Tackeling the legit S-bend

Next Element · Since 10 Dec 2007 48 Posts Â

This might sound a bit crazy but one of the easiest ways to get stretched out is to throw a downloop in with the s-bend. If your powered up you'll be so stacked by the time the kite loops round that you'll get pulled straight and if you throw enough forwards momentum into the take off you'll find it easy.

I can land downloop S bends 60% of the time. Whenever i try a straight forward s-bend unless i am super powered up it just looks pony and i don't feel like i got the right rotation...

Speed and power can be your friend... The tough bit of course is nailing the landing. Remember to point your front foot at your kite so you land dead downwind cause you will be going fast.

Rou

kyle.vh · Since 11 Jul 2007 713 Posts city of angels Addicted

i have no idea what you guys are talking about. I need to lean to "pop" i think, first of all... Embarassed

tautologies · Since 24 Aug 2006 602 Posts Oahu Addicted

pdxmonkeyboy · Mon Jun 16, 08 4:23 pm

Kraemer · Since 24 Apr 2006 1736 Posts Sky Pilot Unicorn Captain

when I dial my unhooked front rolls and raileys, s-bends are just around the corner...

Next Element · Since 10 Dec 2007 48 Posts Â

Sorry for weighing in with a crazy idea Wink

, it does work though, especially if you want to do a legit s-bend with the kite nice and low. But your right the landings are savage on the legs. The most common mistake is that your throw yourself down and around, spot your landing and get so excited cause you think you've made it you forget to aim your board at the kite last minute. So you land powered and sideways. Which generally results in a good spanking.

If you are well powered when you pop then you'll have a pretty stretched out experience. I think someone mentioned it earlier but try to bend that front leg and initiate the rotation as you release the edge from the water.

A good way to lead up to the DL S-Bend would be just s straight DL raley. If you haven't tried DL before then give them a go, they may sound a bit mad but if you are comfortable un hooked and can do raleys then throwing a downloop in is the next step.
Keep the kite at 11 to start, then cross your back hand over underneath your front hand on the bar so you are wielding it like an axe. As you swap hands level the board off so you aren't edging so much. This two hands on one side of the bar approach will ensure full commitment and also mean no matter what you do that kite is gonna go round in a full loop. As the kite starts to turn down and power up engage your edge as hard as you can and just when you think your arms are gonna pop, release and fly off downwind after your kite. Then pull the bar to your hips and point the board dead downwind for a fast landing... Once you have this cracked thowing in the s-bend will be the next step.

I totally suck at normal s-bends, but doing them this way i can land a few of them...

Crazy i know...

Oh to be 22 again indeed, I'm 32 and my legs remind me everyday...

pdxmonkeyboy · Tue Jun 17, 08 8:05 am

Thanks for the tips. There is a few good articles on doing unhooked moves in the digital magazine that someone just posted. internation kite surfer or whatever it is called. there seems to be a pretty good variation on when people start the rotation. Some do it as they are leaving the water and there are other who clearly do it once they are airborn.

Thinking about the moce last night I think I might have discovered one of the problems for me getting the front rotation down.

When I generate pop off of the water I always carve upwind quite a bit. Unfortunately, I think I am exaggerating this upwind carving too much such that every time I leave the water its like I am starting the rotation for a backroll. When unhooked I just get pulled straight but this tendancy may be causing problems for my front rotation.

I'll give the down loop a try on my next Railey and see what happens. Maybe I'll give that impact vest another test.. Wink

Kataku2k3 · Since 14 Aug 2005 3754 Posts PDX-LA Videographer

More like... to be 17 again. Look at Tucker and Andy! Surprised

jimmyc · Since 04 Aug 2005 74 Posts Cape Cod, MA Â

A good friend works at Best, so she asked Shannon Best, who I was told invented the S-bend. Here is the response as relayed to her:

The proper way is to twist up into it, and raley out of it, which is the way you have to do it on the cable. With a kite, you can cheat. On a cable you can’t.

And it was named for the s-bend in the toilet, since when it all goes wrong, you’re going down the toilet. Or something to that effect.

So, per Shannon, and as evident in the video clips - twist first, raley later. Maybe you can twist first using just your head and shoulders. I use the pop to start the twist as well.

Legit or not when you get a nice one all laid out it looks and feels pretty cool. Good luck. Wink

pkh · Since 27 Feb 2005 6549 Posts Couve / Hood Honored Founder

way to goto the source Jimmy Thumb's Up

pdxmonkeyboy · Wed Jun 18, 08 7:11 am

genek · Since 21 Jul 2006 2165 Posts East Po KGB

That doesn't answer the question of whether to initiate the rotation off the water or in the air? Or am I missing something?

pdxmonkeyboy · Wed Jun 18, 08 10:03 am

LOL, I see what your saying. He is saying twist up into it.. which I interpreted to mean, start your twist before you get laid out but then he recants and says..you have to do it this way on the cable..but on the kite you can cheat..which to me means it doesn't matter with a kite cause you can cheat.

maybe I should just work on railey to blind and forget it. Rolling Eyes

forrest · Wed Jun 18, 08 10:13 am

Na, keep working on unhooked frontrolls and towards s-bends. Raleys to blind can come next.

wakeup · Since 11 Sep 2005 328 Posts always Obsessed

glad to see people finally recognizing the difference between legit and lame and an interest in wake---it's about time
what ever you all do, for the sake of our sport------
if you can't do a legit raley, with the kite low, then don't even bother--just dial that in
don't take anyones words in here---most people(if any) on this thread can't do it, legit
don't look at any kiting pics of an s bend-- they are all pretty lame(or not even an s-bend)
look at a wake mag or watch awake(2002)in lou's part. it is the best wakestyle kite vid out along with unhooked and 10-4. you can see lou come out of the spin and and then he is in raley(way inverted)
and no down looping either---if you can't get the load and pop then go back to the basics
looping for a wake trick is whack and for people who don't go fast enough to get the power, pop, and rotation without the loop

oh yeah, and quit talkin about it and go throw that shit already
and if you do land one--don't claim it and don't tell everyone
just keep throwin that shit down and if it is legit, someone else will recognize and give you props

pdxmonkeyboy · Thu Jun 19, 08 9:14 am

pkh · Since 27 Feb 2005 6549 Posts Couve / Hood Honored Founder

Joby has probably earned a few credits to talk some smack on this thread, him and his brother throw down some mean power wakestyle (see video above.) They pretty much own that category at the spit.

Don't let it get you frazzled Monkey Very Happy