Hey Pirate,
Look at the PE teachers go for it!!!! unreal
, I know how much you blokes love talking but us Engineers like drawing pictures then following with a report
You mention Pirate that you have trouble going anywhere else except where the kite wants you to go. I'm maybe thinking the kite might be flying all over the window, when I was learning I often got pulled around like a pendulum also and couldn't get upwind, lot's of walking up the beach, lot's of chafe, lots of WTFs.
Pretty much if you want to ride to your left, only let the kite fly in the 9-12 o'clock region.
And hence, if you want to ride to your right, only let the kite fly in the 12-3 o'clock region.
Make sure there is some decent wind about to power your kite. Anything around 15 knots requires a fair bit of kite movement were as you can park you kite still at approx 11 or 1 o'clock in 20 knots once your up and going.
When powering up your kite to get out of the water start with it at 12 o'clock and prepare to ride downwind for a small moment, if you wish to ride to your left as shown in fig 2 drop the kite to point A. You will be out of the water at this stage then send it up to point B.
When your up planning on your board you can then worry about all the stuff the boys talk about above. Just keep the point A to point B wave motion happening with the kite ensuring that you don't let it cross into the 12-3 o'clock region. Start sending it over there to jump later on
Fig 1 -Extract from Cabrinha User Manual Showing Power Zones of Window
Fig 2 - Wind Window Left & Right Regions
Wind is everything, you could be the best kiter in the world but with no wind your not going up wind! Pretty much, in conclusion as per Fig 3 your never going to impress the bikini clad girls when your tacking upwind like a MOFO
Fig 3 - Linear relationship between awesome upwind abilities and not having any chicks on beach to pack up your gear
