KITELOOPING FROM THE GATOR PIT

bustingbladder · Since 12 Jul 2006 386 Posts Seattle Obsessed

After watching Ruben at Stevenson and the last vid thread, is it just better to delay before pointing the bar and get more heighth? It seems that I am just coming in way to hot on the smaller 15footers. Its taking a toll on the body. What are some of you local Gorge rats doing to stay alive for the next day. With my experience, the small 5 to 10footers and not that big a deal but with anything bigger than that, it is really hard on re-entry.
Any tips from you boys? Idea

Wally Gator

Hein · Since 08 Mar 2005 1313 Posts Possessed

on short -20m lines...
wait till you're juiced
good in a gust but
still hooking up solid.
send it and go big off
a booter, huge would
be better. just before
the apex, pull full back
hand, get a yank but keep
full input & hope the kite
comes back up before
you come down. If so
ride away clean. if not
go to the beach and
cough up blood.

It's easier at the coast.

-Hein

kiteboard117 · Since 02 Mar 2005 450 Posts PDX McLovin

deffintily get some more kick up if your hitting hard. swell works or just popping harder and waiting more before the loop. i dont know though about short lines making it easier. my 19s are waaay whippier on takeoff then my 23s. i would recomend learning on longer lines.

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

From Ruben's site...

"Here is a little message from Holland, if it ain't Dutch it ain't much...hahaha anyways this is how to do a kiteloop in Holland!!

Step 1: Leave your brains at home!
Step 2: Make sure you've got enough speed!
Step 3: Aim for the kicker, which will put you up in the air a little higher!
Step 4: Edge hard and lift up your kite to about 11 o'clock
Step 5: Take-off and yank your kite troughout the window...
Step 6: Look over your shoulder and perform your backroll...
Step 7: Spot your landing and control kite...and ride away!

Good luck and keep in mind ''Just keep pulling""

NateDogg · Sun Nov 05, 06 10:06 pm

Go BIG or go home...on a stretcher.

bustingbladder · Since 12 Jul 2006 386 Posts Seattle Obsessed

Thanks for the input guys! I absolutely love how you'all work your forum here at nwkite. You guys are really cool! You can actually ask a question and others are willing to help instead of bashing. Wish a couple of people from the Seattle forum would take heed and learn from this group. Very Happy

Hein, yeah I think I might be starting the kite out in the wrong position. I'll try what you said. Tks

W

pkh · Since 27 Feb 2005 6548 Posts Couve / Hood Site Lackey

Anyhoo, back to the discussion... Very Happy

I noticed that unhooked kiteloops can actually have less knee pulverizing landings. The kite loops faster and it much easier to land hot with your arms spread apart and your body crouched without the kite pulling you from your harness.

I don't land as many unhooked ones, but I think I'd rather not land than stick a bad landing and screw up my knees.

bustingbladder · Since 12 Jul 2006 386 Posts Seattle Obsessed

Yeah PKH,
It seems that you are right on the unhooked loop. From what I gather, I will have to break to cycle of doing the same thing over and over and unhook. I ride Slingers. Does the stock bar setup need to be modified for the oversheeting when unhooked or is it fine as they have set it up? Also, are you boys hooking up to the chicken with your liesh?

W

Teague · Since 10 Jul 2005 114 Posts Really Windy Places Stoked

pdxmonkeyboy · Mon Nov 06, 06 9:14 am

My problem is that on big unhooked moves, the bar gets ripped out of my hand Sad

Maybe I'm just a pussy, or perhaps my hands have gotten tender from working at the office so much.
It's good to hear that KLs can be done without killing yourself in the process! I did a couple loops this year and was surpised at the pain involved even if I "landed" (I use the term loosely) them. My face stung and my ears were ringing on my first attempt and my knees hurt for 3 days on the one I stuck.

I wrote them off as tricks for the under 30 crowd but it seems time to buck up and go for it again.

pkh · Since 27 Feb 2005 6548 Posts Couve / Hood Site Lackey

One key to the unhooked loops is to depower your kite all the way. That way the kite flies fast and completes the loop quick and starts flying back up so you come in for a soft landing... rather than slow and grunty where the kite is just completing the loop when you land (much harder landing, and much harder to hold onto.)

I've had the bar rip out of my hands a few times, a little disturbing to crash while being drug by your leash, but not really that bad.

Worst unhooked wipeout I had yet was in Hatteras... I was using a new leash that was way too long... somehow mid unhooked kiteloop my board came off then my leash went between my legs and I dropped the bar... The kite yanked me into a backflip, then I am not sure which one of my testicles set off the quick release on the leash, but the snap of it happening on my boys was not pleasant.

Stood up after the splash, checked to make sure my manhood was still there, then looked up and saw my kite tumbling away (luckily, somebody ran and caught it.)

Very Happy

genek · Since 21 Jul 2006 2165 Posts East Po KGB

Damn Phil, maybe you need to start wearing a cup. Sounds intense.

Since we're on the topic...what do people think about a 5th line leash for unhooked moves vs. a suicide leash (connected to the chicken loop). It seems most people go with the suicide leash, but I know some people have gotten into some really nasty dragging situations that they were lucky to walk away from. A 5th line leash prevents dragging (but requires relaunching), however, my main concern is what happens if you the drop the bar in mid-air and the 5th line leash activates. Do you drop out of the sky or does the kite retain some of the lift on the way down? Anyone have a good idea of the pros and cons?

Thanks.

forrest · Mon Nov 06, 06 11:24 am

I've been suffering from the Knee problems as well. I'm going to be checking out bindings and some of the liquid force foot beds to absorb some of the impact. Try riding a wake board sometime, pull a loop, doesn't really matter how hard you come in, the landing is easy due to rocker and the cushy foot beds.

tinyE · Since 21 Jan 2006 2004 Posts not really an XTreme Poster

did you hear about the vampire who lost a fang?

he had Ginger-bite-us.... get it?

J.P. · Since 10 Mar 2005 638 Posts Addicted

pkh · Since 27 Feb 2005 6548 Posts Couve / Hood Site Lackey

drama posts deleted... plz keep the squabbles to PM's.... tanks! Very Happy

pkh · Since 27 Feb 2005 6548 Posts Couve / Hood Site Lackey

genek - on the 5th line vs. suicide leash. I think if your using a C kite definitely stick to clipping off to the 5th line. Flat kites depower significantly when you let go of the of the bar and let it slide up the trim line, so you can get away with the suicide leash setup without too much worry.

That is assuming the bar is able to slide forward and depower... if your using a stopper ball, then its not going to depower.

Some of the newer bars have a spot that you can clip to so that when you drop the bar the sliding stopper will slide up the bar letting the kite depower....

With all of this though there is always a chance it won't work!