Kitesurfing Technique
How to Tail Grab Board Off dismount
This move has a whole plethora of names, but whatever you call it will fade into complete insignificance when compared to a highly polished execution of the move itself. Yes, it is showboating to the max close to the beach, and yes if you get it wrong you may look a bit silly, but at least you’ll give everyone else...
How to Foot Plant Transition
The Foot Plant Transition is a veritable blast from the past, conjuring memories of Vari and the original rock star crew going absolutely bananas in Los Roques all those years ago. The great news is, if you’ve been working on the beach bounce from last issue you’ve already got the beach approach and depart prep done! If you haven’t already,...
Beach Bounce Transition
This is a beautifully fun move in its own right, and the first step to a stylish press. You’ve likely seen a picture or a clip of someone doing this, either on soft sand or far less sensibly on a solid object! It’s a great one to add to your armoury and if you choose the right time and spot...
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Double Heart Attack
Here we go, something for those of you who like a challenge and don’t mind kissing the water occasionally! The Double Heart Attack or in ye olde English, a double S-Bend 3. Either way, it’s an absolute cracker and not exactly for the faint-hearted. As such it’s a pleasure to welcome back Heliarde to the technique pages this issue, and...
Front Roll Foot Wash Transition
Most of us change direction more often that we do anything else, and that’s why transitions should be celebrated. Here’s one to really tickle your pinkies. The front roll foot wash transition is the antithesis of less is more, squeezing as much into a transition as possible. The base for this move is the popped front roll transition, as it’s...
Heelside Hand Drag
We thought we'd start this edition with a bit of simplistic, or so it would seem style. Elegantly stroking the water, followed by a plume of spray, was one of the original kiting money shots, and one that is still oft revered and pulled out the bag by many a guest on our clinics. However, as has been the experience...
Cat’s Cradle - Untangling Lines
Untangling your lines while they’re still attached to your kite is one of those useful skills that can save hours of faffing on the beach. Once you know how to do it, you’re almost obliged to become a good Samaritan of the kiting world. No longer able to observe a fellow enthusiast struggling when you know that with your intervention...
Strapless Heel to Toe Carve
Carving a surfboard successfully, throwing up a wall of water and exiting with speed feels absolutely divine. It is the basic building block for all things wave riding. And once you are confident changing from edge to edge, or rather rail to rail and throwing the kite about, you’ll soon be ready to challenge waves that once seemed intimidating. All...
Unhooking
Having watched with great amusement the bursting veins of many friends as they wrestled to hold their “classics” and “surfboards” down, we patiently waited, deep within our subconscious, for the advent of the 4-line kite, and the luxury of a chicken loop. As kit developed, the odd maverick such as Lou Waiman showed the up and coming talents what would...