Landing the Air

Boost_Ramalak · Since 26 Jan 2016 22 Posts

Hey was wondering if you guys had any tips for landing softer off of jumps. Seems that I am able to get the pop and the hang time right but the higher I go up the harder I feel I slap the water and with all the injuries out there, was hoping for some insight on how there are some out there that seem to come down pillow soft. Either I redirect the kite and it stalls or the kite goes behind me with the pendulum effect.

ldhr · Since 21 Jul 2009 1471 Posts Hood River XTreme Poster

When you jump and send the kite - try not to send it past 12'o clock.
Your flight should be forward and downwind.
When you hit the peak of your jump and feel yourself dropping back to the water do the following:
Aggressively sheet in in by pulling in on the bar and pull down with your front hand directing the kite forward in the window.
If you jump really high (over 15 feet) you may need to sheet in and out a few times as you glide back down.
If you drop straight down, you'll hit hard - that's why you can send the kite forward and glide in horizontal as well as vertical.

https://vimeo.com/103913789

Boost_Ramalak · Since 26 Jan 2016 22 Posts

ldhr · Since 21 Jul 2009 1471 Posts Hood River XTreme Poster

jerp · Since 22 Feb 2013 450 Posts Obsessed

not all kites have natural hang time. if you are boosting so high that just redirecting the kite from 12 is not giving you a soft landing you may need to work the kite more. Some kites need to be moved back and forth in the window to generate float. generate is probably the wrong word thou.

I miss my LF NRG kites for this very reason. tons of float. tried a north rebel once and it also had a ton of hang time

jerp · Since 22 Feb 2013 450 Posts Obsessed

I could be wrong but if the kite is going behind you then your takeoff needs some improvement. body position could be a factor.

WindSki · Since 14 Dec 2012 402 Posts Portland Obsessed

Boost_Ramalak

What direct is your board when landing?
Can you provide more details of your landing experiences?

HRnico · Since 22 Mar 2008 260 Posts Da Hood Obsessed

It seemed when I would come in to hot I had sent the kite forward too soon. And my old kites Tended to fly quickly to the edge. These days I keep the kite overhead longer, directing it forward softly just before landing.

hoarhey · Since 20 Jul 2008 63 Posts the corridor

On really big boosts I push out on the bar about halfway, on the way down, and then pull in aggressively right before I land. That combined with a kite angle of about 10-11 o'clock give really soft landings.
If I boost REALLY BIG and I feel like I'm falling too fast, I pull my kite all the way to the opposite side of the window and use the pendulum motion to swing me out for a really soft landing. This is basically the same idea for a transition jump. You'll end up landing and traveling in the opposite direction, but the bottoms of your feet, knees, and ankles will thank you.

cpc219 · Since 12 Jun 2014 293 Posts The Dalles Obsessed

Go faster. When you are coming in for a landing send your kite forward and get more forward momentum. You have to take that energy and speed from going down to going more forward and linear. If you're hauling ass when you land then you're doing it right. The best way to learn is to start riding strapless Wink

Cody

WindSki · Since 14 Dec 2012 402 Posts Portland Obsessed

This last statement I believe from my perspective is correct, land with speed. Have the board in the correct direction, dive the kite and land with some speed.

Boost_Ramalak · Since 26 Jan 2016 22 Posts

Sweet thanks for the piece of mind everyone!

knotwindy · Since 25 Sep 2011 598 Posts Addicted

all good info
you can also do a downloop to transition landing to really soften it,
with the downloop the kite pulls for a longer time so the timing is less critical, start pulling after the apex to ;earn it, then when you get the feel of it you can pull on the way up but that will give you more of a yank!

waynepjh · Since 27 Jul 2008 212 Posts jackson wy Stoked

Watch the first jump in this video at about 40 seconds. On big airs I like to let the kite get a little behind me and finish with a redirect of the kite in the direction your landing. I call it checking the kite. Also good way to lead up to a loop landing. Like his 2nd jump in video.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=4SlTWdBWo9M&rdm=1z9zm31rn&client=mv-google

HRnico · Since 22 Mar 2008 260 Posts Da Hood Obsessed

Great old video. To bad it wasn't HD

dyyylan · Since 14 May 2014 26 Posts Hood River

It might not all be your fault either, every kite jumps a little differently and requires different technique and timing to get the most out of them.

The kites I was flying a few years ago gave me this same problem, I just couldn't ever keep them in front of me when I got big air, the only solution was to downloop it before landing, otherwise it would end up slightly behind me with no power and I'd make a hole in the water upon landing.

I haven't had that problem with any kite I've flown since, so I'm not sure if I could have just dialed in the technique more, or if that's just a limitation of that particular kite.