which is the best upwind bodydrag technique to recover the board?

[Archer77]

Hey all!

you have some hints on the argument?

some times I can't reach the board most of all because I lose it in the chop

[longwhitecloud]

You dont have to be able to go upwind body dragging.. just go downwind slower that your board!

Shorter zig zags in line to where you think your board is.

Bury your whole body/ head with arm outstretched and kite super low to the water.

You will get to a stage where u hardly ever need to do this..

In waves while doing this dont turn around to look for your board straight away.. it likes to punch u in the face sometimes to remind you, you are alive Lol

Good luck, sharky spots get you better very quickly, I have ridden where someone got recently eaten and reckon I broke the world body dragging speed record! Maybe going fast is worse :-0

[Havre]

Why would you do shorter? I can see the point in terms of not losing sight of the board, but wouldn't you lose some height every time you turn?

I agree completely on the bury your body. And stretch. I tend to swim when I am just there, but I'm honestly wondering if that is counter-productive - and that staying low and outstretched is better (just can't help myself when I am just within reach ).

As for kite position I have often wondered about this. Would that be the case riding upwind as well? I still haven't figured out the perfect position if you want to go as much upwind as possible (going upwind is not an issue - just if I'm trying to see how far upwind I can go in shortest possible time). Obviously riding speed comes into it as well so I'm not sure if there is a single answer to it, but knowing there is a lot of people on here that know a lot more about this I thought I would ask. There might be a "physics" explanation to it (I'm sure there is).

[tomato]

what helped me- when you fall- do not look for the board by turning back. Just keep body drag in the same direction as fall for 10 seconds, then turn another direction. Normaly you should see your board now or do more zig zag. Or if it just rough chop- get GoJoe.

[longwhitecloud]

Why would you do shorter? I can see the point in terms of not losing sight of the board, but wouldn't you lose some height every time you turn?

I agree completely on the bury your body. And stretch. I tend to swim when I am just there, but I'm honestly wondering if that is counter-productive - and that staying low and outstretched is better (just can't help myself when I am just within reach ).

As for kite position I have often wondered about this. Would that be the case riding upwind as well? I still haven't figured out the perfect position if you want to go as much upwind as possible (going upwind is not an issue - just if I'm trying to see how far upwind I can go in shortest possible time). Obviously riding speed comes into it as well so I'm not sure if there is a single answer to it, but knowing there is a lot of people on here that know a lot more about this I thought I would ask. There might be a "physics" explanation to it (I'm sure there is).

You are right, but the amount of times I go looking for / rescuing boards while people are body dragging no where near them.. I see this a lot... so I think focus on knowing where it is first then go for bigger 'tacks' when u know/ see it.

Good point.. a side arm swim can help.. especially when light.

Upwind bodydragging has always a dumb term used in teaching ( iko coined it I think, lol!)kiteboarding.. kind of sets up beginners to fail as it sounds so difficult.. but like I said you just need to go downwind slower than your board.

[PeaBody]

...Just keep body drag in the same direction as fall for 10 seconds, then turn another direction.

I do this, count 10 seconds, turn, count 10 seconds back. You should be upwind of the board by then and should see it.

[nothing2seehere]

I go towards a different option.

1. Look back after you fall straight away to fix your board position. For me I have a general idea of how far/which direction I have been dragged by the loop of the kite so its easier to spot now rather than later. This works for me even with my hydrofoil which barely floats above the surface of the water (the top of the footstrap is the only bit above the water - I need to get non black straps)
2. Start bodydragging whichever side the kite is. If you flip over a little more onto your back you can maintain a link to where your board is by twisting your head to look behind you a bit.
3. After a while turn around and head back towards your board.

The only time this will fail is if the tide/current is pulling the board away faster than you can body drag. In which case, wear boots.

[pmaggie]

I agree with Nothing2seehere. It's far better, if possibile, to immediately spot your board and go on looking back at it now and then while you're body dragging upwind. Much easier to find it than body dragging first and trying to find the board later.

[Regis-de-giens]

...Just keep body drag in the same direction as fall for 10 seconds, then turn another direction.

I do this, count 10 seconds, turn, count 10 seconds back. You should be upwind of the board by then and should see it.

Yes !!! After having lost my board in the swell, I do the same to keep a mental reference of where should my board be. I just decided to add a trick : i count from 1 to 10, then turn, then from 10 to 0. Then 0 to 10 (without turning), Then turn (or not) and count again 10 to 0.

Hence no need to remember your direction vs the board and you feel like " big brother" when you reach your board exactly to "zero !!!"
Ps: with this methode, you cn count whatever number , 10 or 20, without remember it...

When very light , i swimm directly upwind.

[Whattheflock]

Stretched out like an arrow, as much surface area in water as possible, dont point up wind too high. I'm usually in light winds so keeping the kite higher is safer. If my foilboards ~5ft behind me I'll sometimes just keep the kite high and swim.