I have studied the technique for a few years but appart from looping on the water, I never quite had the guts to throw one mid-air.
Getting older so the window is closing fast and finally threw it yesterday
First one was scary but awesome Second one was perfect Third one was ok 4th one mint 5th one, I got absolutely smashed and broke a rib
Didn't think it was possible to hit the water this hard, I was fully winded, still getting dragged by the kite after impact and could see all those shiny little sparkles in my vision. Looks like impact vests are not just for kooks
Main concern is that I am back to square one as I will once again be pretty scared of pulling the trigger when I finally make it back on the water
seems to be contagious, I did one two weeks ago and bingles had to copy me straight away. so in two or three weeks we're all busting the loops
I hope your rib's ok, but now you've claimed it you've gotta prove it, so when i get back from japan i expect to see some nice loopy loops from you sir.
Just get out there in a few weeks and pull the pin!
I was at Cervantes yesterday and got clipped taking off on a wave face making me spin, as I was mid backroll spotted my kite looping out the corner of my eye not far off the water. I managed to sheet the bar out and take the sting of my landing. Thought to myself how bad it could have been.
Thought the best thing to do today was to back it up and looped on the first run out. Confidence has since returned.
NickT said... got clipped taking off on a wave face making me spin, as I was mid backroll spotted my kite looping out the corner of my eye not far off the water.
Jesus I just hate that feeling Only slightly better than the inadvertent spin with dropped kite in the impact zone
Must be contagious or something in the air right now as I pulled the trigger this weekend as well and pulled off my first loops. I did the opposite, got smashed twice trying, and the third time got lucky and pulled it off. Then Sat I managed to do a few in a row. That down loop after a big air is great for softening the landing, and the bonus is that it makes for a great transition. I probably should have practiced all this on a twin tip, but I managed to do it on a sb strapped in. Good times, no broken anything.....and hopefully will stay that way.
ps: is sure takes a lot to pull the trigger for the first time...and although I don't think my window is closing, (I am over 50) my injuries take longer to heal each year
Something similar happened to me; first kite loop was great, second one not so. I hit the water sideways at some stupid speed and my harness cracked one of my ribs. You may still be able to kite after a day or so albeit only with a nappy harness for the next 6-8 weeks. Expect a ribbing :)
Every kiteloop makes your improves your life dramatically but has the potential to shorten it just as dramatically. NickT can't wait to see you go apesh!t this winter when all the pussies pack up their kites in a few month's time when sh!t gets real.
Sunday was awesome Had the 8M out Down at isolators near Cottesloe for 3 hours
BUT as I was going back out my depower rope snapped in half(noticed the snapped rope the next day when trying to unravel the spaghetti mess) and then my day went to crap!!
Kite came within 50M of the groin and as I went to self rescue i was half way up the line and the kite decided to power up and nearly degloved 2 fingers!!
Lucky a surfer grabbed my board and my kite was saved, no damage!!
Guys at Kite Addiction replaced all the lines and now I'm good to go for another season!!
The lesson in all this is to check the condition of ALL your lines and ALL your equipment!!
Get to full height on your jump. As you reach the top, THEN slam the bar all the way down if you go soft halfway round that's when the kite spends too long moving through the power zone and you get that exciting rush of being slammed at full velocity sideways into the water Ya gotta commit !!!!
I just learnt backroll kite loops this weekend Almost easier than a basic backroll cause you've only got one thing to do with the kite and the landings are super smooth. Don't do them too high though cause over rotating can be nasty
And doing a self rescue Wind up just 1 steering line first, about 15 times around your bar. - that way the kite can't "decide" to self launch. Cause it's always flagged to 1 line
