Riding Upwind

About this trick

If you can't ride upwind you'll drift downwind every session and spend all your time walking back up the beach. Riding upwind means combining a powered wing with an edged board — your heelside edge digs in and redirects the push from the wing into forward-and-upwind motion. This is the most important practical skill for beginners.

Key tips

1. 1

   Edge the board by pressing your heels down — think of pushing the water away sideways with the heel edge

2. 2

   Keep the wing angled slightly forward and powered — too depowered and you lose upwind ability

3. 3

   Look upwind and slightly ahead of the board's nose — not at your feet or the wing

4. 4

   If you're losing ground downwind, sheet in more and edge harder — or find a bigger wing or better conditions

Learn these first

Video by

Duotone Wing Academy

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