Trix are for kids??

pdxmonkeyboy · Thu Apr 03, 08 11:00 am **Trix are for kids??**

So the 08 riding season is quickly approaching and I have been working out, watching instructional videos and what not to really try and increase my bag of tricks. I would really like to start doing unhooked kite loops and some handle passes.

Unfortunately, I' no longer 22 and have this fear that I am going to botch some kite loops and blow out my knee, or separate my shoulder, or dislocate my ribs. It kind of sucks that I was 30 before kiteboarding gear was even manufactured but such is life.

So what do the olds guys think about learning new school tricks? Are there ways to avoid injury besides stretching? Would an impact vest help?
Is the risk of losing a whole season worth it? I spent 3 months in crutches last year from playing dodgeball.

I know the young guys will probably laugh at me, but rest assured my invincible youth (Mclovin), the day will come when you wake up sore as hell in the morning and the only thing you did the day before was mow the lawn and weed the garden. Crying or Very sad

Oregon Surf Shop Tim · Since 04 Feb 2008 70 Posts Lincoln City Oregon

I hear you PDX. I do not want to wreck myself going for a new freestyle move and sit out half a season or at the very least put added where and tear on my body. My personal decision, focus on wave riding, limitless potential to keep improving, super fun and less where and tear on the body compared to freestyle. Oh yeah and I love to surf anyhow so it makes sense.

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

Become a strapless super star!

That stuff is impressive when its done well and crashes are mellow.

Kataku2k3 · Since 14 Aug 2005 3754 Posts PDX-LA Videographer

I think the harnesses were fuckin' us up more last season than anything... Maybe unhooked crashes are better? Wink

Sol-flyer · Thu Apr 03, 08 11:48 am

Wisdom comes with age,....

Stretching, protective "armor" and eating healthy are things i never thought of when i was younger. They make a very considerable impact on your progression.

Kiteloops? handlepasses?
There is a definite way to go thru the steps of each trick in your mind before attempting the real thing. These tricks are very powerful, and can cause injury even when performed successfully. Just start small and mentally go thru the process right before attempt.

the fatsand advanced progression DvD, does a really good job showing the steps, it is a lil slow, and gets kinda boring...IMO

hope that helps give ya some encouragment Cool

-sol

eric · Since 13 Jan 2006 1872 Posts XTreme Poster

I do a lot of hooked-in kite loops with my SLE kites--which may not count as they are pretty easy. Even so, I still mess up my ribs occasionally. I think my next deal will be strapless, which will segway nicely with a 20+ year windsurfing background.

Iz gots gybing skilz

Eric

bambam · Since 15 Mar 2005 760 Posts Hood River Photographer

Hey Monkey,

These days even at 40 I am pretty much unhooking everytime I take to the air and have gone back to riding full on C-kites.

Stretching is definitely important, but I am finding that some isolated weight work is really helping. Lots of arms, back, and midsection stuff, but the most important I have found has been keeping my legs and knees strong and flexible. I am not doing heavy weights, and keep the reps over 15 and do exercises with a FULL RANGE of motion. The range of motion keeps the weight way way down, but will keep you happy when you land an unhooked kiteloop from 20ft in a flexed position.

Even though I have blown both ACL's (skee related stuff), by working out and riding lots... I am out there without any braces these days, although I will put on the brace if the urge to really do something stupid hits.

Take care, ride hard... Jon Malmberg

bulae99 · Since 12 Jul 2006 1692 Posts XTreme Poster

I'm 43 and 20 puunds overweight and recovering from severe attraction to suds, but life is good. My baby hips are outgrowing my biceps and I don't really give a !@#$.
There are so many good kiters in Hood River and I watch them pull tricks, but for the most part I see the old guys are doing very conservative tricks.
Old being 40 plus. My goal this year is to be able to do double back, single fronts, and not hurt my back. If I can pull this off I will be back at the point I was in Oct. 07.
Last year I spent tons of time going backside on the starboard reach!!! I lvoe this angle and it worked great until my physical therapist slapped me in the ass and said,"Ron if your doing it one way you need to do it the other way just as much!..SMAck!!" She's cute so I didn't mind.

08 Goals are:
*nail the double backs both ways
*continue learning strapless
*Make more trips to the coast
*Don't injur my back: Be more ballanced!
*windsurf with my windsurfing only buddies(I need to remember how.)
*buy a new quiver of TD III's
*Unhook and do all the tricks I can hooked in!
Very Happy

magicmaker · Since 29 Oct 2006 895 Posts da Hood Opinionated

i recomend the progression: professional DVD, that is sick, totally goes through all the inverted handle pass manuvers and how to build up to them. what i htink this video has taught me is that it is more about technique than raw strength. sure you have to have lots of good strength to pull the bar into your hips and do the pass, but i think, and will soon find out, if i am able to supplant some of the needed strength with board pop and technique to help move my body closer to the bar for a pass. of course, i only weight about 160lbs, your mileage may very.

IMO, if you want to start working on HP's get your railey down good, then start working on a railey to blind. another good one is learn to do a backroll to revert unhooked, then if you're feeling really ambitious, try it going to wrapped (HP with trailing arm) this will be how you progress to a back mobe.

also i think s-bend to blind is a great one to work on once you got the railey to blind down. i've actually been practicing my to blind landings in my basement, trying to keep where my head and bar should be and how my board should be pointed downwind after the landing.

as far as unhooked kiteloops, all i can say is start small and work your way up. get the feeling for the kite looping unhooked while holding onto it just cruising on the water. then start jumping 2-3 feet up and looping it. rinse and repeat, edging a little harder with your board to generate more pop and lift before the kite loop. also, when you're starting these, i would recomend trying to load and pop your board to give you a little extra height for your KL. you might not be able to get everything timed perfectly the first or even first ten times, but eventually you'll want to load and pop with your board before going for teh KL, IMO.

cosmodog · Since 06 Oct 2005 205 Posts Stoked

If you are 40+, I highly recommend stretching your Achilles tendon before trying some of the wakeboard style tricks.
Even a partial tear can keep you off the water/snow for months (I am just recovering from one).

mack · Since 08 Aug 2006 29 Posts Hood River, OR

glad to hear you are back full time on C shapes!

pdxmonkeyboy · Thu Apr 03, 08 1:10 pm

Good tips for sure. The pros make it so easy. I watch Reuban do totally sick kiteloops and I'm like "dude, I can do that; whats the big deal".

Then I end driving home from Stevenson with my ears ringing from a KL back roll (to unintentional blind). Laughing

The progression video is awesome but has to be THE most boring video ever made.

"unhook from the harness..........................................now edge hard......................................................now send the kite in the opposite idrection...........................look in the direction of rotation"; "lets go over that again". ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ

Gman · Since 11 Feb 2006 4911 Posts Portland Unstrapped

One leg push to blind revert

chanson · Since 31 Jan 2006 1874 Posts WISCONSIN Chimey

STRAPLESS IS NEW-SCHOOL!!!! Twisted Evil

magicmaker · Since 29 Oct 2006 895 Posts da Hood Opinionated

the progression profesional is about 2 hours long, and i dont think it is boring at all. of course, some of hte cut scenes in between scenes are pretty lame and take up some extra time, but i was so interested in learning all the different inverted HP tricks (back mobe, front mobe, KGB, slim chance and NIS, even tho that oen isn't inverted), i thought it was great. i think i've watched it 3 or 4 times already.

pdxmonkeyboy · Thu Apr 03, 08 1:26 pm

Nak · Thu Apr 03, 08 11:22 pm

Jesus, you guys talking about 40+ being old are making me feel old! I thought 50- was still young... Sad