Strapless questions

Kodiak · Since 01 Aug 2005 1114 Posts Slidey

So I just got myself a new toy. I got out yesterday for a bit, and was hitting about 30% of my jibes now I would say which is a definite improvement over where I was before.

I have some questions though I was hoping someone could answer. First I was wondering how people ride strapless in the surf. The river swell is great fun, but I would love to go out in the pacific and can't really see how folks get through the break. Are you able to just power through the whitewater, or do you just have to time it right between the sets to get out? Also do folks use a leash when riding strapless in the surf? I don't use a leash on my regular board, but the surfboard would just get taken in on any wipeout.

Also, is there a good link out there to a walk through of an air jibe? I would think that is the next thing to learn after I master the regular jibes.

genek · Since 21 Jul 2006 2165 Posts East Po KGB

Either just plow through the white water (definitely helps to have lots of rocker on the nose and a floaty board) or time it appropriately. A combination of the two works best. Don't have a link handy for an air jibe, but if it involves jumping and landing riding the other way then you'll probably need to work on that a lot longer than regular jibing. My advice for venturing in the waves is to be able to carve to toeside and run away from a wave and also be able to jibe as consistently and quickly as possible. Sometimes you'll need to run away from waves and other times you'll want to jibe right in front of one as it builds and ride it in. Also, the quick jibing will help when you're trapped between the beach and some beach break on the inside. I would NOT recommend a leash. Even strapless kiting you'll have lots of speed and power in the board which can translate to injury. Also, if you get barreled the last thing you want is for your board and leash to be added to the mix on top of the kite lines. Learn to stay on your board as best as you can and body drag quickly to your board if you do fall off. The good thing with strapless riding is the board usually doesn't end up too far from you, and even if a wave does carry it away it's usually downwind of you so you can get there real quick.

Gman · Since 11 Feb 2006 4911 Posts Portland Unstrapped

Nice shots! Genek is spot on. I was really surprised how big a wall of whitewater you can power through with the SRT. With some speed and carving a bit downwind you can shoot over shoulder high mush balls. If you hit them at an angle (vs straight into them) you usually shoot up an over. Most of the time I'm looking downwind to find some point of weakness, there usually is one.

Forget the leash - worst case the board ends up on the beach - most of the time it doesn't go far and the wind blows it back your way.

WTF is an air jibe? As far as jibing goes - I find that driving through the turn until your hips are a bit rotated and then switch feet works well.

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

yeah strap a leash on that bad boy, that will raise its sex appeal for sure. Wink

the board will book it towards shore if it falls off, sometimes amazing how far a biggun can take it, and how much it dances in the waves... my board can catch more air without me on it Laughing

if it ends up between you and a wave, cover your face and look away because chances are its coming right at you... my forearm took a huge knock this way a one time, glad it wasn't my nose.

I've seen gman charge some crazy conditions strapless

chanson · Since 31 Jan 2006 1874 Posts WISCONSIN Chimey

Jim- that board looks sick... Nice work!!!

Yep, as far as going out(still learning)....I def. agree with G-man, look for the clean part of the break and bear downwind to get it when its not super vertical before it breaks....I try and cruise over the "clean-and-rolling" part of the wave prior to it breaking.

Air jibe: that probably what I say Sky doing during the blowout with super ease....

To me it looked like he would come to the end of his tack, aim straight upwind and ollie, then somehow body-varial to the other stance and ride away like a pro.......C'mon, sounds like a cakewalk to me Wink

Did anyone see the spread in the new KB mag written by Sky about the Strapless Event in the Hood???? He explains some good stuff in there.

Question

tautologies · Since 24 Aug 2006 602 Posts Oahu Addicted

Kodiak · Since 01 Aug 2005 1114 Posts Slidey

Thanks for the responses.

Tautologies, I have been out in the waves, just not strapless. Trust me though, I wouldn't be hitting overhead barrells strapless until I ahve all the basics down pat.

The air jibe question was because I ahve seen some video of it and I saw what sky could do during the blowout, and I am just thinking aobut progression. It actualy wouldn't be something I would do in the ocean, but in the swell on the river it would be somewhat fun Smile

Leash is probably not a good thing with the kite, as I should be able to cruise in to shore quickly under kite power to reach it.

shastadogs2 · Since 28 Mar 2005 336 Posts Obsessed

okay, so some questions about smacking a wave. . .

when i go into the ocean, my first season and just 4 or 5 trips so far, what i do is not riding the waves, but riding THROUGH them to get to the rollers beyong them to play. cause i suck at riding waves, and have little clue what you guys mean when you say smack the lip, etc.

I GOT STRESS MAN!!! Embarassed

i mean i have seen the video, but it al happenin pretty fast.

can someone (with a spare hour or two) break it down for me: what are you doing with the kite when you switch to toeside and do a top turn, etc. if you dont mind, just pretend i am a beginner (which in the ocean is the straight 411)

thanks ahead

jimmi

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

Alex -
We aren't all lucky enough to wake up in paradise, but big waves can be found on the Oregon coast (a couple hours from Portland.) In addition to being big, they are also very cold and full of great whites. Thumb's Up

Most of us city slickers try to get out there at least a dozen or so times a year. Of course the locals get the goods all year long.

Barreling waves + kiting on the OC? Haven't seen it yet.

barfly · Since 31 Mar 2005 1216 Posts Portland BRACKISH

the vids here http://www.kitefilm.com/eng/weeklytrick.asp are pretty good... check out waveriding_part1, part2, part3.

tekko · Since 20 Feb 2006 376 Posts White Salmon Liquid Force

When approaching waves- from small to even overhead, they key to getting over is to not load up too much speed or tension, otherwise you go flying as you go over the wave.

Instead, try bearing off just as you crest the wave, while depowering your kite a bit, so you are heavy on youe feet, riding the board. As you get up to the peak of the wave, actuall turn downwind a bit and ride more parallel, or at a 45deg angle to the wave , This will allow the wave to more pass under you, rather than you going over the wave.. when you time it right, your board never leaves the water, but rather you ride up the wave, downwind across the peak and down the shoulder or back of the wave- as you power up your kite, set your edge and ride away.

Best advise I can offer is to be heavy on your feet and bearing off, rather than on edge, as waves or whitewater hit you. Really works well for those head high whitewater sections that are coming at you.. faster than you are going at them... if you edge towards it, you're going to explode...and then spend lots of time body dragging.

G-man is being a bit humble, but listen to him.. that guy has it dialed! Jsut rode a couple head high+ downwinders with him in Hatteras and was very impressed by his skills and technique. I chose to ride straps on my surfboard that day (first time ever for me) since it was my backside and I wanted to test out my new LF Project Rawson 6'2 Quad with full stock options, while G man was killing it on the LF 6.0'- Strapless!! Odd thing.... when you add the straps, yoyu ride totally different... and forget everything I said about bearing off... I ended up dragging for my strapped board much more than Gman was unstrapped...

blowhard · Since 26 Dec 2005 2027 Posts Windward

Look for a easy section and as you go over it release the front foot a bit and as the board comes over the wave get onto the front foot and bear off(quarter) down the back side of the wave so you don't become airborne.

Gybing is very easy (compared to all other types of vessels)
Either walk around as the board comes around or wait and go toeside until you bring the kite around to power up after you turn when the lift of the kite pulls you up switch your feet.

I learned in the stone age when there was little trim ,kites drug you around,no leashes, all boards were directional and being very afraid ,,
NEVER
Hooked in
I still do it for fun ,,but like small boards
MO BETTA

Gman · Since 11 Feb 2006 4911 Posts Portland Unstrapped

Air Jibe makes me think of Mark Shinn and his crazy skim moves - but I think you just mean a Tack (Lance has a nice sequence of Sky and his superpowrs).

here is the thread:

http://www.nwkite.com/forums/t-2234.html&highlight=sky+tack&sid=42eee7210dc0ce442325d4b7518a3bbd

tautologies · Since 24 Aug 2006 602 Posts Oahu Addicted

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

I think SkyTack is a cool name! But the easiest way for me to think about it is a back spin where the board only goes halfway around but your body does the full spin.

The trick I have seen him do more in person is where he grabs the board while sending the kite just enough to get float, picks his feet up, drops the board back down and then rides away on it. This one you see in the Shinn video if I remember right.

Jibes like these are functional and they look sick!

Kodiak · Since 01 Aug 2005 1114 Posts Slidey

genek · Since 21 Jul 2006 2165 Posts East Po KGB