After some advice from the surfers on here...

Now i've really dialled in my Slingshot Celeritas, i'm finding that on really powered, hard bottom turns (both front and backside) the tail's sliding out for a second right in that critical moment...

Have i just got to wash off a bit of speed before i make the turn, or will softer/harder fins help?

Tried a quad board and it didn't happen - but i'm sure it was because it was on an unfamiliar board that I wasn't pushing as hard...

Any advice would be appreciated because it's getting really annoying lol...

Here's a pic about a second after it's happened - you can see the gap in the spray where i've slid out & my stance is far from pretty as i'm trying to recover.

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I have never ridden the Celeritas but my mate has one and from the looks of that super wide tail your going to need to get your back foot so far back to bury the tail.. I know with my fish surf board. riding it at speeds can be a challenge.. if you want to ride powered get a thinner board.. I ride the Ben wilson model and it cranks..

I am not very good at kiteboarding but have been surfing for a long time.
I have only seen the Celeritas in photos but the tail area looks wide for the board size and as it is super fast there probably isnt a lot of rocker through the board.
This will tend to make the board surf flat and fast but slide more than a board that has less area and lift in the tail.
Most quads, fishes and twin fins have a similar wide tail, which generally will slide in a big bottom hand turn. The thruster setup tends to hang in more and you wont see many surfers riding the other three setups in larger surf where they want that big bottom turn.
I would play around with a bigger fin combination, you may just need a larger centre fin. The local surfboard shop should be able to give you some idea, but believe me there a lot of theories about fin size and flex combinations

Your problem is the rail, it's simply not engaging and gripping. Even using big fins wont make up for lack of rail grip, in fact intentional tail slides [on the lip] are done by pushing the tail while keeping the board flat.

It's 95% technique and 5% equipment, as all virtually boards work but they might need an adjustment to speed and tiing

I note your really powered in the photo, it looks windy and the water quite choppy.

Try this
- aim to turn on the flat part of the bottom of the wave as you will grip much better and get more drive
- bleed some power by using full depower just before you initiate the turn and slow the board down briefly
- use a kite that pivots rather than arcs through the turn as that allows a momentary depower to initiate rail engagement
- if you've been unhooking try hooking in, because overpowered riding is the problem shared by all who unhook in >15kts
- short 20m lines will help reduce power through the arc
-if you're using straps make sure they are wide enough to have your foot right across the centre line to maintain rail pressure
- board width is obviously a factor but you can adjust your style to any board width through kite control ie wider boards work better at slower speeds, worse at high speeds
- same goes for thick rails they will give less grip on the bottom speed turns but are less likely to stall on the slower top turn. ie thicker boards work better at slower speeds, worse at high speeds

stamp said...

niall barrett said...


- if you've been unhooking try hooking in, because overpowered riding is the problem shared by all who unhook in >15kts

worst advice ever

An intentionally provocative statement by myself of course and good to see a rise so quickly!

But seriously when I see someone who can waveride better for unhooking I'll change my mind, until then I still think its the right advice for someone whose problem is sliding out on bottom turns.

it's all in the controlled feed of initiating the bottom turn.

doesn't matter what fin or what board you ride if you know its limitations.

guys,

Its always a blend of everything yeah?

I have just switched to a North kontact this year. It gripps beautifully and holds speed through the turns. Go the narrow pin tail!

On Saying this i still struggle with style as I'm a natural footer living in the land of the howling South Wester.. It just feel so crap riding goofy despite having wave sailed that way for years

hammer said...

guys,

Its always a blend of everything yeah?

I have just switched to a North kontact this year. It gripps beautifully and holds speed through the turns. Go the narrow pin tail!

On Saying this i still struggle with style as I'm a natural footer living in the land of the howling South Wester.. It just feel so crap riding goofy despite having wave sailed that way for years

To open a can of worms-don't switch-ride backhand-last time I noticed, Fanning, Parko, AI, etc. etc. don't switch when surfing lefts.....