Advanced Kiteboard Tips & Tricks #3: The art of wave riding with a kite
Getting out past the waves for the first time
So you are ready to take your kitesurfing to the next level with a kite surfboard
? Good choice. When getting off the kite beach, make sure you are in at least knee deep water so that you don’t rip your board fins out when you get up on the kite board. First, head slightly downwind initially to generate speed. Keep up a moderate amount of speed but control it so you don’t get launched when you hit the first wave or whitewater. Second, to get over the wave or whitewater bend your knees and suck up the wave and let your board ride up over the foam.
Kite position is
really important. Keep your kite at 45 degrees or better yet have your kite pulling down as you hit the foam. This will pull you down and help you stick to your kiteboard. A combination of these 2 skills will ensure you stay on the surf board with or without straps.
While you do need speed to get over the wave, be careful to not generate too much speed. This is where some knee injuries can occur. If the wind is light you will need to move your kite more to generate enough speed to penetrate the waves.
Hot tip – When out past the waves and riding upwind, take your back foot out of the strap and place it in between the two foot straps. This will greatly increase the angle in which you can ride upwind.
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Now that you are out, how do you catch the wave?
There are several methods to catch the wave. The first method is to catch the wave on the “outside”. This technique is used when there is a decent swell. While you are out beyond the waves, turn in front of a swell and get enough speed to stay on the moving swell. Eventually, the wave will steepen and you will feel the power of the wave replacing the power of the kite. Turn your kite down low in front of the wave as you begin to take the drop. Keep the kite low and make small adjustments as you ride along the face. Initially start out on the shoulder of the wave but as your confidence increases you will be able to take off closer to the pocket of the wave. Continue riding the wave, with the goal of keeping tension in the kite lines to keep the kite responsive.
The second method is to catch the wave from the “inside”. This is great fun and basically involves doing a turn on the face of the wave to catch it. First, as you are riding out towards a wave face, you want to turn slightly downwind and away from the wave to get more speed. Second, initiate the kite turn as the wave passes under the kite and spot your turn on the face of the wave. Then, turn on the face of the wave maintaining speed and ensure your kite finishes low and in the direction that you are heading. If you would like to try to unhook, this is best done just after the turn when you start kitesurfing the wave.
Hot tip – If the wind is light, unhook before the turn to generate more power and speed to catch the wave.
More Advanced Tips & Tricks at www.facebook.com/TheKiteLife
Performing smooth bottom turns
Once you gain experience and confidence in the waves, you should start to think about doing a series of bottom turns and top turns to get the maximum ride on the wave. Head down the wave with your feet in the sweet spot of your board. As you spot the point where you want to turn, keep your weight down over your heels and push hard on your back foot. The correct body position is like sitting back on a chair. Begin to look over your leading shoulder which will create a nice smooth arcing turn. As you come out of the turn get your weight forward to carry on the forward speed and look at the spot where you want to go next to do your top turn. At this point, if you don’t have enough speed, you will stall the board and be overtaken by the wave.
Hot tip – the amount of back foot pressure is directly related to how tight the turn is. A good bottom turn sets you up for the whole wave.
Nailing those beautiful top turns Spot the place on the face of the wave you to do your top turn. Once you are on the face of the wave, plant your back foot and get your weight over your toes and initiate the turn. Initiate the kite turn as the wave passes under the kite. Looking back down the wave will help you complete the turn. Keep your weight forward to maintain speed, you can use your back hand for balance and support if you have to let go of the bar. As you head back down the wave flatten out the board to get ready for the next bottom turn.
Hot tip – Keep your kite down low and forward to help so that you don’t ride underneath it which would result in it falling out of the sky.
About the Author
More Advanced Tips & Tricks at www.facebook.com/TheKiteLife
You can check out our latest kitesurfing safaris at www.TheKiteLife.com/kitesurf-safari
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