THE SHORT VERSION
- Make waterstarts and controlled stops reliable first
- Build speed before gradually edging upwind
- Judge progress across both runs and the turns between them
Get moving before turning upwind
One common mistake is trying to solve the walk back up the beach immediately after every waterstart. You stand, force the board towards the wind and lose speed. Then you sink and start again.
Let the board begin planing before gradually changing the heading. You need a useful balance between speed and resistance. More edge is not always more progress.
Start this work with reliable waterstarts and controlled stops on both sides. The IKO Independent curriculum places speed control and upwind riding after the earlier water skills. This guide supports that practical coaching; it cannot assess your conditions or readiness.
What the board is doing
The kite pulls and the board’s edge helps you direct that movement. With suitable speed, the board can plane while its heelside edge and fins help resist sideways movement.
Turn too hard into the wind and the board creates too much resistance. Travel too fast without useful edge control and you can lose the line you wanted. The aim is a manageable speed that lets the board work.
Kitesurf College’s extended upwind tutorial is a useful visual explanation. It separates the efficient start, acceleration, gradual edging and speed adjustments. Watch how the heading changes smoothly rather than becoming a sudden fight against the kite.
Coordinate stance, kite and speed
Your instructor can help you find a stance where the harness takes the load and the board remains controlled. Folding at the waist while reaching for the bar often makes everything feel harder. Excess pressure on the back foot can sink the tail and add drag.
A useful kite position supplies manageable pull without demanding constant rescue movements. The exact position changes with equipment and conditions. Avoid copying a low, aggressive position from an experienced rider as a beginner shortcut.
Bar input, board heading and stance work together. If the board begins slowing, more edging can make it worse. If speed runs away, simply hanging on harder does not restore control. Practice the adjustments with someone who can observe the whole setup.
Troubleshoot the pattern
| What you notice | Possible points to check with your coach |
|---|---|
| You stall just after the start | Turning upwind before planing; timing; available power |
| You ride fast but lose ground | Weak edge control, heading, excessive speed or conditions |
| You feel folded and exhausted | Harness fit, stance, arm tension and bar reach |
| One side gains much more ground | Stance differences, kite control, chop and current |
| Good runs still end downwind | Starts, stops and transitions may be losing ground |
| A previously reliable setup suddenly struggles | Wind quality, current, equipment condition or fatigue |
These are hypotheses. They are not a reason to automatically increase kite size or ride in stronger conditions. A local briefing and an equipment check can be more useful than another stance adjustment.
Look at the whole return
Upwind through the water and progress relative to the shore are different when there is current. A good line on one run can also be undone by a slow turn or a restart.
Use fixed references agreed with your instructor to understand the overall track. Keep watching other riders and water users rather than staring at a landmark. Do not chase a precise angle or GPS number before the basic control is comfortable.
Being able to ride upwind does not guarantee you can return from any position. Wind changes, equipment problems, current and fatigue still matter. A forecast or shore view cannot replace the session plan.
A useful practice conversation
Before going out, tell your coach where you lose ground: immediately after starts, during the run, or while changing direction. That gives the lesson a much clearer focus.
Ask them to check:
- Whether the start allows enough initial movement.
- How gradually you add the edge.
- Whether speed stays manageable.
- What changes on the weaker side.
- How much ground is lost between runs.
- Whether the equipment and conditions suit the task.
The Kitesurf Centre lists specific edging and upwind coaching, which illustrates how targeted a lesson can be. You do not need a new trick to justify getting feedback.
Keep the foundations in the session
The RNLI recommends condition and tide checks, appropriate equipment, a riding companion and a way to call for help. These remain relevant after your first successful return.
At a new spot, ask about local current, wind shadows, launch restrictions and rescue arrangements. Never interpret an upwind skill as permission to ignore unsuitable wind direction or access rules.
When both sides feel controlled, discuss transitions and the next step in your progression plan. The useful milestone is a more predictable session, including the way it ends.
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