Can anyone offer any insight into how to go big on rotations (front roll/backroll), hooked in.
What I want to do is the 'late' backroll and front roll during a big boost. I can do them consistently load and pop style, but typically don't get much height. I can get some good height if the trick is executed using the face of a wave as a ramp, but on flat water height is limited.
Looking at the videos of the pros it seems they just wait until theyre about 2 thirds of the way up and then throw the head over the front shoulder to initiate the roll.
Does this require any more skills than what I have already developed or is it just a question of having the balls to do it? I think the biggest risk is over rotating in this scenario.
Select to expand quoteCJ2478 said..
Looking at the videos of the pros it seems they just wait until theyre about 2 thirds of the way up and then throw the head over the front shoulder to initiate the roll.
I've been doing powered backrolls for a bit, just really building more and more send into the trick. What I did find that you rely far less on the rotation from the water and more initiating rotation (& stopping rotation) by twisting your body. I don't recall any "AHA" moment, just more and more spatial awareness and comfort in the trick to keep experimenting. Select to expand quoteDoes this require any more skills than what I have already developed or is it just a question of having the balls to do it? I think the biggest risk is over rotating in this scenario.
STOPPING rotation is the best thing to work on. Try sending a little bit more, then once the rotation is complete try twisting your board back the other way.
Here's one of my fave vids of Ewan not only stopping rotation but completely reversing it mid jump:
www.facebook.com/ewanjaspankite/videos/1234886213203021/
Biggest risk with rotating at height is losing track of your kite and losing your lift
Splat bang ouch
Is really something you work up to but you don't necessarily need massive height to get time in the air, you can figure out your rotation speed on longer low glides
grabs can help with controlling rotation as well
Yep I agree with Rails, kite control is everything during big rotations.
You can safely throw one or multiple big rotations as long as you can manage to keep your kite directly above your head. It's the hardest part really, usually one small mistake with kite control and you eat $hit !
Keeping your body taller will slow your rotation down, bending your knees will accelerate the rotation.
I also find that grabs help control the rotation. And yes, the bigger you go the later you can start initiating the rotation.
Christian
Get use to landing toe side off big boosts is a thing I learnt for doing big rotations. If you over rotate it then becomes second nature to twist the hips into toe side instead of panicking and bailing out or trying for an extra spin.
Don't forget to dive your kite before your landing, otherwise your weight will pull the kite forward ahead of the wind window and fall onto your head 
Another big risk is looping the kite. Can really give you some serious whiplash landing backwards whilst desperately looking for where the kite went!
Thanks for all the tips.
I have come unstuck in the past with losing track of exactly where the kite is while getting yanked through the air backwards and the results arent fun.
Any tips on keeping track of the kite's location in the air? Does anyone find switching to the "B" setting on the wingtip pigtails for heavier bar pressure lets you feel what the kite is up to better without having to look at it?
Select to expand quoteCJ2478 said..
Thanks for all the tips.
I have come unstuck in the past with losing track of exactly where the kite is while getting yanked through the air backwards and the results arent fun.
Any tips on keeping track of the kite's location in the air? Does anyone find switching to the "B" setting on the wingtip pigtails for heavier bar pressure lets you feel what the kite is up to better without having to look at it?
just take it to 12. keep it there while you do your mad stunts, then as you begin to descent, turn the kite again. You'll get better with feeling the kite as you go.
Select to expand quoteflyingcab said..CJ2478 said..
Thanks for all the tips.
I have come unstuck in the past with losing track of exactly where the kite is while getting yanked through the air backwards and the results arent fun.
Any tips on keeping track of the kite's location in the air? Does anyone find switching to the "B" setting on the wingtip pigtails for heavier bar pressure lets you feel what the kite is up to better without having to look at it?
just take it to 12. keep it there while you do your mad stunts, then as you begin to descent, turn the kite again. You'll get better with feeling the kite as you go.
Re: getting yanked backwards
you'll probably want to keep giving a few light pulls on you way up with your front hand to keep it at twelve and then when you are coming down a stronger pull with the front hand to get it going again in the direction of travel, if you overdo it in that direction you can usually front loop the landing which is fairly safe
Frontroll to toeside transition with a downloop is a good way to start getting a feel,
god I wish there was some wind 
Ok try this.
Have your back hand half way along the bar and your front hand next to the chicken looP.
Boost as big as you can by sending the kite up and back at 45deg ,but edge really really hard so you don't get bulled downwind and are going upwind slightly. This will give your jump maximum height and reduce the spread travelled downwind. At the last moment just before you are pulled off the water, throw your head and shoulders forward and extend your back leg to start a forward rotation. Don't be too aggressive here you only want enough rotation to get yourself upside down. Just think about rotating to get your feel above your head rather than a full rotation. As you get upside down extend your front leg, bend your back leg and poke it out. At the same time take your back hand off the bar( this will stop you pulling the kite the wrong way if you get disoriented). By poking out the board you can stall the rotation and balance upside down for a second or two. For extra style points grab the tail of the board. However under no circumstances grab the rail between the tail and your feet this is a tindy grab and is only used to show support for same sex marriage. (Unless of course you want to show your support, and there is nothing wrong with that)
As you start to drop let your feet drop to continue the rotation but still hold the grab as this will again stop over rotation.
Pull slightly with your front hand which should be the only hand you have on the bar, and it's placed close to the chicken loop. With your hand here you will be able to hold the bar in to keep the power in the kite and will stop you pulling the bar too hard and looping the kite.
Look down to judge your hight and prepare for the landing. Extend your legs or take the landing and put your back hand back onto the bar.
I sounds like a lot going on but really all you are doing extra is sending the kite, poking it out, and taking your back hand off the bar.
