Feedback and questions from a delighted beginner

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mikekx102
mikekx102
WA
70 posts
WA, 70 posts
20 Apr 2008 10:01pm
Today was the best session EVER!!

I've just started using a Slingshot Rev (11m) (not mine- but going to buy one) and have been amazed with it, its like my 7m on steroids, and because of this I have been getting lots of time on the water, which is excellent!

I started this January, and now i've just started riding unhooked, riding toe-side, jumping and doing fast turns and maneuvers, but i've got some questions...

When I'm riding unhooked on the 11m I feel insecure and as if I will die if I get hit by a big gust. Is this because I'm too powered up? Is this a normal feeling for the first time someone does this? I think I'll try it on my 7m next, so that I'm in more control

When I jump, I usually land with no forward momentum and splatter and sink. Sometimes the lines go slack, as if the kite is outside the wind window. How do I fix this so I can land and keep riding??

When I'm riding toe-side I riding with one hand on the bar so that I can use the other hand to balance and try to edge more, but I find that I loose speed and cant edge very hard at all. How do I fix this to edge harder while keeping some speed?

I love this kite! I've also got a 7m Rev aswell. I weigh 63kg and I have found that these 2 kites cover most of the wind speeds I have encountered. When the wind is from 19 - 24 knots, I can use either kite, so its good that there's some overlap, but is there anything I should know when I buy the kite? Any good advice? On maintainence or riding with it?

Yeah, so how do I edge when I'm riding toe-side while keeping up speed, how do I keep some forward momentum while jumping so that I can continue riding and how powered up should I be when I'm riding un-hooked?

Thanks guys, sorry about the long post and good wind to everyone, Mike
TheChad
TheChad
QLD
142 posts
QLD, 142 posts
21 Apr 2008 10:29am
I'm probably at a similar stage and i have noticed a few things.

When riding toeside (i can only ride toeside goofy) I tend to have more wieght on the back foot so the board is not level with the water, and this slows me down alot. The greater the length of board in the water the faster it'l go.
As for lines going slack when jumping, same thing was happening with me and mostly because i wasn't edging hard enough just before poping of the water, so i was swinging under the kite a little bit.
Leeds
Leeds
NSW
209 posts
NSW, 209 posts
21 Apr 2008 10:37am
ive found riding toe side i used to do the same thing

im pretty sure its because i wasnt turning my body enough and as a result i end up just going down wind too much or not keeping my speed up

The Chad is also right with not being balanced and putting too much pressure on your back foot

as for when you jump i know what your talking about but i dont know how to explain it. i do the same thing in some jumps and others i land with heaps of speed
pretty sure its to do with not sending the kite too far and making sure you bring your kite back to where you started otherwise you swing under it and it stalls

im sure someone will be able to explain it better than me

good work either way
Kitehard
Kitehard
WA
2782 posts
WA, 2782 posts
21 Apr 2008 9:21am
mikekx102 said...

Today was the best session EVER!!

When I'm riding unhooked on the 11m I feel insecure and as if I will die if I get hit by a big gust. Is this because I'm too powered up? Is this a normal feeling for the first time someone does this? I think I'll try it on my 7m next, so that I'm in more control

It is a beginners mistake to try and ride with the biggest kite available to them, as you get more experienced you will understand the joy in flying the smallest kite you can be powered on. I always fly the smallest kite that I can plane with. Having said that, if you mneed to constantly work the kite to maintain speed, then you should be on a bigger kite.
When I jump, I usually land with no forward momentum and splatter and sink. Sometimes the lines go slack, as if the kite is outside the wind window. How do I fix this so I can land and keep riding??

It is likely that you are not edging on take off and are also not redirecting your kite forward soon enough. Again this is a beginners mistake. The most important thing is to make sure you have a good edge when you take off, and to start to redirect the kite forward just after the apex of the jump so you land with forward speed.

When I'm riding toe-side I riding with one hand on the bar so that I can use the other hand to balance and try to edge more, but I find that I loose speed and cant edge very hard at all. How do I fix this to edge harder while keeping some speed?

Firstly, if you are riding with a seat harness, get rid of it. A waist harness will be much better for toeside and blind. If you are riding in a waist, then make sure to consciously put weight on your new forward foot to keep the board trimmed. Also many people sheet out when rinding toeside, make sure you are keeping the bar in for full power, same goes for riding blind.
I love this kite! I've also got a 7m Rev aswell. I weigh 63kg and I have found that these 2 kites cover most of the wind speeds I have encountered. When the wind is from 19 - 24 knots, I can use either kite, so its good that there's some overlap, but is there anything I should know when I buy the kite? Any good advice? On maintainence or riding with it?

Yeah, so how do I edge when I'm riding toe-side while keeping up speed, how do I keep some forward momentum while jumping so that I can continue riding and how powered up should I be when I'm riding un-hooked?

Thanks guys, sorry about the long post and good wind to everyone, Mike


Apart from the answers up above, have a look at my website for other beginner/intermediate tricks and tips.

kiteboardingschool.com.au/index.php?option=com_content&task=section&id=14&Itemid=78

Good winds and glad you are enjoying the sport,


mikekx102
mikekx102
WA
70 posts
WA, 70 posts
21 Apr 2008 10:02pm
ok, so I need to balance my weight on the board better when riding toe-side, I need to ride with less power when trying un-hooked and I need to steer the kite down while i'm still in the air jumping to get some momentum upon landing?

How about kiteloops, would that get more distance and stop the problem, or is that too advanced and should be tried after I get everything else right?

Thanks guys!!
Kitehard
Kitehard
WA
2782 posts
WA, 2782 posts
21 Apr 2008 11:17pm
mikekx102 said...

ok, so I need to balance my weight on the board better when riding toe-side, I need to ride with less power when trying un-hooked and I need to steer the kite down while i'm still in the air jumping to get some momentum upon landing?

How about kiteloops, would that get more distance and stop the problem, or is that too advanced and should be tried after I get everything else right?

Thanks guys!!


Hi Mike,

I'd maybe give the kiteloops a miss until you can ride a little better. Most people when learning kiteloops smash the crap outa their kites and themselves.

You need good edging and jumping technique to execute a decent kiteloop in any case.

Good winds,

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