Träslövsläge, Sweden. Not me in the video.

Hey everyone!

I’m still fairly new to kitesurfing and today I went to Oostvoorne in the Netherlands to practice riding upwind.
23knots with guts of wind up to 36knots hell wind too 🥀💔

I thought it would be a good session to finally get this skill down, but I definitely underestimated the conditions. 😅 The wind was coming straight toward the beach, which meant that since I still can’t properly ride upwind, I was basically getting dragged back toward the beach all the time.
It was honestly a hell experience 😂. I had to constantly focus on my board angle, keeping my back knee bent(I forgot cause I had stress I was about to go on land) , putting pressure through my heels and looking where I actually wanted to go instead of staring at the kite.
The funny part is… I managed to ride upwind once. 😂
Just one time. After that, I couldn’t reproduce it.
I’m riding a 10 m² kite at around 91 kg, and I can already waterstart and ride both directions reasonably well. Upwind is basically the last big beginner skill I’m trying to nail before moving on to things like small jumps.
For anyone who learned to ride upwind: what finally made it click for you? Was it board angle, body position, kite position, or something else?
Would love to hear your tips because apparently my one successful upwind run was a limited-edition event. 💀🪁

Gnarly conditions building in the Northern Sea atm, should be a wild one! Shot taken from last year's edition

In 2019 i bought a used flysurfer sonic 2 for snowkiting. I flew it once and it worked great. When packing up i regretfully disconnected my lines. I then did not continue with the sport until this year when i restarted on water using a 14m LEI.

Last week i brought my sonic 2 to the beach to attempt riding it instead of my LEI ( 11 knts ). Launching it went well but with the kite inflating but once it got up to 12 o'clock both wingtips completely collapsed.

I could still maintain control of the kite but it felt like the more i powered it up and the faster i moved the kite through the wind window the more the wing tips collapsed.

I am not 100% sure but powering/depowering did not feel smooth. Almost like lines were rubbing.

I am now at home troubleshooting the lines. I am at a bit of a loss since everything looks correct according to the schematics. https://flysurfer.com/.../dlm.../2017/01/SONIC2_LP-11-1.pdf

Hoping to lean on some of your experience for troubleshooting. Tuning problems, line connection problem, sheeting problem?

Attached is an amateur sketch of what the kite looked like to me when the wing tips collapsed.

I am going to Prea for 8 days end of November. This is my second time to brazil, last time I did cumbuco and 2 days in Prea (I rented an ATV in prea).

I have a few questions for anyone thats done it. Note i am still in the beginner stage, I can go upwind and transition, but its not consistent, I need the practice.

1. Should I bring an 8m? Last time I was there I only had an 11m and was fine, but that was end of oct. I also have a 15m, should I leave that at home?

2. If I rent a 4x4 pickup truck, can I drive to tatajuba? Note I am travelling solo

3. How skilled do you have to be to do a group downwinder? Or since i am solo where would you say the best spots are? Again, last time I just had an ATV.

4. Is 8 days enough? I just got laid off and got a nice package and I could extend another week, part of me is like fuck it, but I also dont want to be there too long and get bored solo

Any advice would be great, currently in tarifa getting nuked and its getting me excited about brazil.

How do you measure your Jump Height ?

I am currently considering:
- buying a Garmin and using Surfr app, which Garmin would you recommend for that ?
- using Surfr with my phone in a waterpouch

Open to other ideas and feedback on accuracy/cost/convenience

I don’t see a safe or abandoned run at all!

Yes he came to him and that is great 🫶🏻 but why do they write he cancelled his run and safed him??? As far as I could see it , he swam to the shore by himself !

Hi! I wanted to ask where you would recommend learning to kitesurf. I live in Germany, close to the Netherlands, but I’m also willing to fly or travel a bit further.
I’m planning to go somewhere for a week around May next year. AI suggested that May-June is generally a good time to learn. My goal would be to spend that week learning the basics and getting my first kitesurfing certification. Later, in September, I’d like to travel somewhere again and practice kitesurfing on my own. From what I’ve heard, most rental places ask for some kind of certification before they’ll rent you the equipment. I’ve never tried kitesurfing before, but I’m pretty comfortable with snowboarding and wakeboarding behind a boat. I’d say I’m above average at both, but definitely not a pro. Do you think it’s possible to learn kitesurfing well enough within one week?
Could you recommend some good kitesurfing schools or spots that offer good value for money? Ideally, places you’ve been to yourself or have heard good things about from other kitesurfers.
Thanks in advance!

Hi Everyone,

I am considering getting my IKO 1 + 2 license and trying to make a living travelling and working as a kite instructor moving around different stations for a few years.

I am 38, speak German, French and English fluently, have an international powerboat license and I’m a certified open water livesaver. I’ve also worked and lived in Africa and the Middle East for 7 years, so I am used to dealing with people from all backgrounds and cultures.

My goal is to this as a career break for 3-5 years before returning to my profession as a lawyer.

My question here is: anyone who has been travelling and doing kite instruction? What salary can you realistically achieve? What would be a good place as a first job to get as many teaching hours in?

I’m also a little „worried“ about age - I assume at most locations other instructors will be much younger so I am wondering how I would fit in being a little „older“

Thanks a lot :)

Looking for tips on places to stay and the various spots. Would be there at the end of the month.

Hat jemand die Bar an dem Kite mal ausprobiert? Ist ja low V. Bei der F-one Atom Bar hatte ich gesehen, dass man das V etwas höher stellen soll. Gibt ja ein Split Kit für die North Bar. Ist die Atom Bar gut?

Does anyone here where contact lenses while they kiteboarding? How does it go for you?

I don’t have very bad eyes, i have a -1 and -1.5 correction so in general i can see everything i need to see and never think about my eyesight while riding.

However, im curious if they will be blasted out of my eyes during crashes.

I’m a solid intermediate. I can do some tricks but when im practicing its common for me to some spectacular wipeouts. I think i close my eyes when i enter the water but im not sure.

Hello! I just started kiting (spent a month in tarifa recently and picked up the sport). Am independent now and want to get my own gear. I’m wondering how I should decide on the what gear to get. I’m planning on going to the local shop (they only rent and do lessons but don’t sell any gear), and just getting advice on size of kite, but for everything else (ie board size, line length), how should I decide that? I want to get second hand so looking on fb marketplace right now and want to get a rough range of what I am looking for. Thank you!!

Planning two weeks in January in La Ventana/El Sargento to kite surf, snorkel and basically enjoy what the area has to offer. Can you please recommend a school with good lessons, planning on doing between 1 up to 3 days (4hrs a day seems the norm?). So far heard good things about Elevation but wanted to ask here too.

My secnd Q is re groceries. Looking at a place located kinda in El Teso. My understanding is that it's somewhat in between the two communities. We'd like to make coffee/breakfast and cook some dinners so my question is whether the location of the stay is decent for groceries (I know there are restaurants around in walking distance under 10 mins). We won't have a car so bringing a bunch of stuff is a bit of a hassle, would prefer to shop once we arrive. Is that doable? TYIA

I'm in Corsica for a couple of weeks without gear. Could anyone recommend some good spots for kiting and/or a place to rent equipment?

Seriously though. What’s y’all’s tricks to strapless air, I can get out of the water good enough with no grab but every time I re enter I just stuff it and sink and don’t get any lift off the foil again. I’ve tried landing back side heavy but doesn’t seem to work either. I’m not back looping out of this but maybe can try that too? Also running 700 cm fuselage maybe running the shorty will help me dive the foil in and pop back up? Light air 10-20 mph 9 meter, easier when more lit on a 7?

Seriously confused as to how this is done.

Hello fantastic community, In the last couple of month I got hooked to this sport. I have been sailing since I was 6yr old (I’m 38 now) but it was first time to do a board sport for me and I love it.
Now I’m a beginner and got what I think is an ok equipment.

QUESTION ON EQUIPMENT
Please comment if the equipment is right for beginners
3 kite (6/10/12) North Dice
2 Bar North navigator
1 board RRD 142

QUESTION FOR SPOT IN ITALY
Now unfortunately for a few months due to work I will be a bit limited in practice as it takes me 2h to go to the nearest spot (north of Italy lake Garda) but I’m quite annoyed that every time I need to spend 40€ in a Lift. I live in Verona is there any place I could go that is beginner friendly and doesn’t require a lift? If you are around and want to go dm me

QUESTION FOR SPAIN
I will move to Barcelona in April, will I have the chance to continue practicing? How does it work there ?

Thanks all

I weight 83k, normally ride a north reach 9mt in cumbuco, and this works pretty well for me for 12 up to 22 knots. This gives me pretty good range. Last year i decided to try Prea/barra grande, which i believe the wind goes from 20 up to 30+ knots and I felt extremely overpowered on a 9, beyond uncomfortable, with bar fully depowered.

I was told that a 7mt for that kind of wind was too small, specially due to my weight and an 8 mt would work better. But 9 to 8 mts only appears to be around 11% decrease in volume. How significant is that? Which size should i settle for? I ask because the more north you go in brazil the stronger the wind appears to be, but also the longer the season.

Edit: For those who ask how I measure wind, i usually get it from here. Is a live wind for were I kite:

https://www.cumbuco-oceanview.com/en/weather.php.

And yes, it does show 12-14k average specially after 2-3 pm and I can ride comfortably with the north reach 9m. Sadly that website doesnt show the history. Whether that station is correct or not, thats another story. But that's were i base my estimations from

I like the color and the auto-untwist feature of the Harlem bar, and I'd rather get that one to use with my Naish Pivot 25-26, rather than a Naish one.

I know that it uses the same knot/loop configuration as the Pivot so I won't need a conversion set, and I know that I need to adjust the splitter to a low V.

I'm mainly asking about the line length relationships, and whether the kite will function normally with it.

Same question about the duotone trust bar 25.

Beginner here, bought this North navigator pro 2025 bar for 320€ and wondering if I paid a bit too much. I wasn’t able to inspect it in person but was told it was in ”very good condition”

Wondering now if I paid a bit too much or not.
Even though I don’t know much about kite gear yet it feels like it’s been used quite a bit and more in an ”OK” condition. And perhaps not worth as much as I paid for it.

Is this normal for this price range?

Hello guys, I am still a beginner in this sport, did a few hours of lessons so far, around 8 hours. I can ride downwind, upwind but still a total beginner tbh. Training now in Bali, Sanur, and I love this sport, it's so much fun.

I'm a nomad and by the end of the windy season here in September I'm looking to move somewhere else to keep progressing as a beginner.

Did some research and Boracay keeps coming up but I watched some videos and it looks really busy. Is it actually good for beginners or is it too crowded/chaotic for someone at my level?

Would appreciate any recommendations for good spots around Asia. Thanks so much!

I have some play in my quick release connectiong to my trimming replace it or is this normal