Problem riding a twin after a directional

[Matt V]

I have been having a great time getting to know my my brand new North "Whip 5'-8". I love how a directional gives me the feeling of windsurfing on a tiny windsurf board that does not need 30mph to do something with. I have only slopped through 1 jibe on the North so far.

But when I try to go back to a twin, I sub the nose of the board and face plant really bad. I used to be good on a twin but now it is like I am having to learn it allover again. I am pretty sure that it is because you can really weight the front foot with a directional but you have to do the opposite with a twin. I am even thinking about ditching the twins and only using my directional once I get it out in some high winds.

Any one have similar experiences trying to go back to a twin after using a directional for a while?

[Barry P]

You'll adapt to both styles in no time.

Maybe you'll end up liking one or the other better depending on conditions like most guys. It's good to explore and learn.

Coming from windsurfing, I love how anything works together with anything - just get out there and have fun.

If I don't fall at least a few times in a session, I'm not learning. That's part of the the fun.

You're going to really LOVE full-on jibes. I was always stumbling around on the straps at first, bogging down on the carve - all kinds of problems. The biggest help for me was to just leave the straps off for 6 weeks and just focus on coming through the turn without dropping off a plane. Move your feet from toe-side to heel-side when the kite is sweeping UP after the turn is complete: this is when there is the least weight on the board. Once you are feeling comfortable stepping around and are making 50% of your jibes, put the straps back on. Try down-looping the kite through the turns too. The surge of power is fun and you can step around earlier because the kite is immediately on it's up-stroke.

[johnz]

Great tips, Barry!, very well said.

I agree, there seems to be more flexibility with feet, sequence of events, etc with (the smaller) kiteboard than a windsurfer.

Love it!
- z

[Matt V]

Thanks for the tips! I am going to give the no strap thing a try. I can ride without being in the straps well enough but having the straps out of the way would be nice too. I also would love to try jumping strapless. It sounds like the best thing since windsurfing.

And falling a few times is usually a given around here. Hopefully, tomorrow the wind will be clean here in Omaha.

[Barry P]

Go Big Red!

My wife is from Lincoln. When we go back to visit her family I can usually count on a session or two at Branched Oak. Nebraska makes some pretty good wind.

Where are the kite spots near Omaha?

[Matt V]

We have heard of some unknown kiters around here. Made it through 2 jibes today! Need to get the back foot all the way next to the old front foot for the best success.

Omaha/Lincoln area


Right now with last years flooding damage to the intake at Lake Manawa in Council Bluffs, the water level is low enough to expose some good beach to launch from. Also, the flat that extends out 300yds from the point on the north side of the lake is only waist deep. South and North winds work best but SE is ok on the east side of the peninsula. No extensive flats there though.

Cunningham lake in Omaha is doable but the launches are not that great. Good for a South wind and North wind only.

Further out is Branched Oak and Pawnee in Lincoln but those are early or late season. The Game and Parks puts out the bouys around our swimbeach launches and beach goers make it impossible to launch there when the water is warm.

Central/Western Nebraska

McConaughy has 300yd wide white sand beaches. Most everyone that kites in Denver comes into Nebraska to kite at Mac.
Calamus is similar and 1 hour closer to Omaha. It only has huge beaches starting in August lasting through October. But the wind is always better.

Drop me a line or show up at Manawa next windy day before they fill it again

[Barry P]

Way to go on the Jibes!

Yes, I'd be great to actually kite with some other kiters down there. I just found Manawa on Google Earth. Nice.

My email: ontimesoftware@msn.com Next NE trip is in June, I think.

At Branched Oak I always drive up the point in the center of the lake and launch from there. Works on just about anything except west. I've never had any trouble lunching from there in the warm part of the summer (no beach, but a drift launch works just fine).

[Randy]

I love this thread. It really speaks to some core principles of deepening our riding. The mind/body attaches to what we come to know. We hold that experience and then have to readjust with new conditions/equipment. Moving around on the board with confidence comes from the time spent exploring, as Barry points out. I spent the winter on the California coast and saw most riders preferring a strapless ride for the freedom in moving around on the board without obstruction. Yet, many of them stressed the value in twin tips for certain applications, especially when it's really big. Getting to know a new board after intimacy with our stable ride has been almost as challenging as new human relationships. Again, thanks Barry, for stressing the import of having fun in the experiment, as frustrating and humiliating as it can be. In Zen we call this Beginner's Mind. Personally looking forward to trying a directional kiteboard this summer and eventually getting my jibe down. Congrats on your jibe, Matt.