Any backroll-kiteloop pain avoidance tips?

kenja · Since 19 Jun 2008 179 Posts Stoked

Working on the backroll kiteloop... Tried one today and got yarded...bad.... Anyone have any tips? I basically put both hands on the back-hand side and went into a normal low-altitude backroll while pulling hard. I ended up doing a 10ft high, double backroll kiteloop with a backwards, superman-style, head-first landing. I apparently rotated too hard on takeoff. Any advice other than not to rotate as aggressively?

tonyb · Mon Aug 10, 09 5:41 pm

I'm still trying to figure out how to do them Wally style without killing myself but I think I have the baby style initial one down. I've had pretty good luck with really concentrating on stalling out the backroll while I'm looking straight upwind, try to delay the loop, then pin the bar and it snaps you around. If you're rotating fast and pull the bar early you'll over do it and come in on your ribs.

Come in with medium speed, kite near 10:30 or 11:00. Start by going for a 1 foot off the water backroll and exaggerate pointing the board straight into the wind before pulling on the bar. Then snap your head around and look straight down wind - don't look across the wind in the direction you were going before you started trying to hurt yourself - you'll over rotate if you do. Add height and pop as you gain confidence and start pulling on the bar a little sooner.

An impact vest makes the learning process a little less painful. I've also had better luck learning on 12m and 14m days than on 8m days as things happen just a bit slower.

Tony

Inept_Fun · Since 14 Apr 2005 1417 Posts Hood River XTreme Poster

Like previously stated when trying kiteloops or any new trick you are going to fall, no one is going to be able to give you the magical hint that is gonna take the pain out of learning new stuff. But sounds to me like you are popping to early wait for the kite to be initiating the loop before you start your backroll. That way its not gonna yank you as bad. But the best advice I could give is to just screw kiteloops, slap on some binders and learn some back to blinds!!

jonnY! · Since 25 May 2008 15 Posts Seattle

UNHOOKED

get a bit of speed, slow down (go downwind) UNHOOK
then crank upwind and slowing pull on one side of the bar, starting your backroll
the kite SHOULD loop and you get only a little pull (if the bar is in close to you NOT at arms length), watch the kite all the time and pull off your roll. The kite should be going up at the end of your roll and probably starting another slow loop up high.

HOOKED

slow or fast it doesnt matter. Crank away from your kite and with ONE hand pull on the side of the bar you want to loop. Start your backroll and Look straight away for the kite (then you wont lose your balance) DONT look at the sea, the bar, your board, LOOK FOR THE KITE over your shoulder, as it pulls you around (quite sharply), let a hand go off the bar and aim to land down wind with the kite, dont stretch out for the sea or you risk landing all fucked up and it hurts your legs. Stay abit compact to start with.

Let the kite pull you around
Look for the kite at the start of the back roll, you will go around faster.
Let one hand go and spot your landing without reaching for the sea.

Commit Commit Commit!

j · Since 08 Nov 2006 94 Posts Seattle

Don't start with mid altitude backrolls, they slam you down pretty hard, either go low altitude or commit to big loops. If you go big use shorter lines, that will help get the kite back up faster to catch your fall.

Either way don't rotate like you would for a normal backroll, the kite will pull you around, you've felt that now, you only have to rotate half way then let the kite pull you the rest of the way around.

Learning them underpowered is easier as well.

Bettyboarder · Tue Aug 11, 09 9:10 am

This is a great post...I have been trying to do these for a while and each time I end up getting my butt kicked. I am going to try your tips thanks!!

kenja · Since 19 Jun 2008 179 Posts Stoked

Thanks for the great advice. I'll give it another go with the refined technique.

How hard should you pull with the back hand once you initiate the kite loop? The harder the better? For downloop transitions, that seems to reduce the jerk and keep the kite high in the window.

Chooch · Tue Aug 11, 09 9:40 am

The harder the better until you get them dialed. Then you can slow them down to give em a bit more style.

eric · Since 13 Jan 2006 1804 Posts XTreme Poster

<<Either way don't rotate like you would for a normal backroll, the kite will pull you around, you've felt that now, you only have to rotate half way then let the kite pull you the rest of the way around.>>

Sage advice above. Do a smallish jump, rotate 180 with a bit of a stall at the apex, then pull hard. The kite will do the rest.

Eric

Intrepidquest · Since 09 May 2008 31 Posts HoodRiver

Don't Hesitate!!!

Bailey · Since 13 Apr 2008 87 Posts

Start by learning backroll transitions and backroll kite loops will become very easy just pull a little harder as you spot your landing, the key is to slow your forward momentum before you initiate, and do it under powered.

stringer · Since 31 Jul 2007 694 Posts Chucktown Flying Tomato

Don't do it like this

If you do decide to do it like that,
make sure you do it in front of a peanut gallery so we can all watch the carny! Wink

Kiteloop explosions are the most fun to watch!

railgrab · Since 29 Mar 2005 177 Posts Seattle, WA Stoked

Inept_Fun · Since 14 Apr 2005 1417 Posts Hood River XTreme Poster

Like Bertrand in the Gorge games in 05???

Kataku2k3 · Since 14 Aug 2005 3753 Posts Los Angeles, CA Videographer

forrest · Wed Aug 12, 09 8:35 pm

Adam, if kiters did kiteloops like that AND rode away from them on a regular basis... Well shit, I don't even know what to say, that's just KNAR.

jahmbi · Wed Aug 12, 09 11:12 pm

HERE IS A FUCKING TIP NO PAIN NO GAIN .....TROLL