question about waterstarts

[uschxc]

should you stick to one direction downwind until you get that then start learning in the other direction (say on an opposite wind day) downwind, or just go as the days come?

[Wetstuff]

I have found that I have a favored tack ..where I can transition and jump more easily. Part of it, I'm sure, is the mental reinforcement of doing what gives you easy pleasure and avoiding what does not.

But, just starting out, the confusion factor is so high that I doubt it will make much difference for you. Practice simply pulling yourself out of the water on an upsweep of the kite ..point the board mostly downwind ...then lean back on the down-sweep of the kite and the board will naturally want to point upwind ...as long as you don't lean too far back.

Practice...Practice...Practice...

j i m

[viktor]

Water starting the kite or water starting to ride?

[Wibbler]

should you stick to one direction downwind until you get that then start learning in the other direction (say on an opposite wind day) downwind, or just go as the days come?

I couldnt go right for an hour in my first session... so I tried left and it suddenly made sense, popped out the water like a cork and rode for 200m with a mile wide grin...
Most people have a favoured side as wetstuff implies (goofy/natural)
Go with it, crack that, then reverse engineer the physics to go in the other direction

Just dont hit anything on the way.

[kiterfreak]

You should practice both way at the same session.

[breathe]

I vote both directions. you'll need to get back to where you started eventually!

[panic]

But, just starting out, the confusion factor is so high that I doubt it will make much difference for you.

Couldn't agree more. When first learning both snowboarding and kiteboarding, I found that I could ride equally well (or more accurately, equally badly) and eventually developed a favored tack as I progressed.

Just think...if you practice in both directions, you'll get better twice as fast....right?

[mathieu leheilleix]

Try both ways,

Make sure to point your board downwind.
Don't pull on the bar when water starting, the kite should lift your body naturally.

good luck