How To Kitesurf In Strong Winds - Kiteboarding Technique Tips

Whether it's too much wind or too little wind kitesurfing can sometimes be a frustrating sport. But as an experienced and knowledgeable kitesurfer, you can increase your ability to deal with varying conditions and ultimately the number of opportunities you have to get out on the water!

This is an exert taken from the Intermediate Location & Conditions video, which is part of the Progression Kiteboarding Intermediate Volume 1 Collection:

The Location & Condition chapter has over 20 minutes of instruction focused on three main areas:
# Riding technique for Lightwinds, including some important theory on apparent wind
# Riding in Strong Winds - 5 key tips for staying in control when you are overpowered
# Coping with Waves - how to get out through breaking waves when the water is rough

As always we give you an in-depth breakdown of every step of the trick, looking at your kite & bar, board & legs, head and shoulder.& out definitive common mistakes section.

See the corresponding blog post which gives further details on the strong wind technique:

[progressionsports]

Sorry only just saw this comment! The full chapter, available on the Intermediate Volume 1 DVD or through the Progression Player iOS app, covers the 4 main areas to focus on when learning to ride over powered.

[johnnykhawand]

With waves, it doesn't work if you put the kite low, you will lose speed because of the water current and eventually stop. Also you don't always have a good grip because of gaps, water is not flat. What i do is keep low constant and controlled speed and use the water current to slow down and stop if need to. Not all spots are vast sandy beaches, you will need to go upwind to start riding safe.

[kulas]

I think holding your kite as low as you do is not perfect either because when kite is that low it will give you lots of speed and will pull you forward as well i think that u should hold your kite at 45 degrees and try to control your speed by edging hard and going as much upwind as possible

[madsteeez]

I just move the kite way up to Zenith slowly, then yank the bar in and then relax in the cosmos and the hope I don't splat on the water like a comet.

[MrPokerRoma]

Tried it on the weekend. Thanks for the tip, it worked fine =)

[randalbladel]

It’s not mentioned here, but of course a smaller board and kite could be in order.

[MrPokerRoma]

I was always putting my kite up to slow down a little, I guess it was wrong :)

[franciscojosetorrespalma]

Hola alguien me puede ayudar cuando navegamos con viento fuerte a cuantos grados o a que hora se debe posicionar el kite ?? Y por que??Gracias

[progressionsports]

Very common mistake, keep the kite low and dig in the board edge :-) Let us know how you get on next times its really windy!

[arjunokecil]

I do not agree with holding the kite lower. When I put it at almost 12 when having speed I keep the same speed or slow down a little without the need to press hard on the edge to keep the board on the water. When keeping the kite lower it has a lot more power thus harder to control