Before We Start

Unhooking for the first time should be done in the right conditions, meaning you slightly struggle to pull the bar in fully and ride without getting dragged downwind, or any lighter than this to the point where you can still generate good pop hooked in (without sending the kite). You’re best off learning on a 9-14m kite. Make sure you pull in some trim line on your kite to stop it backstalling and to reduce the power slightly, then attach your leash to suicide so the safety doesn’t pull each time you crash. Every bar has a different setup so check the manual that came with your kite. It’ll either be a loop you can hook onto, or hook straight onto the chicken loop.

Choose Your Trick

Choose either a back roll or a raley to land first. I think back rolls are probably easier but they don’t teach you the best technique. You could also learn flat 360s or unhooked kiteloops first but they don’t teach you powered trick technique.

Now Let’s Get Started

1. Prepare

Gain a comfortable speed and keep the kite quite high to start with (60-75 degrees). Keep your body compact and elbows tucked in, most importantly move your hands to the centre of the bar so the kite is less responsive to steering.

2. Unhook

Point your board downwind and keep pointing more downwind until you can unhook comfortably. The video below shows me pointing downwind. Because the water is so flat, unhooking is effortless. A beginner will want to point much further downwind for their first attempts.

Video: Bare Off Downwind

If you are viewing this tutorial in an email or RSS reader, click here to watch the videos.

3. POP

Raley

Edge hard against the kite and then slide the board out the water just as the kite gives you a big yank. Have more weight on the back foot but keep the distribution quite equal. If you pop hard enough it should almost be second nature to fly the board up behind your head.

This is a little hard to describe in words, so check out the video below. You’ll see that you need to slide the board out the water in the direction you’re travelling while pushing off with your feet and sweeping your heels back towards your bum with the board behind you. In other words, the board gets released in two directions as illustrated in the image above.

Video: Pop Into a Raley

Back Roll

This is a very different pop. You want to edge hard against the kite with more weight on the back foot, not releasing your edge until you’ve almost done half a back roll. Time this edge release with the maximum pull from the kite and you’ll get a nice rip off the water. With the back roll you only really slide the board out of the water where your feet are pointing and then push off with your back foot to help the rotation. Keep looking over your front shoulder and tuck your knees in until you want to stop the rotation.

Video: This is a back roll to toeside to emphasize the back roll edge release

4. Stabilise

You’ll want to pull the bar into your front hip as you come in to land. This usually comes naturally, and will keep you stable and ready to land.

5. Landing

Land with your board pointing downwind. This will take the power out of the kite, letting you focus on your balance to land the trick.

6. Hook Back In

Keep pointing downwind while you hook back in. If possible keep both hands on the bar or take one hand off to guide the chicken loop in. As a last resort grab the chicken loop with both hands to hook back in quickly.

That’s the theory complete. It’s the easiest part to understand; now all you need to do is keep putting this into practice and eliminate any common problems you’re having. You’ll feel uneasy unhooking with no depower to start with, but it’s a case of unhook more and you’ll get used to it.

Common Problems

Overpowered

Don’t unhook while overpowered in the beginning. Make sure you can land a raley or back roll before trying in more wind. Make sure you pull a bit more trim line in first. When overpowered bare off downwind more and make sure you are fully committed. Don’t go into the trick half hearted as you’re likely going to mess it up and progress slower. Here are more tips for Overpowered Unhooking.

Choppy Conditions

In choppy conditions, ride slower and pick your takeoff more carefully. Try to launch your trick off a piece of chop for a cleaner release.

Kite Drifts to 12 or to the Water

This is your hand balance. Make sure you counteract whichever side of the bar you naturally pull when unhooking. Eventually it’ll become second nature. If you’re sending the kite to 12 then try to get the kite flying slightly downward just before you unhook.

Over Rotation or Getting Twisted

Tense your core and pull the bar towards your front hip.

Being a Wuss!

You have to commit 100% to unhooking for it to work. My first raley I committed 100%, lost the kiteboard mid air and did a superman with perfect technique (minus the board). It didn’t take long to learn. When I learnt to land blind I spent months crashing kites and half committing, so it took me much longer than it should have to land.

You know you’re under committing in decent winds if you get a soft pop or let go of the bar each time you take off.

Board Comes Off

Release the board more to the side (the direction you’re travelling) rather than backwards, lock your feet and tighten your straps. Or just chuck on a pair of boots, they make unhooking feel great.

Don’t Practice This

In my opinion, don’t practice raleys hooked in, or doing small pops unhooked or just riding around unhooked. They don’t replicate much technique needed for a powered raley or backroll. You’ll learn much more by not putting it off and practicing unhooked raleys or backrolls straight away, I find raleys more comfortable than unhooked pops or riding around unhooked.

That’s all you need to know, now think less, practice more and start pushing your riding!!!

Let me know if this post helped you or if you have any questions in the comments below.

Charlie

Charlie is an aspiring professional kitesurfer, dedicated to progression and pushing himself on the water in every session. You can follow his progression at: blog-charlieprice.com, or on instagram/snapchat/twitter: charlieprices or facebook.com/charlieprices.

Learn To Unhook Effortlessly was published by inMotion Kitesurfing.

After an eight year hiatus since the last running of the Red Bull King of the Air in Maui, USA, the event finally returns to kiteboarding, this time in Cape Town, South Africa. Wind patterns are currently looking favourable for the window period of 1 – 15 February at Big Bay, Blouberg on Cape Town’s sunny coastline.

Sixteen invited kiteboarders from around the world will be joined by eight wildcards who secured their entry by sending in a video of themselves in action on the water.

Included in the lineup are extreme kiteboarder Ruben Lenten (NED), compatriot and world number 1 in 2012 Youri Zoon and local wildcard Oswald Smith who goes into the competition having just won SA Champs.

The judging panel consisting of fearless female kiteboarder Susi Mai, editor of Kiteworld Magazine and presenter of ‘The Kite Show’ Jim Gaunt and South African original Red Bull King of the Air alumnus Greg Tijsse will be watching the water to gauge the height, style and creativity each kiteboarder executes their movement with.

The newly developed ‘flag out’ competition format is unlike any others – it gives each kiteboarder the opportunity to pull their best moves and score high. Four riders hit the water wearing different colour rash vests that match a corresponding flag on the beach. After an allocated time, the rider with the lowest score will be flagged out (flag will be lowered) and must leave the water. The last man standing is the winner.

The event will also feature the godfather of wind-based watersports, Robby Naish, who will be in Cape Town to put the title hopefuls through their paces in the lead up to the event. Robby has multiple World Titles across windsurfing and kiteboarding disciplines and still competes internationally, at the tender age of 49.

Invited Kiteboarders

• Ruben Lenten (NED)
• Kevin Langeree (NED)
• Youri Zoon (NED)
• Nick Jacobsen (DEN)
• Billy Parker (USA)
• Sam Light (GBR)
• Lewis Crathern (GBR)
• Kevin de Smidt (NED)
• Steven Akkersijk (NED)
• Jesse Richman (USA)
• Tom Court (GBR)
• Luke Whiteside (GBR)
• Gianni Aragno (ESP)
• Shawn Richman (USA)
• Luke McGillewie (RSA)
• Reno Romeu (BRA)

Wildcards

• Sam Medysky (CAN)
• Oswald Smith (RSA)
• Johnno Sholte (NED)
• Andries Fourie (RSA)
• Graham Howes (RSA)
• Jandre Fraser (RSA)
• Alan Steele (RSA)
• Nicolas Falcou (FRA)

For more updates on contest conditions visit www.redbullkingoftheair.co.za or #RedBullKingoftheAir on Twitter.

PS: If you enjoyed this article, help spread the word by clicking the share buttons below.

The Red Bull King of the Air 2013 Sees the World’s Top Kiteboarders in Cape Town was published by inMotion Kitesurfing.

CAPE TOWN (South Africa) – The new concept, a big air format, proposes a “mega airtime” contest with radically high jumps, various tricks and kite-loops combined with style, height, and speed. Sixteen of the world’s best plus eight wildcards, selected from video entries at www.redbullkingoftheair.co.za, will descend on Cape Town.

Big Bay, part of the pristine Cape Peninsula, is probably the best spot in the world for holding an event with these criteria. The legendary ‘Cape Doctor’ will certainly play its part – the South Easterly wind guarantees big airs and even bigger moves! Judges Jim Gaunt, Susi Mai and Greg Thijsse will have their work cut out for them.

Video: Red Bull King of the Air 2013 Teaser

Ruben Lenten (NED), a formidable name in kiteboarding is stoked Red Bull King of the Air is back: “It’s going make a big impact on kiteboarding once again! Normally I don’t compete as most contests are aimed at really technical tricks but the format of the Red Bull King of the Air is right up my street. This contest is all about big airs and I think I am just as stoked as I was back in 2005 when I won the last event in Hawaii. With the Red Bull King of the Air we’ll have the world’s best riders come out to battle it out in Cape Town’s extreme winds.”

The window period for the event starts on the 1st of February and will extend to the 15th of February 2013. For more updates on contest conditions visit www.redbullkingoftheair.co.za or #RedBullKingoftheAir on Twitter.

PS: If you enjoyed this article, help spread the word by clicking the share buttons below.

Red Bull King of the Air in Cape Town was published by inMotion Kitesurfing.

Back Roll (Backloop)

The back roll, or backloop as it is also known, is another relatively easy trick to master. As with the jump, you want to have enough power and be riding upwind. Start to build up some decent speed and keep edging with your kite at 1 o’clock if you are riding right foot forward (11 o’clock if you have your left foot forward). Move your hands to the centre of the bar so that you don’t turn the kite while rotating. Stand up off your edge for a meter or two, then edge hard upwind to start the backward rotation and release the edge, throwing the nose of your board upwind and turning your head to look over your front shoulder (in this example your right shoulder).

Lift your knees towards your chest a little to help you stay balanced in the air and to make the rotation easier. Remember that your body will rotate around your head and shoulders so stay committed and keep looking over that shoulder until you come around and spot your landing. Spot your landing and straighten your legs for impact. Bend your knees slightly as you hit the water to absorb the impact and ride away. Your kite should have stayed pretty much in the same place throughout the move.

Back Roll Video Demonstration

Common Mistakes

• Once you’ve started the rotation backward you don’t throw your head around over your shoulder – this causes you to only turn half-way around and land backwards
  You must commit to the back roll and throw your head and shoulders around, and then your body will follow.
• You don’t pop off the water enough and turn too flat
  Try to pop a bit harder so you rotate with your body more vertical, not horizontal. You can also bring your kite back toward 12 to do a small jump as you go for the back roll – just remember to redirect your kite back down again so you don’t land with the kite behind you.
• You land with your kite going back toward or past 12 o’clock
  Keep your hands close to the centre of the bar, and when coming in to land, consciously pull a bit more on your front hand to bring kite down into the window again.

Back Roll | Image: kitesports.co.za

We love hearing from you, so if you have any questions, or back roll tips of your own, please share them in the comments below.

Written by

Calvin Da Silva (Kitesports)

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Kitesurfing Progression: Back Roll was published by inMotion Kitesurfing.

The wind was pumping and kites were flying high as Lewis Crathern wowed the judges to win this ‘Mega’ kiteboarding event in Cape Town!

Lewis Crathern

Crathern, from Worthing in the UK, went up against Sam Light (UK) and Gianni Aragno (ESP) in the final. “I was just stoked to have been in the final with two of my best friends. A megaloop isn’t the easiest trick because you have to try and get height while trying to get your kite as horizontal as possible. I’ve been coming to Cape Town to kiteboard for the last six years and I love it here. The people are friendly and the weather and wind conditions are perfect here,” he commented.

LEN10 MegaLoop Challenge Podium | © Kolesky/Nikon/Red Bull Content Pool

Brainchild of Red Bull Athlete and ‘King of the Megaloop’ Ruben Lenten (NED), the LEN10 Megaloop Challenge saw 24 participants compete in a format new to kiteboarding competitions. Ruben remarked: “All the riders and spectators were excited about the format which gives the guys time to pull their best moves and score high. I’m happy that such a big crowd came down to see the guys pull some gnarly tricks and see some pretty epic wipe-outs too – which is just as much part of kiteboarding as landing the trick.”

Participants were scored on the height, technique and the style with which they executed the megaloop.

Ruben Lenten Demo | © Kolesky/Nikon/Red Bull Content Pool

LEN10 Megaloop Challenge winner, Crathern and the other finalists had decided before they went out for the final to split the prize money – it wasn’t about the prize but rather spending a good day out doing what they love. He does, however, walk away with a one-of-a-kind trophy and a photo shoot with renowned South African action sports photographer, Craig Kolesky.

Ruben Lenten is keen to bring the competition back even bigger in 2013 and throw himself into the mix. “We’re going to push the limits of kiteboarding even more.”

Ruben Lenten Demo | © Kolesky/Nikon/Red Bull Content Pool

You can read more about the “King of the MegaLoop”, Ruben Lenten and the MegaLoop Challenge here.

If you were lucky enough to be at the competition in Big Bay, we’d love to hear about it in the comments below…

PS: If you enjoyed this article, help spread the word by clicking the share buttons below.

LEN10 MegaLoop Challenge: Lewis Crathern Wins was published by inMotion Kitesurfing.

The LEN10 Megaloop Challenge!

Every summer Ruben Lenten, King of the Megaloop, heads down to Cape Town, South Africa to enjoy the warm sunny weather and awesome wind conditions Cape Town is so famous for.

This year Ruben and his mate Aaron Hadlow, are challenging 24 amateur kiteboarders to compete in the LEN10 Megaloop Challenge in Big Bay, Bloubergstrand.

Final Competition Results

Ruben Lenten and Table Mountain in Cape Town

Big Air Big Score

“A megaloop is when you go full circle with the kite – right through the power zone. As judges, Aaron and I will be looking at the style, height, length, enthusiasm and speed each kiteboarder executes their Megaloop with”, says Ruben. In true kiteboarding tradition the best wipe-out will also be rewarded.

Since the competition requires wind speeds upwards of 30 knots, a window period from the 16th to the 26th of February 2012 has been secured to ensure optimal wind conditions.

The winner on the day will take home R10 000 and a photo shoot with renowned action sports photographer Craig Kolesky.

Ruben Lenten – Blouberg, Cape Town

How to Enter

There are two ways to get yourself into the running for this Mega Challenge.

• Submit a video of your gnarliest kiteloop to Ruben’s facebook page
• Register for the trials event which will take place on the 11th or 12th of February 2012 (depending on the wind) at Blouberg Beach, by submitting your details here

Ruben Lenten’s Rundown of the Challenge

If you think you have what it takes, and you want in on the action, head over to www.redbull.co.za for more information.

Follow the LEN10 Megaloop Challenge on: Twitter: @RedBullZA (#LEN10Megaloop)

Aaron Hadlow – Last Loop for the Day!

About Ruben Lenten

Ruben Lenten (NED) was just twelve years old when he took up the sport of Kiteboarding. With no kiting schools around in the early days of the sport, Ruben had to learn the hard way – taking four long months of crashing and swimming back to shore to get up (and stay up on the board). Once he got the hang of it he knew that this would be a way to express himself and started riding as much as he could.

Ruben Lenten Looking Stoked

Soon, at the age of 14, a coach (Former Dutch National champion, Steph de Jong) and a sponsor recognised Ruben’s talent. This gave him the opportunity to start travelling and developing skills faster. Within three years he competed on the highest level and was the Number 2 Kiteboarder in the world – second only to one of his now best friends, Aaron Hadlow.

In 2005, Ruben took top honours in Red Bull King of the Air in Maui, Hawaii where he competed in the big air format against his legendary watersports athlete Robbie Naish, and defeating Robbie right on his home turf.

Right before the start of the 2006 World Tour, Ruben had a serious crash leaving him injured and unable to compete in the first few events of the tour. With him unable to score points to keep his ranking, he decided not to compete but rather focus on freeriding and finding new challenges.

Since then his focus has remained on, as he puts it, “doing some pretty gnarly tricks with my kite”. He’s all about big air and loves riding in the strongest winds. “I’m pretty stoked to have kiteboarding as my job. The ocean is my playground, what more could I ask for?”

Ruben Lenten – Blouberg, Cape Town

Ruben is dedicated to pushing the sport and developing kiteboarding gear as much as possible, all while doing some pretty extreme stuff on his kiteboard.

Follow Ruben Lenten on Facebook and Twitter.

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LEN10 Megaloop Challenge: Extreme Kiteboarding Event was published by inMotion Kitesurfing.

This tutorial continues from the first and second in our series of kitesurfing tutorials, Riding Upwind and learning How to Jump. If you missed these lessons, and you are learning to kitesurf, you might want to read them as well.

Board Grab

Now that you’ve mastered your jumps, start to throw a bit more style into it by getting a grab in. The easiest grabs to start with are the Tail Grab or Indy Grab.

Tail Grab

Keep your hands closer to the centre of the bar so that you don’t turn the kite once you take your one hand off. As soon as you are in the air and you have your kite in position above your head, take your back hand off the bar, bend your knees and grab the tail of your board. To start with just grab the part of the board that feels most comfortable to you.

Board Grab Sequence | Rider: Sinisa

Hold the grab for as long as you can and preferably through the highest point of your jump. Once you start coming down put both hands back on the bar, spot your landing and once you are close to the water, redirect your kite in the direction you want to ride away in.

Indy Grab

With the Indy Grab, you grab the board on the toeside edge (the side of your board your toes point to) directly between your feet.

Indy Grab | Rider: Stevo

Indy Grab Instructional Video

Once you master the Tail Grab and Indy Grab, start thinking about grabbing the board in other areas of your board (see diagram below), or extending one of your legs once you’ve grabbed the board to tweak it out and add more style.

Board Grab Positions

These grabs can be combined with any other aerial trick, taking your kitesurfing progression to new heights.

As always, we love hearing from you, so feel free to ask questions in the comments below and we will happily help you.

Written by

Calvin Da Silva (Kitesports)

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.

Kitesurfing Progression: Board Grab was published by inMotion Kitesurfing.

This tutorial continues from the first in our series of kitesurfing progression tutorials, Riding Upwind. If you missed that lesson, and you are learning to kitesurf, you might want to read it as well.

The Take Off

Firstly, you want to be powered and staying upwind. Keep the kite between 1 and 2 o’clock if you’re riding right foot forward, build up some decent speed and power, and keep edging hard.

Take Off | Edge Hard

Release Your Edge | Bend Your Knees

Throw the kite back quickly from 1 o’ clock to around 11 o’clock, pull in the bar and KEEP EDGING. You will get to the point where enough tension has been built up that you won’t be able to edge any more and the kite will launch you off the water. Bring your knees up toward your chest to help keep you stable and prevent you from swinging around under the kite.

Edging

Bring your Knees to your Chest

This is the key to getting your jumps sorted. If you release your edge too early you will get no height and land with speed downwind. Your goal is to go straight up and straight back down.

Landing your Jump

Once you are in the air, get the kite straight up above you (12 o’clock) and keep holding the bar in to get some good lift and hang time. Once you are on the way down, spot your landing and straighten your legs to absorb the impact on landing. It is important that you don’t lock your knees when landing, as you might hurt them on impact. Keep your knees slightly bent to help absorb the impact. About a meter above the water dive the kite back down toward 1 or 2 o’clock where it was before you initiated the jump. This will give you forward momentum to make your landing softer and get you riding away smoothly after the landing. Remember to point your front leg downwind toward your kite so you ride away in the direction your kite is pulling you.

Key Tip

Don’t release that edge too early at the start of your jump. Wait for the kite to pull you off your edge and up into the air.

Common Mistakes:

• Not getting much height or lift
  You need to be going faster and EDGE hard to build up tension in the lines between you and your kite to pull you off the water.
• Not getting much height or lift
  You aren’t bringing the kite back quickly enough past 12 o’ clock and you might also not be pulling the bar in to generate more power and lift as the kite is sweeping back past 12.
• Losing balance in the air or swinging around under the kite
  Lift up your knees toward your chest so your legs are bent. Also, don’t push off the water too hard with your back leg because that can initiate a spin (like a back roll).
• Landing hard or falling out of the sky with kite going behind you
  You need to bring the kite back from 11 to 12 so it is above you while floating through the air. Then just before landing redirect it toward 1 or 2 o’ clock to pull you sideways and downwind a bit.
• Your legs skid out underneath you on landing
  Point your front leg toward the kite so you land riding downwind, otherwise you land with both feet square to the kite and the board slides out from under you.

Click on the thumbnails below to see a full jump sequence demonstrating the main steps, or watch the slideshow.

Here’s a great instructional video on jumping from our friends at Progression:

As always, we would love to hear from you… if you are battling with your jumping, feel free to ask questions in the comments below and we will be happy to help you.

Written by

Calvin Da Silva (Kitesports)

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.

Kitesurfing Progression: How to Jump was published by inMotion Kitesurfing.

The swell was SW 3.4 m at 11 seconds and was pushing a solid 4-5ft mid-break that had power, was hollow and grinding. The wind was NE 12-14 knots, but with a counter current on the inside, we had the power we needed.

Toeside Wave Riding Advantages

Kite beach in Durban has a more onshore wind and lends itself to toeside wave riding. For those who are new to the wave riding side of kitesurfing, toeside wave riding is where you edge against the kite and once mastered allows the rider the benefit of having a brake (your board or hand) and an accelerator (the kite) as well as a balancing bar (the kite bar) – all these combine to make it a very effective way of riding barrels. On this particular day, the shore break was unforgiving and was not for the faint-hearted. If you crashed your kite, chances are you would not get it back into the air as the counter current was preventing it from re-launching. Scott Hunter had a bad day in the water and tore 2 of his kites in an hour. The boys were pushing the limit, but were paying the price. They had to commit to the barrel as there weren’t many doors being left open.

What this session emphasised was how each form of wave riding has its place and how if you use the kite in right way you can take full advantage of the conditions. There were a few kiters out there that were dominating the session, whereas for most it was a matter of survival. The difference was in the way that they used their equipment to put them in the right position. Wave riding is an art and each form of wave riding is very technical and different – here are a few tips and shots from the day that will help you with this style of riding.

Toeside Wave Riding Tips & Tricks

Craig Chrystal | Photography by Ryan Joffe

Craig Chrystal was one of the standouts – here he is seen loving the intensity! The best tip for toeside riding is to get your speed up. A lot of riders ride on their back foot too much but the trick is to get your weight forward to get your drive – notice how Craig is leaning forward here. Once you have the speed you can direct it and change the angle of the wind. The trick is being able to get the speed so that you don’t need to fly your kite too much. It is also about your kite position – too high and it pulls you off the wave and doesn’t give you drive – get the kite and the board to work together.

Getting Barreled with a Kite

Rob Chrystal Getting Barreled | Photography by Ryan Joffe

Rob Chrystal using his trailing arm to bleed the speed and find the green room. You can use your arm in the wall of the wave to stall or slow yourself down – as he does this he depowers the kite a little as well. Always be aware of your lines in the barrel and carry a hook knife just in case!

Cut Back Tips

Peter Bolton | Photography by Ryan Joffe

Peter Bolton shows off a very effective cut back. The trick is not to lose too much speed; you do not want to come out of this manoeuvre with no speed as it will bring you back into the pit. So try bring your kite a little higher when you do this just in case you need to dive it to get you out of the pocket. Rail to rail surfing – it is all about transferring your weight from the one rail to the next at the right time – a good kite will also not stall and delay before re-engaging – allowing you power throughout this move.

Floater Tips

Rob Chrystal | F-One | Photography by Ryan Joffe

Rob Chrystal Floats a thick section! The floater is a great move that allows you to get around sections but if you drive off the top you can use this to generate speed and it also helps you stay on the face of the wave. Again – make sure you don’t pull the kite back as you want to keep the motion going forward in the same direction as the kite.

So next time you have some onshore winds, even if you have small surf, get on it and start honing your toeside skills so the next time you are faced with decent swell you can make the most of it. The more you practice the easier it will get until it all gels together.

Written by

Rob Chrystal

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Toeside Wave Riding Tips was published by inMotion Kitesurfing.

‘Riding Upwind’ is the first in our new series of progression tutorials brought to you by Calvin Da Silva from Kitesports, a reputable kiteboarding shop based near Durban, South Africa.

Calvin is a qualified IKO Instructor at Kitesports and one of their most accomplished team riders.

BTW: If you haven’t started kitesurfing yet, but you are thinking about learning, may we suggest our Beginners Guide to Kitesurfing: Getting Started.

How to Ride Upwind

So you’re up and riding and addicted to kiteboarding! All that’s left is to ride upwind so you can forget about that walk of shame back up the beach to have another go. The key to staying upwind is to have enough power in the kite so that you can keep it in one position and ride. Keep the kite at 11 o’clock if you’re riding left foot forward and open your head, hips and shoulders to face the direction you want to ride in. Lean your shoulders back away from the bar, which automatically puts weight on your heels and sinks your board edge into the water.

Dean Bottcher

Correct Riding Stance

Your stance is also a key element here. Keep your hips more forward, not back as if you are sitting on the toilet. There’s a well known saying for this, but I will spare you the details for the sake of our younger more innocent readers… Also, keep your front leg pretty straight and bend your back leg – this will shift your weight back and help you to apply more pressure on the back edge of the board which will shoot you upwind. The key is to get a balance between board speed and amount of edging against the kite so you continue to go forward without stopping or having to go downwind toward your kite.

Say goodbye to those irritating walks back upwind!

Correct Stance – Dean Bottcher

Common Mistakes

• You keep sinking back down into the water
  Ride slightly downwind first to pick up some speed before you start edging against the kite. Also don’t put too much pressure on your back foot – this will turn the board upwind too much, effectively putting a brake on your forward momentum. You might also be ‘parking’ the kite too soon. ‘Work’ the kite in a wave-motion down and up to build up some more speed before you park it at around 45 degrees.
• You get pulled downwind at speed
  Straighten your front leg and bend your back leg to get more weight over your back foot. Think of your front foot as an accelerator and your back foot as a brake – the more you push on your front foot the faster you go, the more you push on your back foot the slower you go. You might also be ‘working’ the kite too much. Just park it at around 45 degrees and edge harder.

As always, we would love to hear from you… if you are struggling to stay upwind, feel free to ask questions in the comments below and we will be happy to help you.

Written by

Calvin Da Silva (Kitesports)

To learn more about Kitesports, visit their website at: www.kitesports.co.za

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Kitesurfing Progression: Riding Upwind 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

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