Well saffieboy this is what works for me for big jumps 7to 8 mt,, send kite from 10.30 to 1.00 edge up hard at same time, pull bar in and about at 3mt up push bar out to where you had it for before jump most likely 8 to 10 inches, then your kite will be trimmed properly for the conditions. Then bring kite back to 12 at top of jump untill just before landing ,then redirect at 1.5 to 2m .If you keep bar in during jump your kite can stall and will not come directly over the top of you for a soft landing. Try standing on beach with kite at 12 pull bar in and kite will back stall ,as soon as you let bar out for correct trim kite will rise over head easy.this one bit of advise has made all the difference for me hope it helps you two

Saffieboy,depends what you mean by hitting hard?
Do you mean like falling straight down out of the sky like a brick,or moving really fast down wind and hitting hard?or both maybe.
Two different things with two different solutions.

When I started jumping,had a similar problem and found it was(for me anyway) that I wasnt edging hard enough against the kite before take off and tended to swing under it and kite would fly too far over my head,lose power and I would get some good height but fall out of the sky.EDGE HARD.
Once in the air I tend to keep fully sheeted in(max power).
I leave the water after hard edging with kite at 1ish then once reaching apex of boost fly the kite straight above till a second or two before touch down,dive kite back into the power.
The trick is to keep power in the kite through out the jump.
If its a really high jump you may need to fly the kite around back and forth above you to keep power on.
Hope this helps,hard to put it in words,tends to be a bit of a feel thing that comes with time on the water.
What kite you flying?
Some kite require a bit different technique but basically the same process.
Someone who flies the same kite maybe able to help with a few pointers.

If wind is strong and your really powered you wont have to dive the kite hard on landing as you do in lighter winds.
Different winds and conditions, depend on how aggressive you have to be.
You learn pretty quick what not to do

I find whenever I let the bar out at the apex of my jump I get softer landings than if I hold the bar in for the whole jump. Still working on it though

If there is a problem it usually starts with the takeoff. Edge hard as the comments say above but the purpose of this is to maintain your edge as long as possible before the take off. If you come off your edge, you will lose power and get taken straight downwind for an ugly landing. Watch the good guys jumping, they edge right until the take off maintaining the tension in the lines.

hold the bar on the whole time.. dont let it off.. keep powered..
once you peak your jump and feel yourself start to decend thats when you need to pull on your front hand to bring the kite down again. not much you just want it facing to the side of the window. then when you land pull the kite down the power

Saffie

1. Learn where the True wind is coming from - this makes a huge difference to hard or soft landings !!!

2. Use depower to trim your kite (according to wind strength) maybe 3 inches to bar.. to maintain lift and not serious stall..

3. Go back to small jumps & learn how to edge - load & jump directly upwind (once u figure out where that is) with the bar full in - never sheet out

4. Then try some downwind jumps, this will teach you the difference between distance & Height jumps. Youll understand the difference in landing speed.

5. Now jump very High look at kite & learn to steer it with the xtra playtime up there you will have to pull that front hand down harder than you think to get your landing timing right...

remember - its better to kick the board off, ( if its all gone Pear shaped ) & try again - rather than KRASH land your Knees & ankles every time for nothing !!

This workd for mee

Cheers

For the benefit of other learners...
Went out today and when I commited and edged really hard right up till getting airborne, I popped straight up into the air and had better control over my jump (as opposed to jumping down wind and being a bit out of control).
As for holding the bar all the way in, I was too over powered. But I did keep it where I was just before popping up. Landed a few more already!!
Thanks all.

TOW TOW TOW TOW (Time On Water)

lovey said...

i ride rebel 08's and if you let the bar out anywhere during the jump you're gunna get a heavy landing...

I agree, keep the bar on..