Skills Drills #3 Looping Down the Line.

This Skill Drill is for the more experienced kite surfer. If you are capable of boosting jumps consistently, can easily preform a toe side turn, then you should be ready to take this challenge. The drill will require you to Down Loop your kite, if you need to know more about this subject follow this link:
Down Looping
Conditions for this drill should be side shore winds, 12-18 Knots. Down winders are the best time to practice this drill as you will burn up a lot of real estate while performing it. Most fun when performed in small surf.
Drill: While riding heel side on port tack, bring the kite high to 11:00, then pull down on the left side of the bar to down loop the kite and perform a toe side turn. Keep pulling on the left side of the bar so that the kite begins to climb again and as it passes over the top of the wind window perform a heel side turn. Still keep the pressure on the left hand side of the bar, and as the kite down loops again perform the second toe side turn. Still holding pressure on the left hand side of the bar the kite will climb again to the top. You have now sent the kite through two full loops, turning toe side, heel side, toe side, and finally back to heel side. At this point the friction between the twisted lines will become great so it is time to reverse the rotation of the kite. Since you had pulled on the left side of the bar the kite rotated counter clock wise. Now you will pull down on the right side of the bar to down loop the kite in a clock wise rotation 2 complete revolutions.
If you are in flat water this drill will closely resemble carving through a slalom course behind a boat. If you are in some small surf …well …you know what to do!

Skills Drills #2 Figure 8’s

Figure 8’s
In this Skills Drills you will practice one of the most important skills you can have in your arsenal to find power. The figure eight is the fastest and most effective way to get your kite back into the power zone and away from the the edge of the wind window!

Drill: Standing on the beach with your trainer kite, or while body dragging with a power kite, bring the kite to a stationary position at 12:00 overhead for several seconds. This is an important time, spend this moment relaxing and becoming focused. Count to 10 if you have to. Do not rush. You are now ready to start the exercise. From 12:00 move the kite to the 11:00 on the left then dive the kite to the right but only for a short time then turn the kite 180 degrees and fly it back to 12:00 turn the kite again to the right and dive it once again on the right side of the wind window but deeper this time ( by deeper I mean dive it closer to the ground) then turn the kite 180 degrees again and back to 12:00 turn once more and dive the kite still deeper turn and fly back to 12:00. Bring the kite to a full stop. Now do the same exercise only to the left this time. In my description of the drill you will notice there were no comas. There is no time for pausing or hesitation during a series of figure 8s!
Key points:
Keep the kite moving! If at any time during the drill the kite stops moving forward quickly you have failed. Bring the kite to 12:00 and start over.

Dive the kite more vertically, less horizontally.

Always return to 12:00 before the next dive.

Anticipate 12:00, do not fly much past 12:00.

Avoid flying the kite in future 8s across the top of the wind window from 10:00 to 2:00. This is counter productive toward the end goal of kiting in one direction i.e. starboard tack. Practice figure 8s on one side at a time. And when it comes time to ride you will benefit a great deal from these drills. Never think you have done this exercise enough! You should be able to increase the amount power you get or decrease the power by adjusting the shape of the figure 8s.
When the day comes to try your first water start your understanding of good figure 8s will become immediately evident in your success or failure to ride, they are that important!

Skills Drills #1 S turns

Welcome to my new category “Skills Drills”. Here I will post drills that challenge riders to move beyond their comfort zone to develop new skills, and understanding of the sport of kiteboarding.

S Turns

Now that you have mastered the water start and have ridden a few hundred yards at a time, it is time to figure out how the board works and how to make it work for you. This drill is designed to get you to change course. That is the direction in which you are riding. I.E. from 90 degrees east to 130 degrees south east and back again. This will give an idea of the effects that a change of course will have on things like speed, upwind progress, and the limitations of too great of a course change.

Drill: As you are riding on your heel side edge, back leg bent, front leg straight, leaning against the kite, arms out, bring your body to a more vertical stance while still standing over you back foot to keep the nose of your board up. Now lean toward your toe side edge and re direct the board in a more down wind direction. A course change of maybe 30 or 40 degrees. Not 5 degrees. This course change should only last 2-3 seconds, and then back to your original course. The kite should remain at the same elevation (45degree angle).

Goal: To carve S Turns in a consistent manner.