macboy - 1-7-2010 at 10:56 PM
Second attempt at this whole kiteboarding thing yesterday and had a great evening at it. Properly powered on a V13, got up and running goofy (my
regular) and even managed one return switch. A little wobbly on the switch and slow moving but it all starts somewhere, right?
Here's the big WOO HOO from the session though - near the end the wind notched up and I bit off more than I shoulda on the waterstarts twice. Plucked
from the deep like a show dolphin going for the massive air to touch the hanging ball. Board? Stuck like glue to the water.
Solution - well I figured I'd see what this whole body dragging thing was all about and darn it all - I got back upwind to my board! (Well, I got back
to my board. Upwind/downwind.....who really knows. I know the board was drifting the same direction as me.)
Anyway - happy to have tried and succeeded (didn't want to buy a new board ; ) Sucks that I had to do it twice but hey - it won't be the last time.
Kamikuza - 1-7-2010 at 11:08 PM
Good for you! 
yep, you gotta start somewhere ... and the more you do
it, the easier it gets!
Getting lobbed downwind is all fun and games - so long as it's into the water 
I think it usually means you've dived the kite right into the powerzone & too low or are trying to direct the board too far downwind ... when I
realize I've done that, I push my leading leg out a lot and drop my bum down as much as I can - you shoot off at retarded-fast speed but don't get
catapulted so you get onto the edge and ride it out ... usually You'll get the
finesse down pretty quick though!
Body dragging - super important skill IMHO. Get used to it PDQ and you won't think twice about fetching boards 
Be gentle with the kite, especially when moving it up to or past the zenith - you don't want to waste all your hardwork by having it drag you off down
wind ... although zooming the kite up and sheeting in is great fun :D