🌊Kitesurfing: the upwind bodydrag tutorial - leave your board leash forever

In this video, I share my own experience with teaching kiteboarding upwind body drag. This is a detailed how-to, with the most common mistakes done while learning upwind body drag, and what to do instead - tutorial, with a final exercise :
SHARKING! Wonder what is that? GO check it out.
You will leave your board leas forever. Or if not, please do it! 😪Takes only 20 minutes of practice!
BONUS - some useful tips for instructors regarding how to teach upwind body drag for those who struggle!
Until then - enjoy the powerzone.
🪁5 loops Friday🪁
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NOTE - you still need lessons if you are a full beginner! Please don't rely on youtube only, or do it at your own risk! Currents, massive waves, and other advanced conditions are not detailed in this video, due to the fact, a beginner should not be in one of those without supervision!
The gear I ride:
Ventum XCITE 7m-9m-11m
bit.ly/ventumkites
Lieuwe shotgun 136x42
bit.ly/lieuwe
Comment if you have to say something!
Share if you feel it is useful to others!
And subscribe for more! ;)
The gear I ride:
Ventum XCITE 7m-9m-11m
bit.ly/ventumkites
Lieuwe shotgun 136x42
bit.ly/epic-lieuwe
If you are new here, welcome to the Epic Gust channel. Everything here is about kitesurfing, tips, lessons, spot reviews, and a whole lot more that relates to kitesurfing and traveling! My name is Zolty and I do kite coaching for 7 years now. I love to do it, and my main goal is to help you to progress, stay safe, or to get you to come and shred with me somewhere around the world.
Keen to have a lesson with me, or you have a kite related question? - drop me a mail [e-mail]
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Web: epicgust.com
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[@EpicGust]

Fancy to have a kitesurf lesson with me? Good times, I give away 100 hours of free kiteboarding lessons! If you join me we will do an amazing progression together! Application link is below! SHARE IT, maybe someone will need it more than you, sharing is caring, help them find this opportunity! AND if YOU want to get into this then don't hesitate to contact me! Details, and application on the link: bit.ly/freekitelesson

[@Showmetheevidence-]

The last part is great… except in Rougher seas it’s so hard to do while the waves are also pushing you around 😊

[@ral1004]

You're videos are incredibly, everything what was told during my lessons now make sense. Even learning more watching you're videos than with the lessons

[@EpicGust]

Made my day! Thanks!

[@Showmetheevidence-]

2 years later… it’s helping me too 😊

[@kst157]

Epic and SO useful! Watched it twice as a bunch of really useful advice we often forget in the panic when our board has disappeared…🪂

[@EpicGust]

Thanks KST!

[@flaviosanguigni8783]

Great checklist!! Thanks.

[@EpicGust]

You are welcome 🤗

[@wingsurfcamp8240]

I was teaching in Hatteras 20+ years ago and told a newbie that his leash was dangerous. He insisted that he needed it, I told him he needed to learn how to body drag upwind more than he needed a hole in his head. But he wouldn't listen. I asked if he had a helmet, and he said he forgot it. Long story short, his very first water start, in shallow water, resulted in a high speed face plant followed by the board doing a tombstone - then slingshotted into his skull. Plenty of blood and needing stitches, I advised him to get medical repairs before getting his skull infected, but again, he thought he knew better and went riding (still using his leash)

[@dannyschreier455]

Finally a new Video! Keep up the good work! Cheers

[@timhossfeld7260]

YEAH ! Glad you are back. Loved your previous videos.

[@amookalyptica]

Keep the vids coming and stay EPIC! ;)

[@Robertaqqq]

Awesome tips

[@barrymonteiro8893]

Excellent edit!

[@EpicGust]

Thanks Barry ! :)

[@georgeskassir6117]

Good Job!

[@EpicGust]

thank you 🤘

[@alessandroguasti5779]

Great stuff!! You Should do a video on riding upwind!!!

[@EpicGust]

It is in the making! :))

[@jonam3265]

Nice video! I see also that some boards has a device called Go-joe (Ocean rodeo). I think It could be very usefull in general , what do you think about It? Thank you.

[@kitc7086]

Damn, I just got back from Italy. I wish I knew you were in Como as I would have stopped by for some lessons; looks epic for development there. Keep up the good work, glad to see a new video. Is that a watch (red wrist band) you're wearing in the video?

[@EpicGust]

Next time, there will be always one! Brasil and Mexico for the winter in case you wonder! The red watch is a MOB - man over board system that kills the engine in case I am clumsy and ending up in the water. Great tool, safe, and no wires!

[@przemyslavpiotrovski]

NO !!! I mean YES :) - 7 minutes is not enough to start excellent morning with coffee ;) A big thanks for contact to Seb - Ventum in NL. Bought 2 kites with all equipment, got contact to Yoda master sensei kite in NL and all that because of you !- seriously. I got into this amazing sport because of you and only few minutes of your video so if you want me to continue (and other sharks) you need to do more that 7 minutes and upload video once per week a minimum ;) Big shark !!!

[@EpicGust]

It is a crazy feeling for me just doing random videos and receiving such comment! So glad you tried and got hooked! enjoy the journey and the power zone of course 😁😁 and thanks for the weekly push. I will do my best!

[@xfelipepereira]

Awesome video and great tips! I noticed that you are using a Lieuwe board. Is that the shotgun? If yes, can you pls share your experience so far in comparison to other boards? Many thanks.

[@EpicGust]

mate i cant. it would be so biased. basicically that would be your last board. i am stunned with the beauty, the pop is crazy, and everyone, really everyone who just tries cos any reason are coming back to me to ask where to get one. Eats chop for breakfast. Pops like a god. And lands smoooooth. of course you better have some kite control. but i love it a lot. i had a rogue first, sold it to a friend who still shreds on it, no delam no nothing. this i have now it is the shotgun. absolutely your last board. so if you keen to buy boards every year as the new colors are out it is def not for you. but... :) i maybe do a review, just for the sake of the joke. :D one of the best products in kitesurfing industry. and the pads- i went for the basic ones, back in time was only that available. they look really basic. yet everyone who tried my boards telling me how comfy they are. and those folks riding duotone, cabrinha or fone boards. just nutz. hope that helps. i guarantee you will love it.

[@xfelipepereira]

@@EpicGust Hi Mate! I just bought one. lol. It will be awesome if you could make a tech/ride review about this board. thanks a lot and will be waiting for the next video. Cheers!

[@xfelipepereira]

@@EpicGust Are you ridding the 138/42 size? Looks sick!

[@EpicGust]

@@xfelipepereira yes i am :) it is sickkkk :)

[@samueltwaites5517]

Quick question regarding body dragging. What do you do with the board. To clarify I can body drag and am getting better at riding upwind but for where I live to get beyond knee deep water takes ages so I try to drag out to save energy. But I'm finding dragging upwind with a board hard. Any tips

[@EpicGust]

this video is rathe about how to make it easier to recover the board by understanding the main principle of bdragging upwind. if you asking how to do it with the board easier - my best tip is to make the board one with your body. some peeps using their hands to hold the handle and push the board away, instead, pul the board under your body, and let the kite pull stick it to you, after than basically you make sure your angle is OK and no effort needed. hope that helps :)

[@AsaadBugis]

you are amazin, Where is this location?

[@EpicGust]

Thanks! - Lake Como Italy! drop me a message if you coming!

[@gilleslehmann6143]

It's always more easy in Como lake 😉

[@EpicGust]

hahah thats a good one! You can even drink from it! :)) are you coming this season??