Kitesurfing Technique

Kitesurfing Technique - How to Tail Grab Board Off dismount
Kitesurfing Technique - How to Tail Grab Board Off dismount
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...

Kitesurfing Technique - How to Foot Plant Transition
Kitesurfing Technique - How to Foot Plant Transition
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,...

Kitesurfing Technique - Beach Bounce Transition
Kitesurfing Technique - Beach Bounce Transition
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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Kitesurfing Technique - Nose Grab Pop Front Loop Transition
Kitesurfing Technique - Nose Grab Pop Front Loop Transition
Nose Grab Pop Front Loop Transition

Here’s one for the purists among you, harking back to the days of no de-power, no releases, no leash, no donkey dick and the silkiness of riders like Mr Shinn (although admittedly he’d probably spin the board around a few times for good measure). Pop transitions were all the rage – the pendulum feeling of swinging out under your kite...

Kitesurfing Technique - Unhooked Popped Front Grab
Kitesurfing Technique - Unhooked Popped Front Grab
Unhooked Popped Front Grab

Here we go – unhooked grabs always seem like a good idea until you decide to try one, and the task ahead seems a little bit more daunting than the initial light bulb moment. That said, there’s no reason not to add some picante to your unhooked moves. We’ll start off here with the popped front roll with a tail...

Kitesurfing Technique - Strapless Air Gybe
Kitesurfing Technique - Strapless Air Gybe
Strapless Air Gybe

Now something for those of you who are happy riding a surfboard and fancy something else to do when the wind is light! Surfboard strapless freestyle is a lot of fun, doesn’t have to hurt and certainly some of the tricks really don’t take too long to learn. Anyone who has witnessed the smooth riding style of Mitu, or has...

Kitesurfing Technique - Strapless Chop Hop
Kitesurfing Technique - Strapless Chop Hop
Strapless Chop Hop

Strapless airs, what’s not to like? We all have to start somewhere and this humble chop hop is pretty much the best place to work on all the necessary ingredients. Get the approach, take off, inflight entertainment and landing down and the sky is your oyster… Velcro, super sticky wax and the dark arts. None of these will be necessary...

Kitesurfing Technique - Strapless Toe to Heel Carve
Kitesurfing Technique - Strapless Toe to Heel Carve
Strapless Toe to Heel Carve

Continuing on from last issue’s heel to toe carve, we can now add the other half to complete the basic requirements of wave riding. Once you can link these two turns together you are wave riding, however mythically it may appear to onlookers, and all you need to add is a genuine curl of water chasing you and before you...

Kitesurfing Technique - Heelside Hand Drag
Kitesurfing Technique - Heelside Hand Drag
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...