Very light wind requires to jaw the board upwind instead of digging the heels in. Thats a different topic.

[@IJzzo]

@@EpicGustActually I have learned now something about my riding with your help. As soon as it becomes choppy, I become a passive rider. That does now finally explain to me why I do ride so slow in wave/choppy conditions and why I am riding so fast in low wind, flat water conditions.

[@MrMrmidnight]

Seen you at Stintino last week but was to afraid to ask you some questions… I really like your videos👍🏻 see you on the water🤙🏻

[@EpicGust]

damn! i wish you did! thats hilarious :)) what made you afraid? do i look scary?? :D Super nice spot, I didn't expect that much wind and I was just strolling with the fam, so I skipped kiting. (also i had no gear with me ) There was a guy with a core kite keep trying and failing to get out, and i felt really sorry for him, so I decided to try to give him a tip if he came out next. he literally should have turn to active earlier to be able to keep the power, and he would have make it. thats it. but after 30m i gave up waiting :) it is so hard when i see them, and i want to help, cos not everybody takesa tip wellp in my experienec,e it is thin ice :)

[@kiteaust]

I've been teaching Kitesurfing for 30 years. One of the first instructors on the planet.. it's hard to teach Kitesurfing with just one type of kite and it's so boring

[@EpicGust]

When i read on my mobile that you kiting for 30 years - in my mind i had two questions - wow, you kited before kiting or you must be one of the Wipika brothers! Jokes aside, I wish I could ever get my hand on an auto zenith kite that you use, but this stuff is not accessible anymore. I am all in for interesting stuff, and trying new things out. Thanks for the comment, Alex.