Is there a safe and pain free way to learn kite loops?

SpaceRacer · Since 04 Nov 2007 434 Posts Obsessed

I am comfortable looping my kite while I am riding on water and snow (board is on the surface). I have spent a couple of sessions trying kite loops off of back rolls. Even these hurt some. Any advice?

Inept_Fun · Since 14 Apr 2005 1417 Posts Hood River XTreme Poster

Sorry man sometimes it hurts to crash!!! I think you can handle it tho.

Chooch · Sat Mar 21, 09 10:10 am

Underpowered on a small kite (5, 6, 7m) They turn much quicker so there is less chance of you not getting the kite all the way around (which is the worst thing you can do mid loop).

I have aslo heard that unhooked loops can be a bit easier on the body.

Inept_Fun · Since 14 Apr 2005 1417 Posts Hood River XTreme Poster

And I cant believe this post is for real, i mean cmon man you are kiteboarding, it is never safe and pain free! Sorry to let you know!

Bonetti · Since 29 Apr 2007 411 Posts So. Cal./Oregon Obsessed

Chooch · Sat Mar 21, 09 11:01 am

Yeah but a big kite to you is a 9m Laughing

kiteboards · Since 19 Mar 2009 47 Posts

Life sucks. Pain is anyways there. Handle yourself well, or else no more kiteboarding for you Laughing

pdxmonkeyboy · Sat Mar 21, 09 8:21 pm

start small and start the loop at the apex of your jump. The sooner you pull the loop after you release from the water, the more you are going to get yarded.

A bigger kite in lighter winds will likely yield better results than trying to learn to KL in 25knot winds.

Sol-flyer · Sun Mar 22, 09 7:20 am

commitment

magicmaker · Since 29 Oct 2006 895 Posts da Hood Opinionated

stringy · Since 23 Jun 2006 1735 Posts vancouver XTreme Poster

LEARN KITELOOPS

SpaceRacer · Since 04 Nov 2007 434 Posts Obsessed

Thanks Stringy. I'll look at this. As with most sports, there are safe ways to learn new skills and push your limits without injuring yourself or others; unlike how Inept_Fun feels. As he suggests, we should all be like him: balls to the wall and hard core as he toilet squats his gay ass over a 3' high slider in the kiddy park. Man he's cool.

Bonetti · Since 29 Apr 2007 411 Posts So. Cal./Oregon Obsessed

LOOP · Since 08 Feb 2007 107 Posts Ore-Ida

Agreed!! We cant all be as cool as that. Everyone who enjoys this sport knows there is a certain amount of risk involved. However, to support this great habit, some of us still have to show up to work on Monday. I think thats all space was trying to get at. How to improve some skills and still make it in when the weekend is over. I know he has seen his fair share of yardales on the hardpacked snow/ice of Georgetown lake and Mt Haggin, as thats where I have seen him most, which makes the water seem like a foam pit.

forrest · Sun Mar 22, 09 7:30 pm

Here is a few suggestions:

- You can start by doing them just after the apex of your jump, right as you start to loose altitude. Though, this won't really prepare you for an actual kiteloop which happens on the way up.

- The severity of the loop is going to be based on your pop and how powered up you are. You can control your power by kite size. Pop is just how hard you edge against the kite and release when it's producing enough pull to over power your edge. Find some good flat water, release your edge and point your board 15 to 20 degrees off the wind, steer your kite back into the loop (see next suggestion) but just keep going down wind like you're actually trying to loose ground. There is a sweet spot in there where you can edge and pop, but without getting the full severity of the loop. You can work into edging sooner.

- Grab the trailing side of the bar with both hands and pull hard and don't stop until it's over. Committing is the hardest part of kiteloops.

- Try them off a skimboard or just with your feet outside of the foot straps into deep water. Leaving the board behind will make sure there is nothing between you and the water you're going to land into. You've probably jumped off a cliff or other tall diving board, so you just need to hold your feet together and pencil into the water.

- Flat water! Having flat water to land in will make you more successful.

Inept_Fun · Since 14 Apr 2005 1417 Posts Hood River XTreme Poster

Wah Wah, take everything so harshly. All im saying is to learn a kiteloop you need to loop the f'in kite, thus flying it through the power zone, creating power, which can cause you to hit the water hard if you mess up.

Yeah man I am acting so cool and hardcore for telling you that your gonna fall trying kiteloops!! Rock ON HARD BRAAAAAAAAHS!!

pdxmonkeyboy · Mon Mar 23, 09 12:17 am

try the sissy loops shown in the video. Those are the ones I do most even though I feel shame when I do them.

Just as an FYI the words "kite loop" and "pain free" generally don't mingle so much.