WA
1397 posts
I'm getting into the waves now, having more or less nailed jybing on my surfboard.
This morning I was going flat out trying to get over a maybe 2 meter wave breaking in front of me. I just made it and went full speed up a very steep face and flew! thought I was heading for the moon and karked myself, board went one way, kite another, big disaster.
I didn't really send the kite or anything.
I need to try jumping in a more controlled wayi think! Presume white water, small faces and send the kite before going over the precipice is the way to go?
Any tips on learning to control ( or at least survive! )hitting steep faces in the surf would be much appreciated!
VIC
960 posts
I did something similar on my twin tip. I was about 10cm off the top of the water, but would have sworn I was 10metres up!
I am too new to give advice. Everything I've seen has suggested keeping your front foot higher than the back, knees slightly bent, and essentially, recreating the water start position with your board pointing downwind...
But I have no idea. I suck. Progression Beginner (end of disk 1 and all of 2) focuses on jumping.
QLD
147 posts
As I don't think this is a very active forum (newbies side) I will respond but take it under advice although a good TT rider, I have never ridden a surfboard (well kiting wise anyways) through large swell. The trick to getting over large swell is to lift the kite slightly and **** your weight onto your rear foot. You can clear well over head height white wash quite easily by just popping up the face and putting all the weight over your rear foot.
But a basic guide to jumping... edge and send the kite from around 11 to 12, try not sending it too far past 12 initially and dont think that sending it from lower will assist you any more in the early stages of jumping! As you get more confident you will send the kite further through the window and also be learning to pop correctly by firstly releasing your edge to gain board speed and then progressively edging against the kite to gain more of an 'explosive' exit from the surface.
As I said, can't comment on surf boards but the principles are very much the same.
WA
1397 posts
Thank for the tips guys!
Went out again this arvo in smaller surf, and sending the kite before hitting the wave feels good. You get a bit of a lift before smacking into the white water.
I think with my situation with the critical breaking wave right in front of you, you just have to accept you are going to go into orbit and control the jump, or maybe turn around and run away from the beast.
I have to say, going in and out of the waves is one of the most exhilarating things... Flying through the flat white froth with a monster gargling behind you, plus threading your way out, at full speed, through the breaking wave is such a buzz. I was laughing hard, even at my crashes!
Such fun
VIC
4501 posts
Lift your kite up on the wave face and dive it down the other side was always the solution for me. I.e. let the kite follow the contour of the wave. Obviously any time you have a lot of speed you're effectively treating the wave like a ramp irrespective of what you do with your kite.
NSW
126 posts
Hi Dave know what you mean, is a buzz hammering in and out through waves even if your not riding the face.
If I'm in the same situation screaming out to get over a face and don't want to get launched I either jam it upwind as I'm going up the face (takes a lot of speed off) and just drop over the back or veer off downwind and pull the knees up as going over the peak, diffuses the launch risk. Doesn't always work on the real critical ones.
After having smoothly landed a big accidental launch I'm now looking to get more of it.
