Some of these principles do apply to kitesurfing disciplines outside of wave riding, so be mindful of them, and you may well find ways of improving your current techniques and performance.

A Bucket Full of Air

The Physics

According to our high school science teachers, the physics shows that momentum is equal to mass multiplied by velocity. So the faster you go or the greater your mass then the more momentum you will have. Considering that none of us are going to shed or add any mass of concern to our bodies or board during a session these become a constant leaving the formula having momentum equaling velocity which is quite simple but somewhat useless to our cause of becoming better riders of the waves.

While theoretically correct there is a vital element left out of this equation. This being the inherent momentum to be found stored within the kite. (Hang in there the good stuff is coming.) Let’s leave the formulas behind and take a practical look at what’s to be found in the kite. Think of it like this: Take a big empty bucket and run with it. Now come to a sudden stop. Not too difficult hey? Fill the very same bucket with water and run. Try come to the same sudden stop. Not so easy and it gets messy. The water wants to continue in the direction you were running and you needed to put in a whole lot more effort to come to a dry halt.

Using Kite Momentum for Wave Riding

Bringing it Home to Wave Kiting

So how does this relate to wave kiting? If we consider our kites being giant buckets filled with not water but moving air and that the air is not feather light as we may be tempted to assume, but has a real mass, as we all know and experience when we head off downwind after losing an edge. It’s not so easy to stop, just like running with that bucket of water. We can then agree that the kite has its own independent momentum, which means it has a life of its own and this is something we can work with.

More and more riders in spite of their preference of being hooked-in or unhooked are seeing the advantages in parking the kite, allowing it to drift downwind, then focusing their attention on riding technically in the critical part of the wave as opposed to being distracted by the constant steering of the kite, and the consequences that come along with that. The idea in the park and ride style of riding is to have the kite almost achieve an auto pilot status where it drifts downwind under its own momentum, with the rider trailing loosely behind it attached only by the now un-tensioned lines. If you can attain to this, then you are coming close to wave kiting nirvana, where just about anything is possible.

Bringing it Home to Wave Kiting

The Love Triangle – the Basic Setup Rules

To get the kite to auto pilot more consistently some basic ideas need to be adhered to. The setup of the correct kite for the conditions of the day is important. Being underpowered tends to have the rider out-running/surfing the kite and being grossly over-powered is never healthy. If in doubt a bigger kite for the day especially if the swell is on the larger side is the better choice. With the correct kite in the air, the next step is to fill it with enough wind to first of all give the rider enough general or overall speed to ride the wave successfully and then enough momentum in the kite to keep it happy and flying.

It is kind of like a crazy love triangle, the rider, the kite and the wave. Setting up the cleat or strap adjustment for the present wind condition is also a good start whether you are unhooking or not. In lighter winds this gets more critical. Most important of all though the kite needs to be parked correctly with the right amount of air in it. This is where experience and feel come into play, getting out there and riding will help more than all this theory.

The Rider, the Kite and the Wave | Photo by John Bilderback

Wind Angle and the Full Bucket

Think of this final step of parking the kite full of air as taking a scoop of water out of a pond with the original bucket idea. By putting the kite into the power zone more, or less, with a kiteloop being the greediest of scoops, the kite will be set up to have the correct amount of momentum needed to stay flying without much input, on auto pilot if you like.

Fast breaking waves will need more generous scoops and slow breaking waves less of a scoop as a basic guideline. Wind angle is however a complicating factor. After scooping your bucket with the correct amount of air it is not good enough just to leave the kite parked haphazardly on the side of the window. This may work at times depending on the wind angle relative to the wave, which will vary from cross-off the wave to cross-on to the wave. Cross-off wind allows for an easier park and ride experience with cross-on being the most challenging of the park and ride winds. It is being found that parking the kite more aggressively, using even the much dreaded kite loop, which is not to be that feared when bearing off downwind down the line, is making the cross onshore wave riding experience a lot more enjoyable and radical.

Wind Angle and the Full Bucket | Dean Bottcher

Parking the kite correctly is critical to this whole process lest you find yourself riding past the kite. Some kite designs do perform better than others, but for the most part any hybrid style kite or c-kite can be tweaked to perform admirably, never forgetting that the chicken loop is always there whether you are hooked into it or not, to be used if you find the kite stalling out totally.

Although it should be fairly obvious to most readers, these principles apply mainly to downwind wave riding, down the line and not to the toeside upwind, onshore-wind style of riding waves.

Happy Days, hope the tech talk helps a bit. If you have any questions or would like to add your own wave riding theories and formulas, please add them in the comments below.

Written by

Dean Bottcher

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Using Kite Momentum for Wave Riding was published by inMotion Kitesurfing.

It is a far cry from some island paradise or speciality wave kitesurfing destination. Does it deliver on every visit? No, so what is all the fuss about then?

The Place: A Gentle Giant for Kitesurfing in South Africa

Palm Beach also referred to as Mpenjati, named after the neighboring river estuary has had some big names in the wind sports lifestyle pass through it. Some have used it as a secret training ground, others, but few grew up in the area, then some just hung around and then moved on. Not much happens in Palm Beach but that could also be said of the whole of the Lower South Coast of Kwazulu Natal (KZN). Situated on the boundary of a Marine Protected Area and Nature Conservation Area it has maintained its tranquil qualities over the years. To the local kitesurfer it is special in more ways than what can be appreciated if you are not from the area. The KZN coast is known for its surfing and the lower south coast for its good swell, at which extremity Palm Beach is ideally located. Apart from this perfect position the break itself offers something that no other venue this side of the Transkei offers, this being a mellower “continental shelf,” so to speak. Leaving the Eastern Cape one leaves behind the gentler breaking waves for what is pretty much a mountain range that fell in the sea, known as the Transkei or Wild Coast. Thereafter you will find the Kwazulu Natal coastline and not until you reach the Mozambique border in the north will you again experience the gentler lappings of the ocean, except at Palm Beach.

Inside Flats | Palm Beach

The KZN kitesurfer has very limited options in regards to flat water venues and even less options when it comes to progressing into the ocean without paying dearly in terms of gear and body damages. While the continental shelf is not actually gentler per say, Palm Beach is a microcosm on its own. It is in fact the combination of an outer reef, a rocky outcrop in the form of a point and a river system that feeds sand into the equation that makes this place unique. The outer reef transforms the ocean swells into sought after waves while at the same time disarming the waves explosive energy, leaving a calm inside section with a weak shorebreak.

Not to be underestimated though, Palms has many different faces dependent on conditions and one needs to show care. There are no shark nets, no life savers and rarely will anyone be watching you. Of the many faces that Palm Beach will show, its faithfulness rests in the fact that it is a reef based break, which makes this place predictable if you know how to read the charts and forecasts.

Wave and Flat Water Kitesurfing

Apart from the flat inside section where you can break out your freestyle, the waves are what Palm Beach is all about. Strangely enough though, this place has never really been truly exploited by surfers. The main reason being the lack of shark nets but with the advent of Stand Up Paddling and a resurgence in Waveski and Surf Kayaking there should in time be an influx of riders taking advantage on the windless days.

As for the waves: Many a visitor to this spot miss out on the best offerings, simply due to lack of info. Palm Beach as with most of the KZN coastline delivers best on the Southerly wind and swell. While smaller swell conditions are extremely fun, this place can hold up to if not more than a 15 foot swell. (Please refer to the diagram for what follows.)

Palm Beach is made up of a couple of breaks. The Outer Reef, Creamers and Liners are the three main areas to find your action. While most kiters launching from the Palms Accommodation site will head straight out to the Outer Reef and then back in to the Freestyle Flats and repeat this process all day long, this is not the money maker. Similarly riders launching from the Mpenjati Estuary will head out through Liners, this too is not your ticket to the joy train. While both of these options do provide for great entertainment they are not the best of the best.

Liners – Palm Beach

Best of the Best: The Hot Spot

Creamers is where you want to be 90% of the time, if your intentions are set on wave riding that is. Here you will find on most days a gentle, smooth wave rolling into what could be considered a channel of sort. From this point you can spend your whole session riding waves without the need to jump or ride over broken waves to get back out. Here is a place to progress and to learn to love waves. On most days crashing your kite here will put you into the flat water on the inside where you should have the time to re-launch. Creamers runs into Liners if you ride it out. Liners on a good day will hold up, teasing you into a chase down the line which will either end badly as you will have too much speed or end spectacularly as you go for that big close out move. The Outer Reef: It’s a temptation, it’s far and not always worth the journey. It’s fun to visit but not the best wave riding to be had as it is quite peaky and pitchy making it more of a washing machine than anything else. It’s challenging and thrilling without a doubt but never forget where you are and what’s at risk. Outer Limits is probably the better bet for a deep ocean ride, however be sure not to crash your kite as the rocks lie in wait.

Creamers | Palm Beach

Outer Reef, Creamers and Liners Become One

For the diehard wave rider the big thrill is when the Outer Reef, Creamers and Liners link up. This can happen with a strong, small 4 to 6 foot swell on a low tide but more often than not it will only link up from 8 foot plus. The length of ride is crazy and your fitness will dictate your fun. Two tacks will normally get you back into the lineup but never let a good one pass on your first tack. If you are looking for tube rides, there is ample opportunity depending on how much you are willing to put it on the line. For a “safer” tube riding experience the Northern side of the Shallow Reef shown in the Google Earth diagram will deliver a pitchy section on smaller swell conditions, on a lower tide. Be careful however as it is very shallow. On a Spring Low tide you can stand on what would seem to be the backline.

Palm Beach due to its construct can go very flat in small swell conditions and Spring High tides. Be sure not to miss the low tide session if this is the case. A Spring Low on small swell can be epic. The North Easterly wind can be fun at Palm Beach as well. The flat water still exists on the inside, just be aware of the downwind rocks. If you are desperate for waves and the Northerly swell is running, consider walking up the beach or tacking to the North East Reef which is known to deliver some better waves.

Enjoy!

Written by

Dean Bottcher

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Palm Beach: Kwazulu Natal Kitesurfing at its Best was published by inMotion Kitesurfing.

There is a whole new vibe being brought into kitesurfing where sliders are involved.  Kitesurfing due to its nature is generally a solo sport across most of the disciplines.  You are out there on your own, pushing your personal limits and only every now and then do you glance over your shoulder to see what your mates are up to.  Sliding is different.  There will probably only be one slider at your local and that one slider to start with was more than likely the product of much group discussion.  So already there was a team effort even before you got wet.  Then it is all the brainstorming and the group work party actually building the thing, a true riot itself.  Setting it up also requires the hands of a few good people, so once again a time to interact.  But that’s not where it ends, it is really only where it all begins.

Sinisa Misic – La Mercy Lagoon, South Africa

Only one rider can hit the slider at a time so the rest sit and watch in anticipation of their turn as they circulate around.   It is in this queuing for the action that a whole lot of chatting and cheering, oohing and aahing goes down.  Here you will find the place of beauty, where creativity is set free and the soul finds a new expression as each kitesurfer is challenged.  It is this interaction that has been the core of the boarding industry for decades and now it’s finding a path into kitesurfing.  While surfing holds claim to the history of board riding it must be skate boarding that be given a lot of credit for the board riding culture that has filtered back into surfing, wakeboarding, snowboarding, cable and any other form that it takes.  Open any skate mag and you will find that probably 50% of the mag is dedicated to the good old “slider” which in skate terms will be either a hand rail on some sketchy stairs, a pavement curb, park or mall bench or any other item worthy of the task.

Sliding has been around for a long time in many board sports and it would appear that it is going mainstream in kitesurfing or as close as it can get.  In my opinion it is what we need in the sport, especially in the South African context.  It brings spectator value back into the sport in a neat focused package that is oh so easy to market to potential sponsors.  Slider Jams with the beat pumping and the juices flowing are possibly the media draw card that we have been waiting for, which will hopefully bring all the kitesurfing disciplines together again at events.  With the advent of the bungee tow and motorized tow they can even work when the wind fails to pitch.

Our Portable Slider – Sinisa Misic

So what makes a good slider?  From a safety perspective the box slider is the way to go as there is close to no chance of getting pulled through the thing from a misguided upwind approach or slipping under it, not that it happens too easily.  Is the box slider what riders want?  The answer would be yes for every first timer but a no for the more advanced and adventurous.  The mutter on the inter-web is that box sliders detract from the core culture of sliding or “grinding” as it is sometimes referred to in skating, where the metal trucks (wheel axels) eat away at the obstacle of choice.  To further explain – One of the most amazing things with the sliding discipline is the photos and videos that we will see coming out of it.  The subjected kitesurfer is easy to shoot as the action all happens within a confined and “controlled” space.  Multiple angles are available to the photographer by taking only a few steps in any direction.  You also don’t necessarily need photo trained riders to get the money shot as you would need in freestyle and surf kiting.   Skaters have been at it for years and some photographers have made it their bread and butter line.

Sinisa Misic – Kitesports

Herein lies the big quandary of what slider is a good slider.  A skate photo shoot would involve a scout of the town to find the elements that would make a good photo.  Now you answer the question.  How good a photo can you get out of a man made box slider?  Once you got your skills down, and that will take a while on the very same box slider or something similar like a simple rail.  You may then want to follow in the footsteps of the skaters and start looking for alternatives.  Maybe an old bluegum telephone pole or tree that has fallen over, a boat jetty or even the boat when the owners eye is turned, a fence that won’t kill you, a wall, some windsurfer’s masts or any other obstacle or item that you can get in, near to, or across dry land then back into the water.  An open mind is the key here.  These are going to be the shots that the magazines will be featuring.  Sliders that have an element of natural danger are the ones that are true to the core of sliding and the ones that will give you credit amongst your peers.

So the challenge goes out, and other than attacking hazardous obstacles, the quickest way to get beaten on a slider is to try doing it with your fins in.  We have a sign board that we put up on the approach to our slider that clearly states “use at your own risk and nofins.”  It is amazing how many people can’t read at speed, but it does make for good footage.  Riding without fins is a challenge on its own and in a way it separates potential slippers from the dedicated grinders.  Once you start riding your freestyle board without fins (preferably use an old board as it is going to get serious battle scars) you will find some new moves coming to you even in the flat water.  Channeled boards look like they will be the way forward, with or without smaller recessed fins.  Increased rocker is possibly a good thing for moves like the nosepress, it also helps to protect the fins if you using them and may make some grabs easier.  Bindings seem to be the rage but practically they are an extra effort.  Wakeskates, or now referred to as kiteskates (flatter rocker etc.) on the other hand are making a big impact.  They are strapless, bindingless boards being used to do skate tricks on flat water, on sliders, off waves, wherever creativity will take you.  Originally from the wakeboard scene they are most definitely a complement to the kiting outfit.  Landing a kickflip off the end of your slider on a wakeskate will rocket you into stardom for sure!

The possibilities are endless and only our minds limit where this slippery avenue will take us.  If you have not had a slip-n-slide in a while then it comes highly recommended.  Get together with your crew and start knocking one together.

Written by

Dean Bottcher

PS: If you enjoyed this article, help spread the word by clicking the “Like”, “Tweet”, “+1” buttons, or sharing it using the share icons below. Want to read more articles like this? Subscribe to iMK, and get our articles directly to your inbox or RSS reader.

Sliders: The Slippery Slide of Things was published by inMotion Kitesurfing.