Tackeling the legit S-bend

pdxmonkeyboy · Mon Jun 16, 08 11:13 am **Tackeling the legit S-bend**

So in my quest to prove that diaper wearing riders can still throw down, I have embarked on the journey to learn how to do a nice looking s-bend. I have started doing unhooked raileys ever chance I get and have been able to get a decent amount of amplitude and want to start attempting S-bends.

My first and only attempt so far resulted in a serious pounding so I figured I would try to glean some tips from those more in the know then myself.

My big issue is starting the rotation. I am snapping my head and looking over my back shoulder but I can't seem to get the rotation to go fast enough. I was focusing on keeping my head between my arms but perhaps I was looking up and stopping my rotation.
My front rolls are equally as lame but they are sort of a differrent animal with the whole throw your shoulder down thing.

I just can't seem to initiate a spin of any kind when I'm not in contact with the water.

Should I be throwing my elbows? Is there something with my legs I'm not doing?

At any rate I am stoked, the feeling of popping off the water and having the power of the kite course through your body is addicting as hell!!!! I should have been doing this 3 years ago!!

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

Others may disagree, but:
An s-bend is not a raley with a forward roll, it's a forward roll with a raley.

Meaning, while you need to concentrate on getting parallel to the water ala raley for it to be a legit s-bend. You also cannot forget to INITIATE THE FORWARD ROLL or you'll do a raley and that's it. So concentrate on the initiation; progressively setting your edge, popping by pulling your front leg up and bending your body over it. Practice doing that hooked in and see how it goes, then go back to unhooking and slowly lay it out more and more.

If you watch a few videos of pros doing them, they are usually rotating before becoming parallel with the water....

pdxmonkeyboy · Mon Jun 16, 08 11:43 am

hmmm, very good point.

This is what I am after....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k2_x-7hYZiU&feature=related

it seems many folks think that simply front rolling while extended is an S-bend, I want that shit over my head.

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

PMB - awesome that you are going for the real thing and not just trying to get around with your kite way up and calling it an s-bend.

Legit power moves are in my opinion cooler than more technical moves that aren't as powered.

Until ACL replacement I'm not trying any of that shit again, but before my accident I spent the last few years trying to get my moves more legit. Even so I'll say that most of my sessions I don't always get the most powered unhooked moves. Its a lot of work but like you say when you get it right it feels awesome.

As for tips all I can say is that I have the easiest time in super flat water, and very powered up on the kite. Flat water will help with speed, takeoff, and landing. 45 degrees on the kite and pull your front hand hard when you go up.

tonia · Since 15 Jun 2005 209 Posts The Gorge Stoked

I feel that getting a solid unhooked, laid-out raley is the first step to the s-bend. At least, it helped me. Then, I use the momentum and swing of the raley to initiate the forward rotation. The extension on the raley helps me whip around on the rotation.

JimmyC mentions the s-bend is not a raley with a forward roll, but that's how I started getting it and I don't think there is anything wrong with learning it that way. Then, as you get more confident with the rotation, start working on getting more extension when you come around and then.... it's a forward roll with a raley! I agree.... videos help!

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

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

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

Some great legit moves from local riders in here:

http://www.ineptfilms.com/themostunderratedlow.mov

forrest · Mon Jun 16, 08 12:36 pm

I've found, through punishing trial and error, that this is a move that takes time to perfect and you have to take your lumps. I'm still taking my lumps, I'll let you know if I learn anything new while working on it.

GB · Since 21 Jun 2006 4 Posts New Member

have to disagree. A tru legit S-bend is a raley trick and nothing to do with a front roll or flip.
The key is to start to extend into the raley first with your front shoulder up then initiate the rotation by looking UNDER your back armpit, the hips and then the legs/board follow in that order.
The longer you can delay the board rotation, ie lower body verses upper body, the more layed out and true S-bend it will be.
Any dropping of the front shoulder to initiate an S-bend as in a front roll/flip will always turn it into a Fest-bend.
Of course it goes without saying, but still needs to be said, that the kite needs to be no more than a couple of feet off the water and stay there throughout the intire trick.
Here's a true S-bend
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8jjIHzVZcUU
if you can do one that looks half as good as that then you have probably done the best kiteboard 'S-bend' ever!

forrest · Mon Jun 16, 08 12:49 pm

I've seen Bertrand do S-Bends like that on Autofocus. Does it help to have the bar above your head when you start or should you hold it in close?

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

GB, it's okay to disagree but look at the screen captures and tell me he is not rotating (and in the second clip rotated almost completely) before getting into a true laid out raley position with the board above his head. It is not until he is completely rotated (which is pretty sick) that the board rises above his head.

That's all I'm sayin....you have to start rotating before you get to the full raley or else you won't rotate....

If what you are getting at is what is legit. Then, I wholeheartedly agree an unhooked forward during which the board never rises to or above your head is a forward or a front roll, not a legit s-bend.

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

GB I reread your post, I think I missed the point. You are saying the true s-bend is solely initiated with the head and then shoulders, not with the legs/board/initial pop. Is this correct?

tautologies · Since 24 Aug 2006 602 Posts Oahu Addicted

you can't initiate a front roll with the legs anyhow. It really has to be the head..thats really all you also need, the rest will follow automatically.

(I really dunno how laid out mine were...I am guessing not "proper") BUT I found it is easier to initiate the roll unhooked, it is easier to do it with power...I think this is one of those commit or crash kind of things....if you do it with power, you get a lot more height on your raileys, and thus more time to land properly. Once you get better at raileys you'd get better at keeping the kite lower, and not throwing it up..

so, tell your self you can do it. Focus on what you're doing....practise your raileys a lot before trying s-bend...

my goal last year was to do s-bends with kiteloops...I never REALLY made it even if I sort of landed a few...now my back is f#$#ed so I am quite some way away from it...

oh, and what harness you use really doesn't matter the trick is done unhooked. Just remember that the time between you unhooking and initiate the move is very short..this is key to being successful in a powered launch IMO.

a.

tautologies · Since 24 Aug 2006 602 Posts Oahu Addicted

pdxmonkeyboy · Mon Jun 16, 08 2:01 pm

ahhh, the beauty of differing opinions... start to roll before, start after, it has nothing to do with rolling.

No wonder I ate shit the first time I tried it.

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