How to kitesurf upwind: 3 tips to better upwind performance

Riding upwind Kitesurfing is obviously a must... It's the time that you can finally ride your board around and around in a single spot... Hopefully these tips will help you get there :)

if you are wondering how long it will take to get upwind on your kite, not long, just foloiw the guilines in the video and let us know how you improve!
How to kitesurf upwind: 3 tips to better upwind performance

[pabloetchepare]

You are THE KITESURFING MASTER INSTRUCTOR And you are MY BEST KITE BUDDY !.

No one is as clear, precise, didactic, fun, easy going AND!, you have THE MOST BEAUTIFUL COMPANION !!!!.

Thank for all your help on our Hobby !

Pablo, from Argentina.

[infoanalysis]

this guy is freaking awesome just saved me $300 in lessons
No one ever talks about this because it is so subtle that dance between edging and downwinding because those micro movements become so en-grained and intuitive.

[dj]

Great video .. start your own kite surfing school if you have not already .. a natural gifted teacher !

[xelolath]

Watched the video yesterday. Just got off the water after consistently riding upwind for the first time. The trick for me was really to try to edge really hard after gaining too much speed in order to slow down Great session! Cheers from the Netherlands!

[justgotravel]

Today I walked the walk of shame 1, 5 kilometres and had to navigate my self through fishiboats, I will try see and practice the 3 tips. So excited.

[Nickesley]

best upwind lesson in all the entire youtube universe, thanks a lot! cant wait to try these, have a good one and all the best from Argentina!

[toroc]

Luke, I totally respect your kite "feel". You never look at it and are able to keep in the air while talking and explaining quite complex concepts. Awesome tips! I really enjoy your videos :)

[Consul]

Tip 3 is really the most important. I was always focusing on trying to bend one leg and straighten the other but twisting the body is much easier.

[donsylvester]

Brilliant analysis of how the 'open stance' relates to the front leg as straight. Totally novel take on how those two factors are related and interdependent. You've uncovered a critical point here for kiters that are trying to improve. I think we all get the "micro-movement" thing ... but the open board stance relationship with the correct leg posture is a revelation. EXCELLENT teaching moment!!

[hanspeteraavild]

This was awsome. Followed your tips and it worked out great. Now I surf upwind

[matthewallain]

This is by far the best video for riding upwind on youtube. Taking all this knowledge tonthe beach with me this week. Also, been a fan of all your videos since I got into this last summer and they have truly helped me out SO much! You're a great instructor 👍👍

[tf]

Thank you! I can already kite upwind but your explanation of apparent wind is a game changer for me! Always thought I had to go faster to gain more ground upwind but now I know better. And that finessing of edge control on the gusts and lulls ...excellent video explanations! Thanks again for a great video!

[Felix-kdtn]

Thank you! These videos are full of info that you've clearly got a grasp on. I'm taking my first lesson soon and having this stuff in my head so it's my second time hearing it when the instructor goes over it will be a big help.

[fecacs]

I can already go upwind, but this video helped a lot to improve my technique, and it will be much easier to teach my son. Thanks!

[nlis]

Thank you so much mate, I watched this video last night and today I noticed so much improvement. Very clear and to the point explanation!

[yanloiseau]

Excellent video, very didactital.
I may be wrong or picky, no problem, i'm ready and glad to be prooved wrong, it will help me progress.
The diagram drawn on the sand around 4:00 shows that even when riding very slow, with only 10° of apparent wind shift from true wind, the kiter is loosing 10° on each tack versus a crosswind course. Experience proves that going upwind is possible. The angle between apparent wind and upwind course including drift is for sure less than 30°, depending on board drag and edging efficiency. With a 30 degrees apparent wind shift, it would mean a true course 60° to true wind, and therefore 120° between tacks. This value seams to fit better the observation.

[eugene]

This is one of two videos I managed to go upwind after watching :)

[erissonism]

you are the best teacher, im down in brazil, learning and watching your videos getting your tips, .

[luukdeboer]

This is really well explained. Top tier instructor!

[YatiriMamadou]

Yeah... best description of apparent wind that I have heard yet. Thanks for the videos!