I'm just starting to unhook and have asked for advice a couple weeks back which helped, cheers :)
I have been practicing: edging, veering off downwind, unhooking, hold an edge for a second, veer off downwind again and hook back in.
Got all down pat in light winds after a few hours practice, so I though I would try and put a jump in there. Problem is that any air I get, I go horizontal rather than vertical. I try and pop a bit, but I just go about 30 cm high, and 5 meters downwind.
What is the secret to popping well unhooked? Should I be bringing the kite up and unhooking just before I take off. Or unhook, then bring the kite up (which is what I have been doing)?
you don't want to be bringing your kite up at all when you pop. Just leave it at 45 and just keep practicing popping harder and try it with more power.
I assume you're keeping the kite a bit too low if you only jump 30cm high and 5m downwind. Keeping the kite too high will be harder to pop, you'll be dangling instead of using the pop to get height. Keeping the kite on about 45degrees seems to work for me, elbows down to keep your hands close to the centre of gravity, and practice.
Most unhooked tricks involve going a fair way horizontal due to the nature of the load and pop. The amount of vertical depends on the angle of the kite when you do this.
Hold the kite at 45 (or angling slightly upwards) when you load and pop.
As you unhook turn away from your kite ( upwind quickly )( you only edge at this time!) with bent arms and as soon as you pop and feel the power of the kite straighten your arms and go with it! the pull will kick in a second time once your airborne.
This way you can always pull yourself back into the bar if you need to get you feet under you in a hurry to land
Its just a big S turn , unhook at the start, veer off wind for a split second , then turn against it. The kite wants to go downwind and your creating pull by turning against it, then the pop is when you leave the water and accelarate to catch up with the kite again. ( the faster you can do this the better ) The more horizontal the better.
If you land fast and cant hook back in you can either , grab the chicken loop with one hand let go of the bar for a second and hook it back in( this is easier than it sounds ) . Or if you can ride fast , turn more downwind , this will help you catch up with the kite speed makeing the pull of the kite stall and then you will have a quick window to hook in.
theres no sending the kite to 12
