Kicker Tricks! Something for everyone to work on!

forrest · Since 21 Jun 2005 4330 Posts Hood River Hick **CGKA Member**

Hey Guys,

With Slingshot and the Slider Project teaming up to bring a new kicker to the Hood, I figured it would be a good time for everyone to check out a few basic kicker tricks. I've found the following forum posts to be invaluable. The trick tips are meant for cable-lake wakeboarding, but they apply 100% to kiteboarding.

Jumps, Grabs, Heelside Air Raley, Tantrum, Scarecrow, Spins:
http://www.wakeboard.com.sg/index.php?showforum=33

forrest · Tue Apr 26, 11 10:39 am

Come on now, over fifty views and not a single person is excited about hitting the new kicker? Oh, I get it, you're all afraid. You should challenge yourself, and focus your progression efforts where you're most weak and most scared. You'll establish a new base of skill and knowledge that will improve every other aspect of your riding.

For me, its kicker tricks. I want to learn tantrums and scarecrows because they're amazing looking tricks, and don't seem all that hard if you're willing to crash into the water.

Nobby raish · Since 01 Apr 2011 21 Posts

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4Stringer/KipWinger · Since 27 Apr 2005 541 Posts Hood River Addicted

Suds · Since 25 Mar 2008 143 Posts Hood River Stoked

I know i want to be stomping Tantrum's off of that by the end of summer! Hell yeah stoked to hit the new kicker. Nice work guys!

Gman · Since 11 Feb 2006 4911 Posts Portland Unstrapped

Scarecrow on it:
The Scarecrow is a Toeside Frontroll to Revert. Although, you are landing in a fakie position

the crows are scared...

buttersmoothcarver · Since 08 Oct 2008 246 Posts Stoked

Forrest,

Now that you guys built a kicker, I requesting Decosse customs to make a few "wakeskis" for demos. I can imagine flat 3's and corked 5's would be fun to throw.

stringy · Since 23 Jun 2006 1734 Posts vancouver XTreme Poster

forrest did you guys already have the work party?
I came down the other weekend, but I think the weather postponed the activites.
may be easier to just throw some bones your way.
paypal slider project?
I wanna hit the kicker. here is what I think I need. let me know if I'm missing anything..
mission 138 with ronix bindings. finless
impact vest
helmet
do I need any armor? haha.
is it best to go over a kicker unhooked.
excuse my lack of experience.
not very many kickers hanging around up here yet!

pkh · Since 27 Feb 2005 6549 Posts Couve / Hood Honored Founder

I'd hit that! Thumb's Up

forrest · Tue Apr 26, 11 4:34 pm

I knocked my teeth out riding foot straps in 2006. That's why I ride boots... And that's no excuse, the kicker is super easy.

Stringy, You are at a greater risk of danger by not unhooking (can't just let go and flag your kite), but you can hit it hooked-in if you keep your kite at 11ish or higher. But you're likely to slide out of your healside edge and try to eat the kicker with your ass.

It's best if you come from about 20 yards upwind of the kicker with your kite a little higher than 45 degrees, bare off your edge so that you are riding flat on your board with it pointed right at the kicker, unhook (make sure your leash is setup properly) and ride your board flat up and off the kicker while absorbing with your knees. Continue pointing your board downwind for the landing. Kickers are definitely the easiest feature to hit because they're short and you can absorb with your knees. Once you get more comfortable you can start popping rather than absorbing.

A caveat: If you find yourself loosing all your speed by the time you're riding up the kicker you're approaching the kicker from too far upwind, riding flat too long, and slacking your lines. Hitting the kicker slow all the time will result in harsh landings due to the trajectory being straight up and straight down. It may seem counter intuitive, but speed will soften the landings. It's okay to start slow for your first hits, but once you get it dialed, try hitting it with speed.

We're not really organizing a work party as the kicker isn't quite the effort that the FunBox was, it was just more if people were in town. You can donate here, thanks!
http://www.sliderproject.com/donate.html

BTW: I tried about 10 tantrums at the cable today. Got close, but didn't land any. The first one was the hardest because I had to allow myself to pop hard off the kicker while throwing my head back. Trusting yourself is the hardest part, but it felt great to overcome the fear.

Kraemer · Since 24 Apr 2006 1736 Posts Sky Pilot Unicorn Captain

That jump looks much less intimidating than the old one. I'm in.

specialk · Guest

Ok, so my big thing about riding the kicker is killing the base of my board! If I got boards thrown my direction, I'd be more than happy to thrash the bases and dent the edges; don't give a crap about the top sheet, as that's not what I'm riding on?!

Anyone want to sponsor me so I can ride the kicker? If you sponsor me, I promise to take good care of the top sheet :-)

Chooch · Tue Apr 26, 11 8:23 pm

Effing stoked for the new features this summer!

forrest · Tue Apr 26, 11 8:25 pm

Kitemare, I deleted your for sale post, put it in the proper section, and not to power trip or anything, but don't hijack an admin's thread. Razz

We will gladly except your beer donation though.

Specialk, not much I can tell you about the base of your board. Riding in the kicker's HPDE surface won't mark it up too much, but will void your warranty and reduce your resale value. This is something everyone excepts and there are many people who hit the features that are paying retail for their equipment. Personally, I will only live once and I'm not going to let a few hundred dollars get in the way of having fun (Especially when I'll spend that in just a few days on gas). Perhaps picking up a second hand wake style kiteboard is the way to go? Besides, this thread is meant to help people realize that they can do it, it's easier than they think, and they should try it sooner rather than later.

Cole135 · Since 26 May 2008 61 Posts

The kicker looks sick forrest, can't wait to hit it. I love to help out will things still need work in the beginning of june when were back?

forrest · Tue Apr 26, 11 8:42 pm

Cole, you and Matt just keep surfing... Someone has to catch all those waves. See you in June. *tears*

tjgulizia · Since 06 Feb 2007 123 Posts Hood River Stoked

Dude, my board is fresh and looking for scratches. . .the only wood it's touched is my kitchen floor's! When's opening day? Can't wait to hit that sh!t!