to go upwind on water in light wind.
(11-16 Knots riding a Charger 15m)

If I can't park and ride and need to sine with a serpentine wake to stay afloat, how unrealistic is it to still head up wind and or to hold my ground?

I think I just need more powered practice... then I'll make the landmarks/ bouys I'm looking at. Whenever I got up on my edge and cut up, I had to be diving into the window, and I killed all my speed if I didn't fall off the wind.

Many thanks to Jake, who picked me up after a long downwinder in Katama Bay. It felt like a victory lap, more than a boat ride of shame.

Tomorrow will be my ninth day with a board on the water.

Light wind technique is not really easy for beginners ... For learning its best to have a bit extra power that keep you riding ....
,,, Keep you kite in upper section of wind window ...except first dive of the kite .... More front foot pressure comparing to normal riding ..... keep you board flatter ... try not to edge ... you should feel that kite is pulling you a bit up and you have only a bit weight on your board ... Don't keep kite fully powered ..... de-power it half way or try find sweet spot so you don't kill power when pulling bar and kite keeps its forward speed .... U use movement of the kite to get power ..... not canopy shape change ..... When water starting point board directly downwind and slowly start turning .... you need to generate as much speed at start as possible .... going upwind will take some time after you start ... kite needs to generate some apparent wind before will let you start edging ... When turning around best is not to stop .... curved transition or air transition ... hope that helps a bit ,,,,

Here is good video with some Tips ...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4HTQTra37QA&list=PL4809B...

all about speed.

action needs to be light , fast and SMOOTH

a standing start helps ...and once you get going don't stop

as you get up to speed add some windward action little at a time, ALL with smooth sine action right in the sweet spot

oh yeah it tedious , and the parts that are not conveyed in instruction is body action.

if you have idea of what "pinching" is in sailing upwind in good wind to give extreme windward ride light air riding has kinda the same feel

your head is forward in the fall but more upright NOT BACK ...so the feeling is falling up wind. finding the narrow balance and net power balance is the secret

in general current, even in break or tide exchange, can kill it, so aim for slack and run hard to punch the break... you have to give up some ground but it gets you out

Thanks for the tips. I will keep that in mind. a little more wind helped. I did 27.5 miles today, had some nice boosts ad my start and finish points were the same:

nice man, keep riding and using a "lighter" style as wind drops, it will help you into less wind.

light, fast and smooth

don't fight it! let the board run and stay on top

deluxe spot !

yea speed is your friend!! you need to go with the kite before you can go against it!