Kiteforum.com

First first time on one is coming up - scored an ex-demo 2011 Dialer locally for what is a good price... locally.

Answered my own question re. straps or not
viewtopic.php?f=1&t=2377008
I'll be going strapless!

So reading that thread... I've new questions.

"Center of pressure on a board"
What is it, how do I find it and when do I know I've found it?

Ok just one so far

For those NOT having experience with surfboards nor windsurf waveboards, I always advocate to start out strapless.

It is a bit more difficult the very first days, but no biggie.
And when learning to jibe and tack, it is way easier without straps

This is IMO the only way to learn how a surfboard handles and should be ridden, as otherwise you wont learn anything about the most important things, namely weight distribution and how to use the edges
It will also help you get rid of your bad TT habits, as they are useless on a waveboard, and directly wrong, typically opposite

So start out without straps to learn how things work, and to get acquainted with the board


When you get the hang of this, you can move on to the next level, and start using straps - for much more hold and performance and speed and upwind and chop and aerials etc etc.

(or you can keep riding without straps, for those for some odd reason only believing in this...)


But start out without straps, so you dont just "hang on" to the straps and use bad technique inherited from twintips.


This way you will be able to utilize the waveboard to the max, when you start using straps later !

Finally, when you are "Fully Educated", you can also choose to ride both with or without straps, depending on board and conditions, or personal conviction.

And remember - going out in very small waves and a bit sideshore wind is the best for learning

Peter

Peter_Frank wrote:For those NOT having experience with surfboards nor windsurf waveboards, I always advocate to start out strapless.

It is a bit more difficult the very first days, but no biggie.
And when learning to jibe and tack, it is way easier without straps

This is IMO the only way to learn how a surfboard handles and should be ridden, as otherwise you wont learn anything about the most important things, namely weight distribution and how to use the edges
It will also help you get rid of your bad TT habits, as they are useless on a waveboard, and directly wrong, typically opposite

So start out without straps to learn how things work, and to get acquainted with the board


When you get the hang of this, you can move on to the next level, and start using straps - for much more hold and performance and speed and upwind and chop and aerials etc etc.

(or you can keep riding without straps, for those for some odd reason only believing in this...)


But start out without straps, so you dont just "hang on" to the straps and use bad technique inherited from twintips.


This way you will be able to utilize the waveboard to the max, when you start using straps later !

Finally, when you are "Fully Educated", you can also choose to ride both with or without straps, depending on board and conditions, or personal conviction.

And remember - going out in very small waves and a bit sideshore wind is the best for learning

Peter

Peter: For "real" surfers is it just strapless to get the surf feeling when you surf the wave with out to need the speed to do a "spray".

We never gone be on same "wavelenght" about this. But I am a surfer from start and not a windsurfer...

And now off to Hanstholm....

This is not true Hasse, but another "offtopic" discussion

Do we agree that it is best to start without straps, if you are not used to surfboards or similar, or do you think different about this ?

Peter

I agree, start strapless and move your feet to feel the differ positions.

Hint: put the front foot at the most extreme strap connection point (to the nose), put the back foot just before the back strap position, and try to stand up in stead of leaning against the kite (like you do with a twintip).

Have fun!

Center of pressure:
Start with feet in normal stance, one at widest point of board and one on front edge of tail pad (over front fin area)
Move feet toward each other as you ride. When you get them close to each other without falling, they must be at the center of pressure! Or you would fall...

and once you find the Center of Balance ( not pressure) you can ride with one foot in flat water