Ok I've got back rolls and transitions with 360 back spin under my belt. I now want to move onto a forward roll. What's the best (read safest) way to approach my first attempt at this move other than having a bucket full of commitment...
My advice to start with, keep the kite highish, dont send it just load up and as you pop off your back foot roll over your forward shoulder, it helps to take off your back hand half way to avoid confusion when landing (as with backrolls)
I actually found when learning the forward I did have to send the kite and then as it pulled me up to pop of my back foot and throw over the front shoulder. So essentially the same as Shannon does it but definetly use kite. I found trying to learn it kiteless I just smashed onto my back. As you get better at them you can send the kite even more and get nice lofty, slow ones as well as multiple rotations. His point on redirecting is spot on, don't leave it too late or get confused which hand to pull with. Forwards are a much nicer sensation than backs IMHO.
I have been trying front rolls lately and always semm to come back to the landing with the kite screaming down in a dive - oh **** hang on. Makes for some fun but a nice smooth landing would be nice. I'm trying not to conciously pull down the front hand but must be hey? Any advice?
Kurt, if you mean coming down in a dive and slamming into the water I have no idea what you're doing wrong, that's never happened to me. However if you mean coming down in a dive as in shooting across the power zone, ripping you along with it and then stopping at the edge of the window with you sinking back in the water it could mean you're redirecting TOO early. This happened to me a lot and still does when I get lazy doing any sort of spin. If this is the case, and your hands are on the ends of the bar, concentrate on only redirecting as the spin is almost complete and you are spotting the landing. Alternatively move your hands in on the bar right up against the chicken loop and continue your timing as usual. Hope I haven't been confusing...
It going to feel unco the first few times and the kite will end up in the wrong spot, usually too far back. If you do send the kite back a bit to launch, i find you have to pull fairly hard forward to get the kite going back in the direction of travel.
After a while the front loop is easier than the back, in terms of effort. This is because you eventually start doing it by edging the board hard for an instant just before you get lifted out, this stops the board ( and your feet) and begins the tumble type motion foward of your upper body. ps - make sure you get your board over your head otherwise theres no point. piroet ( spelling?) rolls with hand above head just looks stupid, in my opinion.
The other advice would be similar to how i was taught to barefoot water ski by my helpful brother. "20 crashes and you'll have it". He was right.
thanks one and all for your advice. didn't get the opportunity over the weekend to attempt any forward rolls as i was too busy practising my wave riding technique once the swell has gone i'll get back to attempting this new feat...
Airhead, Having read the advice the others have given you you should be fine. I think Jess is right about using the kite the get air while you are learning. I had heaps of problems learning forwards and finnally learned to do it in transition. I dropped my front hand and as I felt the pull I tucked my arm, sholder and head under my back arm and it just worked. Another piece of advice I was given was to bring your front knee to your front elbow while trying to rotate. I didn't use this advice but now that I can do forwards it makes sense so it might help you. So do try using (jumping) the kite on your first attempts and later you can do it without. Also try the transition, I think they are loads easier! Good luck!
once the swell has gone i'll get back to attempting this new feat...
