FULL KITE >> Strapless kitesurfing

[Vasilisaytcef]

Hi. I have a question about my board actually ! I just bought a 5'10" board with three fins (20" width, 2"5/8 thickness and 35L volume) and had a freacking hard time the first time I tried it ! It is a surf board but it has exactly the same characteristics as a Slingshot Celeritas but 500$ cheaper ! Is it normal to have such a hard time at the beginning or it is because it's a surf board ? it is the Bic 5'10 Duratec Fish if you want the exact name of the board !

Bonjour, Je viens de m'Acheter une surf board 5'10" avec 3 ailerons (20' largeur, 2"5/8 profondeur et 35L volume). J'ai eu beaucoup beaucoup de difficulté la première fois è monter sur la board et rider. J'ai réussis è rider quelques métres mais j'étais très frustré ! La board est une surf board normalement, mais elle a les memes caractéristique de la slingshot Celeritas !!! exactement les memes mais 500$ moins cher !! Est-ce normal d'avoir atant de difficulté au début ? ou c'est parce que c'est une surfboard ! C'est la Bic 5'10 Duratec Fish pour être précis !!

Merci pour vos conseils !

[jplecruguel]

normalement, c est pas si dure, peu importe le surf.
sand strap, c est encore plus facile (tant qu il y a pas de vagues).

faut pratiquer. par contre, les virages, ca demande bcp de pratique pour pas tomber.

[Denis]

welcome to the forum. I assume your text french is a translation.

it would be good to explain further what the problem is ? what is your level riding strapless normally ?

There should be no problem riding any surf designed for the surf. Normally they make good kitesurf boards except for the fact they are more fragile. Or unless it has too much rocker, and does not accelerate

I doubt it would be the surf. In fact give me anything up to an iron board, and many of us could ride it strapless. I have ridden skim boards, plywood, and it works.

[jplecruguel]

The only thing to understand: the surf does not matter much, even the feet position (not exactly true).

The most important thing is to understand that you have to balance your weight on one side, and the kite (pulling) on the other side. (like a twin tip in fact)
the kite pullling on one side, and your weight pulling on the other side makes it easy to balance (like having a long balance stick for wire walking)

this especially true when taking off the water.

it is not at all like standing/balancing on a surf board (without a kite). (without a kite, balance is very fragile).

Once you have that, and you start to go, then you can pull your weight more above the kite, and the kite more above.


it is very easy to go straight with a surf. try without straps. it is easy, feet position themselves naturally, with micro movements.

surfing, moving, jibing: it is tougher.
when you jibe, you have more balance when you feet are close, and centered on the board. it is easier to make small movements too.

when riding, having good stance, feet apart will help for the front/back balance.

surfing is very intuitive. it is all about balance. within your first sessions you should be able to ride hundred feet at a time.

[Shaka]

Don't be fustraid (strapless isn't easy to learn) take time to handle before getting in "business" isn't the board. Practice & fall & practice & fall.... over & over.... again.
Many people tell... do this do that bla..bla.... but in the end is only U that will going to figured out the best way 2 ride.
Saludos shaka.
ps Take the time to look others riders (strapless) that will going to help you better than " teach read opinions" in kf
Saludos "Shaka"

[FX rider]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bvKgDKzCc-I

[url]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bvKgDKzCc-I[/url]

[Vasilisaytcef]

Hey everyone !
Thanks for your answers ! I really appreciate it ! Merci à toi JP aussi

So finally it was me and not the board ! It is always easier to blame the gear right lol

After 2 first tough sessions on my ego, I figured out my water start and was riding for couple of hundred meters each direction ! I even tried jibing and very surprising I succeeded ! I do it my eyes closed on a twin-tip but it is a different dimension strapless ! But it feels and smells freedom !!

Now every session is a better session, trying switching feet now, tacking and all that kind of stuff. I am more falling than really succeeding but it feels freacking nice to ride and try new things ! Strapless kitesurfing brings the sport to another level ! I even felt kinda awkward trying a twin-tip again !

I am having now my 6th or 7th session, and will never buy a twin-tip again ! And my advice is this :
- Be patient
- It is not the gear
- If you are learning strapless, don't do it in light wind like I did ! It makes it harder to learn the water start since you dont have enough wind to practice keeping the board under your feet while flying the kite at the same time !
- Don't hesitate to try new figures of the fins ! I took out the central fin, I put a shorter central fin. I will post my comments once I am sure about how I like or hate it !
- Go there and practice ! No one can teach you how to ride ! I assume anyone who is switching to strapless is already an intermediare rider, so you can teach yourself ! Just spend time with your board and practice !
- Don't ride it like a twin-tip cuz it is not a twin-tip ! you have to put the pressure on both your feet equally ! Not more in the front, or in the back foot ! equally ! The board will go up-wind automatically !
- It feels awkward at the begining but you have to put enough distance between your feet on the board ! more than on a twin-tip ! If your feet are too close, the nose of the board will go crazy and uncontrolable in choppy water.

And most of all : Have fun !