The advice that changed how I ride

Every kitesurfer remembers that one sentence someone told them that changed everything. It usually comes from a sunburned legend between sessions or a random stranger who’s just seen you faceplant for the fifth time and feels bad. Either way, those small bits of wisdom somehow become the foundation of how we ride, crash, and grow.

1. Your kite has a chill zone

Your kite can be relaxing if it’s chilling at 9 or 3 o’clock. That’s its peaceful place, just floating on the edge of the wind window, waiting for your next move. It has almost no power there, perfect if you need to fix your hair or take a breather.

When your kite sits on the edge of the wind window at 9 or 3 o’clock, it’s in its happy place, calm, stable, and ready. But at 12 o’clock it’s a different story. On the beach, gusts can front stall your kite or suddenly yank you skyward like an unwanted Mary Poppins audition. On the water it’s fine, but on land that’s danger territory.

So unless you want to get launched in front of everyone, keep your kite low and steady when waiting or walking. It’s the first sign you actually know what you’re doing.

2. Go upwind like you mean it

Keep your kite around 11 or 1 o’clock, then edge hard and look where you want to go. That’s the real secret to going upwind efficiently. You can edge as hard as you want, but if your kite is working against you, you’re not going anywhere.

Your kite gives you lift and your edge locks you into control. If your kite is too far to the side, its pull will be sideways instead of upward, which means you’ll have to edge harder just to hold your line. The moment your eyes turn where you want to go, your whole body follows. It’s a simple chain reaction: eyes, shoulders, hips, board.

Do it right and suddenly you’re not drifting downwind anymore, you’re cruising like a pro. Maybe even let go of your front hand to add style and create more room to edge upwind.

And if the wind picks up and things get spicy, lower your kite a bit, edge even harder, and trust that sweet resistance. It’s not about fighting the wind, it’s about dancing with it.

3. Your head decides your trick

Your head leads, your body follows. I didn’t get it until I tried my first backroll. I threw my body, forgot my head, and ended up in a spectacular mid-air noodle.

The moment I turned my head the way I wanted to spin, the whole move clicked. It’s one of those small details that change everything. Your head is basically your steering wheel. Whether it’s a backroll, transition, or downloop, commit with your gaze and your body will obey.

You won’t land it on the first try, or the second, but each attempt teaches your body something. One day it just clicks and you suddenly wonder why it ever felt impossible. You just need to keep trying.

4. The ocean always wins

“Don’t underestimate the water.” Sounds like something your mom would say before a surf trip, but every kiter eventually learns it the hard way.

You’re playing with nature and nature doesn’t care about your skill level, your mood, or your shiny new kite. One gust, one rip current, one sudden squall and you’re reminded who’s boss.

Respect the ocean, learn its moods, and never assume you’re in charge. The people who ride the longest are the ones who treat every session as a conversation, not a competition. If you want to get better at reading what the water’s saying, check out our Understanding waves blog.

5. Don’t compare yourself

One of the best mindset shifts I ever had came from a friend who said, “You can be jealous, or you can ask that person for advice.”

There’s always going to be someone who rides better, jumps higher, or owns more carbon fiber than you. But instead of envying them, ask how they do it. Kitesurfers love to talk gear and share tips. You’ll walk away smarter and they’ll probably respect you for asking.

We love to compare, but it’s never fair. You are a completely different person. Why compare? Focus on your own journey, your goals, and your progress.

Remember, everyone was once a beginner walking upwind, swearing at their lines. We’re all in the same wind.

6. Be nice it costs nothing

The beach is a community, a mix of pros, learners, locals, and traveling legends all sharing one stretch of wind. And yet, sometimes people forget the simplest rule: be nice, it costs you nothing.

Help someone launch, share a tip, or just smile at the rider who can’t water start yet. Good vibes make the whole scene better. Kill them with kindness, even if someone cuts your line or drops their kite right in front of you. Karma usually comes back as cleaner wind or a stranger rescuing your board later.

And when you’re kind to others, good things tend to happen. Conversations start, new friends form, and maybe you end up chatting with a shop owner who wants to sponsor you.

Before you grab your kite

Not every piece of advice you get will make sense right away, but some of it sticks and makes your sessions better in unexpected ways. You don’t need to follow every bit of wisdom blindly, just cherry pick what resonates, test it, and see what works for you.

Most of the time, even the advice I thought was rubbish ended up helping later. Sorry, not sorry.

xox Berito