Finally had a weekend to go to the beach, winds were 20+ mph, used twister II 3 meter. If the wind is almost parallel with the shore is it almost impossible to come back to where you started? I would fly down the beach and have a friend help me with the walk of shame. I tried going upwind but I dont think the angle of the wind and my kite size helped much.

I think the keys to going up wind are speed and space. If you don't have enough of either you won't get up wind. So if you are riding on a narrow beach without much room between the ocean and the dune / parking lot, and the wind is blowing down the beach as opposed to from or towards the ocean, it can be very diffiult to hold enough power to build enough speed to allow you to lean back and get upwind of where you are without running out of space and getting stuck holding even at best or moving only downwind of your starting point.

Winds perpendicular to the shore are best for landboarding.

It may be your kite size and beach, but I can get going upwind in cross shore winds. Even with not much wind at all. However, I couldn't when I was learning with my 1.8 beamer, so it very well may be related to your kite.

to beat up wind on side shore breeze, kite needs to high in the window with modest gains per tack. light wind 6-7-8mph are the hardest with less than 15-25yds width to work with. 20 mph should be no problem. board control with the kite high in the window keeps the kite form dragging you down wind . just one pass through the window will result in huge roll down wind .

controlling your speed totally by the action of the kite will make this realization easier for you.

with side shore breeze (straight down the beach and parallel to shore) cross wind riding should be practice , stay in same spot all day, helps workout board control speed control and timing with the kite in transitions as well . well controlled 30 yd runs back and forth.

alot of kite action for power may mean you could use a bit more kite . it will slow the action down and provide more power higher in the window as well.

personally on side shore breeze , i usually work a 1/4 -1/2 mile section which may only be 20 yds wide . get to the top (up wind as far as i want could be 15-20min) then crazy down wind slide, hop, switch and loop jumps which take only a few minutes to return then again and again, and again and again and again and again and again and again (wifes calls) and again and again and again (wife calls) and again and one more time. .....something like that

keep at it!

If is only your second ride , you are doing Great ! to go up wind is not easy for 2 times


I dont know if the Twister is a good to go up wind ...i never fly it , but with that speed wind you will go perfect up wind with an ozone flow 3 .

ikemiester is right

Quote:

Originally posted by Chicagokitejumping I dont know if the Twister is a good to go up wind ...i never fly it

I tried to buggy AND board with my Twister II and upwind leaves a lot to be desired. My Viper on the other hand RIPS upwind