I want to try a kite loop while jumping, but i just can't seem to bring myself to JUST DO IT.... I've watched dvd after dvd on how to do it, but at the last minute i back out. Whats the worst that can happen SERIOUSLY if i do it with all safety gear on and away from land!? I keep thinking i'm going to hit the water so hard i'll be knocked unconscious or something, can this happen?

Yep your worst thoughts are possible, is a real hard fast landing too. Trust me it hurts, but ya gotta try and try again. As the saying goes "no pain no gain".

Get urself a helmet. they are only like $50. Wise investment if your going to start trying Loops. Im still a beginner, but can't you start doing loops at the higher range of the window?. that way the landings are not nearly as fast and slowed by the kite.

As a couple of the guys have mentioned, start in lighter winds to help build your confidence.

Second thing, you can ease into it a little by doing a normal floaty jump first. At the peak of your jump and with the kite at 12 o'clock pull hard on your back hand. If the commitment is an issue, then grab the back side of the bar with both hands so there really is no way out. This method will see the kite loop more over your head as opposed to trying to get level or above it. We're not all named Ruben.

By doing this you can build up to a full on kite loop but I recommend small steps first. This will help your confidence as you will get a little bit of a yank but not a great deal. It will also help you with understanding when the pull will come on in a fully committed kite loop.

Now, glass of water, 2 cement pills and get out there.

Get a few of your mates and tell them to watch cos' you're gonna loop it- the possible pain of getting it wrong will pale in significance to how much **** you will cop for being soft if you don't try it !!!!!!!!!!

PS I think that a smaller kite will make the first attempt easier as it will turn quicker

read Fozzy's post again.

That's exactly it.

Start on a day when there is just enough wind to stay upwind easily and your best effort on a jump is gonna pop you only 1-2 meters off the water.

Jump as normal, as the kite gets overhead, pull hard on back hand to loop it, point your board a little more downwind for landing. The kite won't even get all the way around before you land, but you'll get the idea of the forces involved.

Work up from there. First time I tried it I though "what! is that all there is to it?? why did I wait so long to try that??!!"

Like everything else in kiting, it gets more scary as the wind and kite power increases!



Be scared - that's good. Means you'll have respect for the power of the ocean and live to kite another day.

Conquer your fear - that's better! That's what keeps us all kiting....a-d-r-e-n-a-l-i-n-e on toast for breakfast.

Like doing a road gap on a mountain bike, it all comes down to COMMITMENT!!!

You'll get hurt a lot more if you pussy out half way around or just turn it slightly. Its a very hard concept to get used to so just keep reminding yourself of it every time your out there.

P.S.
And be sure to only do loops in a safe area with heaps of open space down wind and deep water

user said...

Drink a few beers before hand !

Beat me to it...

Either that, or gee yourself up til you have butterflies and then just rip it, it will feel good that way, crash or not...

Worst case it getting knocked out, but I doubt you'll get knocked unconcious by a kiteloop if its sub 25 knots, and if ur really worried then wear a helmet, and/or mouthgaurd seeing as having your teeth smash together it the leading reason people go lights out.

But honestly it takes a fair wallop to get knocked out, I've been hit in the head with my mates malibu (dented it), had a 150kilo prop (rugby) fall on my head several times, fallen outof trees, fallen off ziplines, and been hit by my ex gf's mother in her car and landed face first into her bonnet/windscreen.

One thing I would worry about though is landing it, making sure you know when to bail, like if you land it at a heavy angle and you are going fast enough you could hurt your ankle, especially if one foot slips out, which I HAVE done before. In normal crashes I would imagine you'll just swallow a bit of water and possibly receive a seawater enema, which is uncomfortable but funny.

Obviously, have someone watching you when you try it.

I'm sortof new anyway, I've never thrown a low kiteloop in high winds, and havent landed many at all, just keep it high up to start.

Make sure you scream while you do it

Backroll kite loops a definately easier. Been doing them for 2 sessions so far, pulled off every one, bit of a splash but no pain. Do them in marginal stuff, just enough wind to stay upwind but not enough to get any height, you know, the boring wind that is normally not enough to do much with but go back and forth.
The speed of the kite will give you a metre of height, heaps to get you round. Just crank in the bar as hard as you can. Make the light stuff heaps of fun. Try them in the transition too.
Not a real kite loop as they are pretty easy though I wouldn't try them in the higher winds (yet).
Tim

But honestly it takes a fair wallop to get knocked out, I've been hit in the head with my mates malibu (dented it), had a 150kilo prop (rugby) fall on my head several times, fallen outof trees, fallen off ziplines, and been hit by my ex gf's mother in her car and landed face first into her bonnet/windscreen.

Im interested in what you did to make your ex's mum run you over in her car!

there was a post back a few weeks on here about a dudes 1 legged girl friend wanting to kite..... someone added a video of some 1 legged dude doing kite loop back roles, it is good to watch as his technique is perfect and he makes it look real easy. maybe watch this vid and if a 1 legged dude can do it so easy what is there to worry about.!!( disclaimer : Kite loops are not my bag )

Way off topic, but BoDiddly that was one of the funnist vids I've seen. I was p*ssing myself laughing the whole time. Funny stuff!

Kenyans

Drinking that will make you play bingo

there is so much weird crap on you tube, people have to much time

Good on ya mattyjee. There hasn't been very good wind down here in VIC lately so i still haven't had a chance to give it a go. I wish i was up north at the moment.