Can't get upwind on an...Ozone Edge!

[yuko]

Ok guys, I really need help on this one.
Some background on me, 175lb, intermediate, rode mostly directional in light stuff but love to go out on a TT when conditions are right.
Got myself a 17M Edge 2013 after demoing it for few times, chose between Turbine, Flight and Zephyr, had in mind to ride it mostly with my Sector so racy nature of the Edge seemed like a good decision.
Problem I'm having is that I'm trying to combine medium light wind sessions of 8-12knts, mostly flat, on a Sector with some light wind freestyle on a twintip of mine - Supershinn 135-41, the problem I'm having is that even though it seems like I have enough power, one stroke is enough to get going, I simply CANT go upwind, at least I have to try very hard to gain some ground, and it's like, once I got to my launch point, I can't seem to gain anything at all, it's probably psychological .
I spoke to one local rider here, and he came with a theory that the Edge runs on apparent wind at higher upwind angle than my twintip, it's like they have too much difference in their upwind ability thus one kills the other or something like. One day, I had a chance to swap my SS for a Monk for a few times and the slight upwind gain was there but minimal.
I remmeber demoing this same kite back on a one week kitetrip, I once took it out in light stuff on a medium twin tip and I remmeber I struggled the same way, I could ride, do backrolls, jump and carve but gaining some ground was very difficult, at that time I did not pay too much attention to it though as I was mostly considering it for directional use. But now I wish to do both and just don'T know what piece of equipement I should swap.

Any of you have any idea of what might be wrong? (I know it's probably me )

So far I see two possible solutions to it, getting a bigger twintip (Glide, KingGee) or getting a Turbine instead.

[jyka]

I have 17m 2012 best TS, and it goes upwind great with 48x154cm door. But when I take my smaller board, cabrinha caliber 41x133cm it is hard to get to upwind.
If the wind is stronger and I use a smaller kite and it pulls about the same like with 17m, I can go upwind easily.
I think a big kite and small freestyle board isn't a good combination

[Laughingman]

I've also never had any luck with a big kite and any board that I would not consider a light wind board, which is why my biggest kite is a 13m. If I have to use a light wind board with a big kite I may as well use a smaller kite with the same board. Big kites suck imho...

[Tone]

Depower the kite.

once you're up and going on a fast board you don't need all the downwind grunt.

Depower a little and report back.

[Hawaiis]

Depower the kite.

once you're up and going on a fast board you don't need all the downwind grunt.

Depower a little and report back.

+1, also put the power of the kite in the harness, not pull in on the bar.

[bay surfer]

Get some a sheet of 1/2 inch AC ply and cut 2 doors out of it make one hourglass and the other straight see what you like best, Screw the fins they ruin the fun, fins make the board suck to the water and make it hard to jump, and are not needed.
Let the kite breathe, on the upstroke getting going, if your going and moving the kite you dont have enough wind, kite or board to stay upwind.

[davesails7]

Agree with all of the above.

You need to pull the bar in and head downwind a bit to get up to speed, but once you are moving let the bar out a few inches and point the board upwind. This lets the kite go forward in the window and pulls you upwind. With the Edge (light bar pressure) you want your arms just resting on the bar for the max upwind angle.

If you don't have enough power to keep moving with the bar out, then there just isn't anything you can do really.

Also: Maybe it's just me, but I feel it's better to kinda pull the front of the board upwind with my front foot more than pushing hard with your back foot. That could be just from my twintip being a mako which rides with more front foot pressure.

Let us know how it goes!

[Peert]

I have 17m 2012 best TS, and it goes upwind great with 48x154cm door. But when I take my smaller board, cabrinha caliber 41x133cm it is hard to get to upwind.
If the wind is stronger and I use a smaller kite and it pulls about the same like with 17m, I can go upwind easily.
I think a big kite and small freestyle board isn't a good combination

Ask the airstyle guys on this forum.. I have the the feeling they would strongly disagree!..
I love to be on my 19 meter (Royal Rush, LEI) and a smaller board. Either Mako 140x40 or Crazy Fly Bulldozer 135x41. No issues to get upwind on it in 10 to 12 knots of wind (should put a little questionmark there as i am typically not measuring windspeeds while I am kiting).

The 'trick' is not to aim upwind too high too soon. First make enough speed, while at speed slowly change course more upwind.

[wetdog]

The 'trick' is not to aim upwind too high too soon. First make enough speed, while at speed slowly change course more upwind.

+1

[edt]

Depower the kite.

once you're up and going on a fast board you don't need all the downwind grunt.

Depower a little and report back.

listen to tone. push the bar out.