Kite loop

(a lot on the subject on the web) is like toothpaste: once you get it out of the container, you don’t push it back there. Once you start a kite loop, you don’t want to stop it. You have to complete it. This is the only thing one has to know about kite loops.

 

Still, this is a bit of a boolean dilemna: or you don’t start it, or otherwise you h’ve done it (complete it). Nothing but trouble in between the go / no-go options. I think this is the beauty of kite loops. Like with the first jumps, another area opens to you once you try.

 

The first time I completed a kite loop was a month ago when I was sitting having dinner alone during one of my missions abroad. I conceptualized the trick, I get prepared mentally, I thought about it seriously, and then that was it. Done.

 

Today I tried it for real, and I can report it went as planned: the fear was there, the boost and the speed were there, and “voila”. Easy but keep your ass tight. As I thought about it, and as the real word unfolded as planned, I am going to tell you how I see it. Disclaimers: (i) a lot of better advice on the web (ii) master some jumps and be able to locate your kite and to correct its movement rapidly (iii) don’t if you don’t feel you have completed mentally (my theory ; (iv) have a kite that rotates or course .

 

But first the twofold principle that everybody knows of course: (i) the faster the rotation the easier the trick. and (ii) the higher in the window the rotation, the smaller the power (boost) you will get. Unless you are a super hero, you have to initiate the rotation (of the kite) once it is at the zenith and after the apex of your jump (when the kite gave up its full power). Then you go and don’t stop, go, go, go, go (2 to 3 seconds it the duration I think). This is like jumping between two cliffs, super-easy as long as you keep going. So, the trick to me to make sure you don’t stop is to put your two hands on the same side of the bar. The more fear you will have the more you will pull and the faster the rotation and you will not be able to stop it -a good point. Now, there is (at least for me) a potential problem here: once you are done, you might put back the wrong hand on the wrong side of the bar… So be carefull and have a bar with colors to differenciate right and left if things go wrong.

 

Thank to the god of kitesurfers there are two basic drills you might want to try before you do your first kite look for good.

 

(i) Drill one: practicing while walking in shallow water: this one is easy and there is NO risk. The worst that can happens is your kite plunging full speed on the water -a situation we are witnessing quite often during our sessions, so no big deal. You walk on one side (as a mimic of you kiting) and you put your kite at the zenith, your back hand close to the center. Then swallow your saliva, cross your front hand below your back hand grabbing the end of the bar on the other side, PULL and , well…….. wait. Look at your kite, enjoy the drag, and rotate until the kite is full back to its zenith. Don’t stop too early as otherwise you may run into trouble in the real world (up there jumping). The more you PULL , the longer you pull, the safer. The rotation lasts longer than you may think (not everyone’s name is Ken10). PULL all over the drill. In fact you can even pull longer and let your kit pass the zenith so that you will enter a transition. Nice and easy (a little extra pull and this is it). Practice both sides. You are ready for drill number two.

 

Drill number two Jibe while looping the kite: surf on one side, start a jibe (I prefer starting toe side) and once your board starts the U turn, manage to have your kite at the zenith and GO for it..: back hand close to the center, cross the front hand behind your back hand grabbing the other end of the bar and PULLLLLLLLLLL. while doing your U turn. That’s it you are done. Because you are moving down wind you manage. You go fast and the U turn is far more wide than the ones you are used to, but still, I guess a lot of energy goes with the downwind and so this is still safe (unless you stop pulling). Again and again, safety is in pulling like a crazy. Don’t freeze the rotation because you get affraid. Be prepared mentally that if you will be frightened, you will PULLLLLL as a reaction to the threat. Once you got the U turns both sides, you are ready for the real one. Jumping.

 

Kite loop for good: OK, so you are ready. There is nothing new to learn. Just you have to know you may have fear and that you have to overcome that. Practice your Karma on the shore, and then you go. You don’t need to jump high (2 meters would do, 3 meters is probably better). You can decide later whether to do it or not, actually you will decide when you will be at the apex of your jump, but you have to be mentally prepared to PULLLLLL. The second thing, this one is new: you are going to land fast. Nothing you can do. May be once you manage kite loop at 5-7 meters the all damn thing has time to slow down down a bit, but the first tries, you are going chicken and then you will land fast -nothing unmanageable, but still, fast. You may even land before you complete your loop. This is not a big deal by the way. But you will land fast, and so and therefore you don’t want to land as usually with your good old “splash” landing and the board perpendicular to the wind direction. No, no no, you have to land with the board downwind. This is the only thing. You will land it neat from the first time as you go fast and the board will go surfing instantly. I do not need to insist on how it is important to land downwind as if you don’t do it you will be punished and this way you will learn fast. So, you jump. When you are at the apex of your jump your kite is to be at 12 (not 11 in preparation of the kite loop, at 12 because this is steady and neat). Once you are there and if everything is OK (including you and your commitment to complete the trick) , tight your ass, cris cross your hands and PULLLLLLL. That’’s it. You will feel the fear, the pull the boost and the speed all in one. The first time I tried it was like I got my old 89 ford taurus was turned by a fairy into a sport car. Nice. You will probably land completing your loop. You will have a big smile. Try the other side. You are done.

 

For those who have not read through, here is the executive summary: Get your Karma right, jump and PULLLLLLLLLLL your kite backward.

 

Enjoy. Best, Jacques.

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