OK.
The last two sessions I've managed to avoid the walk of shame and had some really great fun.
Even managed to work my way upwind.
Over my learning period I've had numerous people rescue my board for me.
If I have an opportunity from now on to help someone I will but I need some tips on how to water start and carry a board back to shore.
Ant tips?
cheers ![]()
To be completely honest if your board and kite skills aren't completely up to scratch you're better off just stacking the two boards up and body dragging back as in the long run it will be easier and probably faster than floundering around trying to hold a board and fly a kite. also run the risk of dropping the board onto your own and damaging one or both.
But if you are game just stop near the board, put it on your lap and sit ready to waterstart, pull the bar in for power with one hand and do a fairly agressive steer to get up and running with one hand while holding the board against your body with the other. counter steer to stop the kite crashing then when you're on edge just grab the handle of the board and get into a more comfortable position.
good advice there from Charl.
Best to take his first though. Until you are well competent leave it to someone else unless its an emergency. Wont take you long to get to a stage where a board pick up does not have a potential downside for you.
Till then you can always assist by kiting round the victim to reassure them & indicate where the board is etc.
Better one in strife than 2 of you - for now at least.
Hey Lorgra,
I've done it just a little differently to Charl dv.
Sail up to the board from upwind and crouch just behind it. Grab the board by its handle with your back hand. Twist it so that the palm of your hand is facing away from the board - the back of your hand is touching the board. That means you will be able to make it more stable because thp top of the board will be touching the back of your hand, wrist and forearm. Then grab your bar with both hands and take off as normal.
I find this gives me more control to steer the kite with both hands, even though the hand holding the board is less able to grip the bar tightly.
Anyway, good luck with it. It obviously doesn't woork unless the board you are saving has a handle. If it doesn't, then you need to be able to fly your kite with one hand in the way Charl describes.
www.seabreeze.com.au/forums/Kitesurfing/Newbies-Tips-Tricks/How-to-hold-another-board-in-the-water/
bringing other peoples boards into shore is all i do when im kiting in perth ![]()
Safest and easiest way (with boards with handles) hook your thumbs into the handle, grab the bar with both hands and dive the kite once your going then hold the board one handed or whatever suits you, unless you've practiced diving the kite one handed its pretty difficult the first time especially with a board in your other hand. Has worked for me 5 times at meville..(2 boards recovered over the weekend just gone)
Carrying another board is easy,.
Start off by getting into the usual position for a water start. put other board on your knees and do a regular power stroke.
As you get power you can realease one hand and hold onto 2nd board..Voila
Also consider switching the boards (ride theirs carry yours) if they don't have a handle, it is significantly larger or it's a surfboard etc.
Not saying it's right or wrong, and there are probably some dangers involved, but a good man once came to assist me during a self-rescue by taking my board (and then my kite) by attaching them to a second kite leash that he had on his harness. He got me to put the leash through the footstrap of the board nearest to him and just clip it back onto itself. He then kited with the leading edge of the board being raised out of the water by the leash and basically just dragged it in. (He used same leash to to take my kite in after getting me to disconnect all lines from it.)
I'm not saying that all of us should have a spare leash on our harnesses, but I was mightily grateful that this dude did. The swim back was epic.
Here's what I do but it's not for everyone.
Put the board on your lap while in a sitting position. Kite at 12 o'c.
Dive you kite and control it with your back hand.
Pick up the board with your front hand.
Switch to toeside as you start to move. Control the kite with back hand.
Ride in with the board in your front hand at your side.
I have used this technique before, opposite runaway Bay on the Gold Coast, after strong currents had taken a female kiter's board away from her, while in the middle of the Broadwater.
I barely ever stop for board rescues, instead will do a run or two past too make sure board is lined up nicely then just grab it by handle or foot strap , it's not that hard just slow your speed down a bit hold on with one hand bend your knees and grab. I like to grab it when i'm heading back towards them saves you trying to have to do a turn with one hand.
A little tip with the board on the lap technique that works for me is to have the board upside down so your knees are inbetween the straps. Stops it from sliding off. You can kite in the super-poo stance with it on your knees as much as you need until you have enough power and speed to grab it and kite with one hand.
Suggest getting a Go-Joe, that is a inflatable device that attaches under the handle grip. Bought it from kite shop in Melbourne. Works well, easy to see and recover.
When recovering others boards any of the previous suggestion do the trick, depends what your experience level is and are comfortable with while not compromising your own safety. ![]()
+1 for Coast Flyers method.
Used twice last night.
Seems counter intuitive putting it on top of the bar, but makes it so much easier. Key point - Power up kite - as you can no longer pull bar all the way in.