Thanks Greg and Steve
Went out today solely for trying the tack on my small raceboard.
Super gusty wind, but so what...
I actually made it on the very first attempt
BUT, pure luck, as the next maybe 25 I did not succed with much.
Then I managed to do it around in the strap and to a waterstart - that is partly a success in fact.
10-12 times I managed that - but LOTS of faulty attempts in between - where you just got "tossed around and away" ha haa
At the end I made 3 successfull ones without getting "wet" (but still with lots of wipeouts in between)
So now I KNOW it is possible, and I have an idea what works and what does not work - but most of it is simply a delicate timing that has to be practiced over and over till it is in muscle memory
Especially for old folks like me - that learns slowly
Youngsters might just do it regular on their early attempts - I envy that
Important things:
Not too much speed - a gentle glide, but nor too slow so you sink and the tail sinks.
Kite positioning has to be very neutral on top, and dont redirect the kite too early.
And the board has to be turned quite far through.
Apart from that - I can not say WHAT I do wrong and what I do right, when I succeed - eventhough I tried having the back foot very leeward opposed to windward, and having the rear foot far forward opposed to back at the strap, and leaning a lot back in the turn opposed to standing upright and leaning forward against the nose
But there was nothing that seemed to work better by a huge amount - only to get the timing perfect worked - which was not easy, and not "explainable"
It seemed just as impossible as 25 years ago when we learned windsurf 360'ies.
Tried over and over, and seemed impossible - suddenly you managed, but did not fully know why.
And later when learned - it is really easy.
A piece of cake, especially in waves one can make a planing 360 quite easy - WHEN LEARNED in muscle memory and timed right.
Anyway - now I have tried the kite duck tack myself and know how it feels when it works, eventhough my body can not remember a thing yet...
It seems a bit more risky than doing a "regular" tack, in terms of kiteracing - but maybe the good guys can nail them 100% even in rough conditions ? I dont know - but respect to those who can
Havent tried on my waveboard yet - but will try soon.
Peter