Launching, Jumps and Kitesurfing Tricks
First things first, you have to launch your kite. You shouldn't try to launch near people, and beginners should launch from the beach before heading out to the ocean. After you've got all of your gear together, you should make sure your kite's lines are flat and stretched out. If you're using an inflatable kite, you should begin inflating a few minutes before you intend to launch. Next, head to the edge of the water. Once you're about a foot into the ocean, have a spotter hold your kite handle and strap your feet onto your board.
Once you're in the water, you have to know how to control your kite. You should start on your back in the water with your board in front of you and the kite floating in the air above you. As your kite gains power, you'll be pulled forward out of the water. Pull the kite into the maximum power zone to gain some momentum and push off into the water. In order to turn your board, put the kite in the neutral position and use your control bar to turn the kite in the opposite direction.
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After you've mastered these basics of kitesurfing, it's time to try some tricks and jumps. In order to jump, you first dive the kite down to make your board move quickly. Then, in a very quick motion, move the kite upward and backward to about an 85-degree vertical angle. Next, bend your knees and edge over quickly on your board's rail (the edge of your board). When the kite begins pulling you, release the rail and jump. While you're airborne, place your feet back on the board in front of you and then move the kite forward so that you'll maintain momentum when you land.
Most kitesurfing tricks are borrowed from skateboarding and wakeboarding. Here are a few of the most popular kitesurfing tricks:
- Grab: Grabs are the basis for board-off tricks. In order to perform a grab, start your jump like normal, and when you're airborne, take your back hand off your control bar. Then, bring the board close to your body and grab it with your back hand. You then release the board and land.
- Spin: Depending on how long you're jumping and how fast you're spinning, you can spin once, twice or even more times. To spin, begin your jump, and once you're in the air, turn your head and shoulder in the direction you want to spin. Once you've completed your spin, turn your head and shoulders in the opposite direction and extend your legs for a landing.
- Invert: To invert, you turn yourself upside down while airborne. To execute an invert, bring your feet up in the air as soon as you're airborne. When you're finished, bring your feet down and land as usual.
- Board-off: As its name implies, in a board-off, you'll take one or both feet off of your board. To perform a board-off, grab your board as soon as you're airborne and take one or both feet off of your board. Then, put your feet back in the straps and extend your legs for landing.
You've got the tricks down, so now you'll learn how to keep it safe while you're kitesurfing.
