Side shore wind and waves - What is your kite doing?
Posted: Fri Feb 13, 2009 3:46 pm
Although there is some surf footage out there you rarely get to see what the kite is doing. I’m riding the same size board I would normally paddle surf (6’2” X 18.5) and using the smallest kite possible to get back upwind. My goal is to stay in the pocket of the wave and do a similar bottom turn and off the lip as I would without a kite. The kite gets me into the wave, allows me to pass sections, and ride waves I would normally pass on if I didn’t have a kite. Best of all I can get an amazing amount of waves in a single session.
So here is the question. Wind is side shore and you drop in and pull off a nice off the lip. Setting up for the next one the wind lulls as you pick up board speed and your lines slack as you ride towards the kite. You want to stay in the pocket of the wave but don’t have enough time to whip the kite back.
What would you do????
(Down loop the kite, ride into the flats, wait for the next section, go for it and drop your kite?)
I’m interested to hear about technique not equipment.
Thanks,
Tom
So here is the question. Wind is side shore and you drop in and pull off a nice off the lip. Setting up for the next one the wind lulls as you pick up board speed and your lines slack as you ride towards the kite. You want to stay in the pocket of the wave but don’t have enough time to whip the kite back.
What would you do????
(Down loop the kite, ride into the flats, wait for the next section, go for it and drop your kite?)
I’m interested to hear about technique not equipment.
Thanks,
Tom