Just starting out with a landboard. Find that if I get going too fast, mainly closest to near dead down wind, that the board starts to wobble.

Really new though... was only my first time out. After getting a little balance, turned the board, dropped the kite into the power zone... and went zipping downwind. When going downwind, that's when it started wobbling.

After that... I practiced just getting the board to start slowly downwind, then go back and forth on a beam reach. By the time I was worn out, managed to get a little upwind motion...(not a lot.. but enough that I felt like I was making progress).

IS the wobble where I need to tighten the trucks, or is it more of a balance issue where I need to relax and shift my weight more...?

Using a 3.6 kite. Found a cheap MBS Ambush Warrior to see if I like doing this. Trying to learn to kiteboard, but wind is only good onthe days I can't go to the coast. So thought I'd use the hour or two of daylight and good wind for something else.

Thats called speed wobble and theres not a lot you can do to the Warrior trucks to make it go away. Matrix trucks would help alot. The best thing to do is to not ride downwind. When we teach someone new, riding downwind is a no-no. There are only two instances you should be riding downwind....(1) For a short distance just to get moving and (2) To ride home after you've riden upwind for a good distance.

Rule of thumb is never ride downwind unless you've first riden the same distance upwind. If you are a beginner, your time is best spent learning how to go upwind rather than just being dragged downwind. This is sort of a pet peave of mine. Riding upwind whether on landboard, kiteboard, skis, snowboard, skates, etc. is an essential skill. I've had people ask how to do certain tricks just to find out they can't ride upwind...or barely on a beam reach. When we teach ParskiFLEX, the student does not progress to the next level until they can ski across the lake on a beam reach and return in thier own tracks.

Riding on a beam reach or further upwind will also help with the speed wobble because you'll be riding with some heelside pressure.

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Originally posted by rrc62 . Rule of thumb is never ride downwind unless you've first riden the same distance upwind. If you are a beginner, your time is best spent learning how to go upwind rather than just being dragged downwind. This is sort of a pet peave of mine.

Thanks for the advice. I can see your point on how focusing on the basics at the start is essential. I'll keep playing around for a while, and if I get into it and learn the basics.. then I'll upgrade my gear. Made about 5 degree upwind progress today... not great to some, but a huge improvement for me. Looks like good wind tomorrow...

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Originally posted by Taper123 Thanks for the advice. I can see your point on how focusing on the basics at the start is essential. I'll keep playing around for a while, and if I get into it and learn the basics.. then I'll upgrade my gear. Made about 5 degree upwind progress today... not great to some, but a huge improvement for me. Looks like good wind tomorrow...

Practice, practice, practice....I found a landboard the hardest to go upwind on becasue you have less friction between the wheels and grass. Going upwind on skis is the easiest. If you find that you are carving upwind but the kite still keeps pulling you downwind sideways, try flying the kite higher in the window.

that is good advice from rrc, if you have too much power, fly the kite a little higher in the window. I came from a buggy background, so I was used to dropping the kite about 5 feet above the ground and sliding the power out till I got up to speed. When I first tried snowskis, I was doing the same thing and ended up doing a HUGE downwinder across a frozen lake. Had to walk 3 miles in snowski boots on ice. Lots of blisters!

Good luck!

Sean

To add a little more to rrc62's comment: There is an additional problem with riding downwind that is further contributing to your wobbles.

First let me say that there are 2 kinds of "speed wobble." The first is true speed induced wobbling caused from minor imbalances in the wheels themselves that are accentuated when they begin to rotate at high speed (think of getting your car tires balanced) The second type of wobble is refered to as "overcompensation" or "feedback induced" wobble. This occurs when a small adjustment suddenly throws your center of balance off in the opposite direction which makes you adjust that way, which in turn trows you off slightly in the other direction, and so. This occurs very quickly and can progressively increase in strength until you wipe out.

Now unless you were riding downwind in a 50 knot gale, I can assume that you were experiencing the later.

I see this often with beginners. When you're riding downwind, the resistance and upward pull offered by the kite is at a minimum, and your body weight is placed directly over your board, the same as if you were riding a skateboard or a downhill mountainboard. The problem with this, is that you have to rely entirely on your own balance to maintain control over the board. In a cross wind ride however, Your board is out in front of you, as is the kite, In this position the kite's upward pull and resistance are easily compensating for gravity's urge to pull you back and down. The board simply becomes the pivot point between these two forces. Therefore the board is much less likely to begin wobbling because small adjustments are very unlikely to upset your balance.

Been awhile since I read this forum... I've been keeping after it with the mountainboard, and have gotten comfortable enough on it to be dangerous :evil:

On light wind days, when the schools closed, and the parking lot is deserted (sunday morning is the only time)... pad up and go ripping across the pavement. But the rest of the time, grassy fields and the occasional trip to the beach.

Going upwind on hard packed surfaces is pretty easy now, but softer grassy ones require the kite to be really powered. One day I just need to get a bigger kite!!!

But the advice given here was on the money. TO control wobble, control balance and speed. To slow down, bring the kite higher, or turn upwind some. Get really zooming in one direction, send the kite overhead just right.... and can even get a little boost now and then with my 4.9 Lean back and relax... control the speed and enjoy the ride.

After a couple months of riding the mountain board, made my first time out kiteboarding on the water a breeze.