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skent
Since 08 Aug 2011
170 Posts
North Bend, WA & Lyle, WA
Stoked
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 Mon Jul 02, 12 9:10 pm One arm vs two? |
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Ok, so I am still relatively new at kiting (~12+ sessions). When I start to get over powered it seems like the only way for me to depower the kite is for me to kite with one arm so that I can let the bar out and lean back. I have been working on trying to edge the board better when being overpowered but it is still a work in progress. I also tend to go one handed when going up wind. I see people kiting with one arm all the time but not as much as I tend to do it. Is this considered poor technique?
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Steve
CGKA Member |
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Nak
Since 19 May 2005
4281 Posts
Camas
Site Lackey
CGKA Member
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| Mon Jul 02, 12 9:36 pm |
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| Not at all. It's much easier to maintain proper body position when flying the kite one handed. Most beginners don't fly one handed enough... |
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Sella
Since 21 Apr 2007
1794 Posts
Doin' The Dalles
FLY'IN HIGH PIE GUY
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| Mon Jul 02, 12 11:07 pm |
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| Nak wrote: | | Most beginners don't fly one handed enough... |
Correct...and that is Steve's problem. 12 sessions in he deals with being overpowered by going 1 handed because it makes him naturally lean back/look upwind, thus causing more edging. But, 50% of his steering is gone while his speed increases.  You only want to ride 1 handed because it's your choice, not because it's how you manage power. As you gain more experience you'll go 1-handed, as Nak said, to get better body position and utilize other muscles etc.
When feeling that power build you have to sheet out, drop your ass and leg press your back foot to the bottom of the river. When you force yourself to stomp the board as you head upwind you will be amazed at how much energy you eat. When you sheet back in to maintain line tension begin moving your kite lower, towards the edge the window, in that sweet spot "pocket" that is not too far upwind, or too deep in the window. (Hope that makes sense.)
You need both hands to work the window as you're sheeting in and out in harmony with your carving, or just heading straight upwind, because leaning back while holding that edge balances the force of the kite and puts the control back into your fingertips. It's hard to explain but your bar is like a clutch on a motorcycle and those slight hand movements keep you're powerband in the perfect range. Dropping the kite while sheeting back in to reload your energy is like tapping the clutch with the throttle pinned.
New guys will gain speed, point downwind and fly to 12:00, override their kite because they lost their edge thus causing slack lines and then the real party begins. When overpowered you still need to keep flying your kite so the higher you take it above your head the less control you have. Get it low and to the edge. Kite technology today makes this super simple but newbs still want to keep that bar pulled in at all times. STFO! (Sheet the 'eff out!)
As you get more sessions in harder edging will naturally happen overtime but when you learn to ride knowing you control the power with your board and bar every other aspect of kiting opens up quickly but be forewarned.......harder edging is also the road to bigger boosting so get ready to fly brotha.  |
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bulae99
Since 12 Jul 2006
1691 Posts
I give out bad advice.
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| Tue Jul 03, 12 5:56 am Progression |
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Great question!!
Part of learning to fly a kite is using 1 hand. When you fly a trainer kite you should practice with one hand. This is usually taught by instructors as part of the ground lesson, and or beg. water lesson.
I always tell my student's that it is ok to use 2 hands if they feel the need too. However, using one hand allows you to elongate your body position and turn your shoulders, or rotate your core, towards the direction you are going.
Part of the progression of learning in one handed flying.
As far as your bar being too far away from you here are some fixes:
Take a lesson, or take a lesson soon, or take another lesson,
Be good to yourself and she will provide,
R
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Hey, I'm being hahahahahrassed! |
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jaksavage
Since 02 Dec 2009
216 Posts
hood river
Stoked
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| Tue Jul 03, 12 6:18 am All good |
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| and use the depower/trim strap when you are overwhelmed with power. Pull it in 3 or 4 inches, or more and things will feel much less hectic. |
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dancingwind
Since 18 Jul 2007
321 Posts
Obsessed
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| Tue Jul 03, 12 7:18 am |
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Riding one handed is an advanced technique, meaning your advancing, good job! It's easier to go up wind more efficiently while 1handed because you're able to rotate you're body further toward your upwind point. It's easier to manage power a bit better when riding 2handed because you can sit on your back leg more and apply more weight against the kite. Body positioning is key so keep experimenting. Make sure you're leaning back in the proper "shagging" position not the infamous "shitting" position.
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SAY WHAT YOU MEAN, MEAN WHAT YOU SAY |
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Nak
Since 19 May 2005
4281 Posts
Camas
Site Lackey
CGKA Member
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| Tue Jul 03, 12 7:34 am |
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| Sella wrote: | | But, 50% of his steering is gone while his speed increases. You only want to ride 1 handed because it's your choice, not because it's how you manage power. |
Absolutely agreed; I should have continued in more detail. Learning to control power with your board is a skill that's too easy too ignore with today's kites. |
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MarkWorth
Since 02 May 2011
149 Posts
Hood River
Stoked
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| Tue Jul 03, 12 7:54 am |
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When you have excess power lower the kite, drop the upwind hand, and push with the downwind hand out to keep the kite down. Anytime you are fully powered you do not need the upwind hand.
Digging in by edging and pushing your back foot will slow you allow the kite to move forward of you reducing power. However your goal is not to dig a trench in the water so although this is effective it’s a lot of work.
The upwind hand dives the kite; once the kite is low you don't need it. You can keep the kite low by pushing with the downwind hand. This provides minimum power. You are not maneuvering the kite with this hand, you are trying to get the kite to go straight and low. At the end of the gust you will need to climb the kite to find more wind at a higher elevation, or if it's a lull, start a power stroke. The hand that is on the bar is the climb hand, pull gently and during the climb you can bring your body more upright and easily reach the bar with the other hand before the kite gains too much altitude.
If you find that you are forced to fly one handed more than 50% of your time on the water you should seriously consider flying a smaller kite. The power available anytime you’re forced to fly one handed is plenty to jump above 60 feet. If you are not planning to go to that altitude use a smaller kite.
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Have More Fun!
Mark
Gorge Kiteboard School
http://gorgekiteboardschool.com |
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wakeup
Since 11 Sep 2005
328 Posts
always
Obsessed
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| Wed Jul 04, 12 8:44 am |
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| riding with one arm is bad style |
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registered
Since 12 Jul 2005
1319 Posts
tsunami
Sandbagger
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| Wed Jul 04, 12 9:58 am |
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well, bad style only if the other hand is not holding up your shorts or trying to retreive your surf board.
Do you snowboard with both hands in front. Once you master the kite you will be a one hand champ unless ur weak and lots of bar pressure assoc with your rig. |
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