Below is some advice passed on to me from an experienced landboarder that I found very useful.
Myth Buster No.1 - People say learn to ride a mountain board first before kite landboarding. Not true its actually harder and has a bigger potential for going tits up (More Pain). If you want to or already can mountain board then thats a bonus but not necessary. It is better practice to get some one to pull you using a kite simulator.
Myth Buster No.2 - Handles / Bar It doesn't really matter. Look for vids of Mark Berry or Lewis wilby (Some of the best riders in the UK) They are on Blades and Handles. Bar - Vids of Marman should demonstrate this. Use whatever you are comfortable with. I started on handles, then depower bar, now whatever I can get me grubby mits on.
Tip 1. Before geting on the board - practice the kite movements you need to land board by walking across wind with the kite. If it is windy enough lock it at the edge of the window and walk cross wind. If less windy walk across wind whilst moving the kite up and down on the side of the wind window in which you are walking. Note - If you move it past 12 o clock and into the other side of the window you will get pulled backwards. Better to do this whilst walking than on a board as you will deal with it more easily.
Tip 2. Pick your spot - Hard flat sand (Harder the better) Soft sand causes you to sink. Also if you are moving and your nice hard sand changes to soft sand your board will sink but due to your momentum you will fly from your board onto head/arm/shoulder/knee/elbow/ Back (See tip 3)
you are learning so try and learn away from aerial nutters and high speed buggiers. You will learn faster and get less frustrated but don't be afraid to ask em for help, they learnt to do it somehow.
Tip. 3 Pad Up and insure yourself - Helmet as a minimum. Knee pads, elbow, back shoulder recommended (See tip 2. The harder the better - it hurts more tho.) 3rd party BPKA insurance.
Tip 4. Kite size. If in doubt get a small one out and if that isn't enough put it away and get the bigger one out. Don't blindly follow other people when it comes to kite size for a given day. Some people like to fly overpowered/underpowered. Also depowerable kites are always bigger than equivalent powered fixed bridle kite.
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NOw onto the board stuff.
Stopping - If moving and you need to stop apply heel pressure to the board whilst slowly bringing the kite to 12 o clock. Do not move the kite quickly to 12 oc clock otherwise you may get airborne.(The harder you apply heel pressure the faster you will stop.) If all else fails ditch the kite and fall to the floor, you'll come to a stop pretty quickly if a little battered and bruised.
Getting onto the board - I find it easier to start from upwind of my board, however you have to make your own mind up here.
Either way, you'll need the kite stationary above your head. Then step up onto the board. ( board should be pointing cross wind)
Moving off. Hop board so that it is pointing 10 - 20 degrees down wind in the direction you want to travel. If traveling to the left start with your kite at approx 1 o clock and move it through 12 oclock and into the left hand side of the wind window so that the board is pointing at the kite. (as it passes to the left side of the window lean back against the kite slightly.) - You are now either moving/faceplanted/stationary.
If faceplanted - You didn't lean back enough, to windy or the board wasn't pointing downwind enough.
If stationary - Not agressive enough with the kite. If you try again and still don't move try a bigga kite or more wind.
If you are moving
Once moving downwind you will need to assess wether how much power you have.
- If you can keep the kite still at about 10 o ' clock and still move then you have enough power.
- If you keep the kite still but get dragged downwind - overpowered.
- if you stop moving with a stationary kite then U R underpowered.
If overpwored, land the kite and get a smaller kite out (Until you are used to the basics (It gets fun when you can control the overpowered feeling and use it to jump (Fly))
If you keep moving with the kite at 10 o' clock stick with it the wind is perfect and you will learn more quickly. Just apply some heelside pressure to correct your course from downwind to crosswind. (If you come to a stop you've applied to much heel pressure and turned to far upwind. Start again but apply less pressure this time.)
If underpowered, you will need to "work" the kite. To do this move it up and down as you did whilst wlaking on the left side of the window. This will cause the kite to pull more. Once you get moving keep doing this then apply gentle heel pressure to correct your course to crosswind. (As mentioned earlier if you move the kite to the opposite side of the window to which you are travelling you may get yanked forward of the board onto your face)
So you can move to the left -
Moving to the right is much the same but reverse the motion. Start with kite at 11 o clock move it to the right etc.
Crosswind - Before you move off pick a point on the horizon that is at 90 degrees left or right of wind direction. Whilst moving try to aim for that point by applying gentle heel/toeside pressure to the board.
A little toeside will point the board more downwind.
A little heelside will point the board more upwind.
Riding upwind - This is the key to landboarding heaven - No more walking back up the beach to get back to base.
To do this comfortably you are better with more power than less. Once you are cruising comfortably across wind with a little speed. Pick a spot that is slightly upwind of you orignal crosswind spot. (No more than 10 - 15 degrees upwind) Apply a little heel pressure to adjust your course. level off the board again and you are riding up wind.
If doing this causes you to slow down a lot then apply a little toeside pressure to pick speed up and then try again, applying less heel pressure this time.
If you have come to a stop - You may have applied to much heel pressure pointing yourself to far upiwnd killing all power from the kite. Start again pick a spot less upwind than previously and apply less heel pressure.
If you slide downwind when applying the heel pressure you are over powered and need to reconsider kite size until you have mastered the basics.
Man that took longer than I intended. Anyway, all that blather is a lot harder to understand than someone showing you in person. So next time we are at lodge but better if at a beach I will give you a lesson if you like (Free to enthusiatic SKF kite obsessed fools)
Would also be more comprehensible if there were pictures/vids to demonstrate this (And if I spell checked it)
If you follow this advice you probably will hurt yoursen (at some point) and as such I strongly advise seeking professional help... I mean tuition.
