body position the science of stance - Kitesurfarea.com

Back to the
Basics
By: Paul Lang and Ryan Riccitelli
Learning new moves on the water will keep you coming back for
more. Make sure your gear is properly tuned before you head out to
your next session. You will be sure to progress more efficiently with
gear that flies straight and a stance that fits you body type. Even
the best riders should pay attention to their body position. In this
issue, we decided to focus on a few basic concepts that are often
overlooked. Even if you are pulling sick front rolls and back rolls, slow
it down for a session and practice on maximizing a simple jump or the
pop of your ollies. These basic fundamentals will only help improve
your more advanced moves. Getting back to the basics will build a
solid foundation for you to progress.
Lens: Gavin Butler
body position
If we are going to talk about the basics, we
have to start by talking about your body
position while riding. If you don’t have
good form here, your progression will be
limited. Before your next session, take a
few minutes to watch the riders at your
local spot. Even if they are just riding back
and forth, you will be able to tell the good
riders from the bad just from looking at
their body position. Good form during
jumps and more advanced moves starts
with good form while riding back and forth.
Stand tall when you are kiteboarding! If
your back hurts when you come in off the
water, you are probably letting the kite
pull your shoulders forward, causing you
to break at the waist. Bending at the waist
will make it very difficult to ride upwind.
You simply cannot edge properly bent over.
Concentrate on leaning your shoulders
back and thrusting your hips towards your
kite. Every time you edge hard, keep those
stomach muscles tight and keep those hips
driving forward. If you have short arms,
you may have trouble depowering your kite
without bending at the waist. If this is the
case, trim your bar to bring the depower
range closer to your body by shortening
your harness loop.
With your back straight, slightly bend
your back leg while keeping your front leg
relatively straight. In powered conditions,
you should be riding with most of your
weight on your back foot. You want to
keep your front leg fairly straight, but
don’t lock your knee, especially in choppy
conditions. In chop, you need to use your
knees like shock absorbers, otherwise you
will bounce off of every piece of chop and
your knees will feel pulverized after a long
day of riding.
the science of stance
Board stance may be the most overlooked
adjustment kiteboarders have available
to them. Many boards are sold with
footstraps already mounted, and most
kiteboarders never bother to move them.
If you don’t know what your stance
is, chances are your board is not set
up correctly. A board that is not set
up properly will throw off your body
position, make edging difficult, and can
create knee problems.
Most people have their board set with
their stance too narrow. Experiment with
the different positions for your bindings
until you find the set-up that feels most
comfortable. Measure your stance so you
know what it is! Stance is measured from
inner insert to inner insert. Try going wide
(18” is considered wide, 20” is very wide)
and slightly ducked out. A wide stance will
be easier on your knees and lowers your
center of gravity, stabilizing your body
position and making grabs easier. Always
keep both feet symmetrical and over the
middle of the board. Mounting your straps
to put your heels closer to the edge of the
board may make it easier to edge hard, but
will make riding toeside difficult. Once you
find the perfect position for your straps, set
up all of your boards this way. You may
find that the board you thought rode like a
chunk of plywood is actually a great board
that was set up with an improper stance.
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tune your kite! please!
We’ve talked about it before, but we still see a lot of people riding
gear that is not tuned properly. Tuning your kite is something that
every level of kiteboarder needs to know how to do, especially
beginners. A kite that is improperly trimmed will not fly correctly
and may be prone to falling out of the sky. Take the time to set
your gear up right, so that you can eliminate gear problems as the
cause of your problems on the water.
1. Your first step is to hook all four or five lines to a solid object,
like a tree or the bumper of your car. Pull the lines tight and adjust
your lines, so they are all even.
2. Fly your kite with all lines even. While hooked in, put the kite
overhead and let go of the bar. If the kite has a tendency to always
turn one way at the top of the window, your steering lines are still
off. Fix this by shortening the line opposite the way the kite turns
(if the kite drifts left, shorten your right steering line). You can
easily do this by tying a knot in your leader line.
3. Once steering problems are resolved, you can move on to front
line-back line trim. An under-trimmed kite (front lines too short)
will respond slowly and produce little power. An over-trimmed kite
(front lines too long), will be unstable and have a tendency to stall
backwards, especially at the edge of the window. Most kites, but
not all, will be properly trimmed with all lines even.
4. A properly tuned C-kite will have both wingtips parallel, and a
tuned bow kite will sit on the edge of the window without stalling
backwards. To find this proper trim, power up your kite (lengthen
your front lines) until you either see the wingtips flair out (C-kite) or
the kite begins to want to move backwards (bow kite). Then depower
your kite (shorten your front lines) until it becomes stable again.
Riding lit!
You should never want to ride overpowered by choice, but there
are many times when you will find yourself flying more kite than is
ideal. With high depower kites, it is possible to ride with way more
kite than is necessary, but this is a bad habit to fall into. Weather
conditions change all the time, so you will end up overpowered
sooner or later even if you choose the perfect kite every time you
rig. Here’s how you should deal with it:
The key to riding overpowered is speed control. If you can keep
your speed under control, you can ride through the largest gusts
with no problem. When you are overpowered, you actually want to
ride slower than you would if you were perfectly powered. Riding
slowly will keep the kite near the edge of the window, where the
kite has less power. Riding fast causes your kite to drift back in the
window, which creates more power and causes you to accelerate
faster and faster until you explode in a ball of spray. Avoid this
situation by keeping your speed under control. If you find yourself
picking up so much speed that you cannot slow down by edging,
carve downwind sharply without moving the kite. This must be
done quickly and with confidence. Carving downwind for a moment
will cause the kite to shoot forward in the window, reducing power.
The first few times you do this, you will crash, but once you dial it
in, it is a really functional way to dump extra speed and power. Back
in the day before kites with super range, this was really the only
way to depower, and good riders had to be very comfortable at high
speeds to keep control of the kite.
The whole process shouldn’t take any more than 30 minutes, so
be productive on the next light wind day and spend a little time
making your gear fly right. Every kite is a little different, and
some kites are more difficult to tune than others. Take the time
to set up your kite properly. Don’t dismiss kite trim as being too
difficult or unimportant! Dialing you kite is not just for techies,
it’s for everyone. If you are having trouble dialing in your kite,
talk to other kiters, the shop that sold you the kite, or your kite
manufacturer.
When riding overpowered, it’s important to have good edging
skills, and this starts by having good body position. No matter how
overpowered you are, don’t give in to the urge to bend at the waist.
Keep your shoulders back, remembering to drive your hips towards
the kite while focusing your weight through your back heel. Don’t
forget to depower the kite using your depower strap, so you do not
have to stretch your arms to get your kite’s full depower.
How to Slog
It would be great to have the right size kite
for every condition, but the reality is that
most of us only have two or three kites,
leaving us wishing for more power on the
lighter days. In some light wind spots, like
San Diego, riding underpowered is a way
of life. Riders in San Diego are able to have
fun on days most others would write off as
being unridable. There is a definite art to
riding underpowered, and a little practice
will expand your definition of conditions you
think of as fun.
Technique can go a long way to squeezing
the most out of underpowered conditions,
but your gear is the biggest factor in
determining your low-end limit. Ride your
largest kite with your biggest bar and normal
length lines. Longer lines can help you kite in
very underpowered conditions, but you start
taking up way more than your fair amount
of space when your lines get over 30 meters.
Your board is a huge factor in determining
your bottom end. A larger board with little
rocker or a surfboard can keep you going
when everyone else gives up.
The big secret to kiting in light wind is in your
feet. You have to shift your weight forward
in the lulls and back in the gusts. If you are
riding a surfboard with straps, get your feet
out of the straps and move your feet forward
on the board. In light wind, you can’t try to
go upwind the whole time you are riding.
Creating speed is more important than
trying to go upwind. In the lulls, flatten the
board and let yourself go downwind to build
speed. As your speed increases, you can
start weighting your back foot and edging,
but do it gently. If you edge aggressively,
you will simply stop and sink. You can also
pump your board to keep speed up and work
your way upwind. Watch any surfer in mushy
waves and you will see them pump their
board to keep speed up to make a section.
When underpowered, move your hands
out to the ends of your bar and move the
kite up and down as aggressively as you
can. Remember that kite speed is just as
important as board speed. Don’t just sheet
your kite in all the way in and edge your
board. You’ve got to finesse it. To get the
most out of your power strokes with the
kite, edge slightly harder when the kite is
diving down and then ease up and flatten
the board while the kite is on the way up.
Kiting underpowered is frustrating and tiring.
It usually helps to occasionally blurt out
expletives. If nothing else, kiting in bottom
of the barrel conditions will make you
appreciate the good days even more.
Lens: Ryan Riccitelli
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1
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Try this:
basics Moves for
your next session
Ollie 180
The ollie 180 is an easy move to learn and forms an important base from which
to build more advanced moves. As we have said before, you’ve got learn to walk
before you can run.
1. Start by riding with good board speed and your kite 45º to 60º above the water.
2. Hold the kite steady as you pop the board off the water by standing tall and
pushing off of your back foot.
3-4. Grab the board for style. To simplify learning this move, ignore the grab until
you can do a 180 without the grab.
5-6. Rotate through the 180 by turning your shoulders and hips – your legs will
follow if you commit to the move.
7. Spot your landing and stomp down with your back foot (this was your front foot
at the beginning of the move).
8-9. Bend your knees to absorb the landing and ride away.
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3
4
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Lens: Gavin Butler
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jump with control
A simple jump with lots of hangtime may not be the most technical trick, but few
things beat the sensation of flying through the air. If your jumps are not going right,
stop hucking yourself into the air and hoping for the best. Take the time to learn the
proper technique, step by step.
Lens: Ryan Riccitelli
7
8
9
1. Start by riding with good board speed with your kite 60º above the water.
2. Set up for your jump by pulling with your back hand to send the kite up and away
from your riding direction. You must move the kite quickly, but not too far. As you
send the kite back, you have to stop the kite’s movement just over your back shoulder.
If you whip the kite too hard or too far behind you, it will pull you off your edge and
you will not get very much elevation.
3. As the kite crosses overhead, edge upwind hard, sheet in, and pop the board off
the water. The timing of when you edge and pop is critical to get the most out of your
jumps. The exact timing varies with equipment and conditions and takes a lot of trial
and error to get right.
4-6. As you near the apex of your jump, start pulling with your forward hand to bring
the kite back over your head. The exact timing of this step takes awhile to perfect and
depends on your gear, the conditions, and the height of your jump.
7. Fly the kite over your head to float gently back down.
8. As you near the water, pull hard with your forward hand to dive the kite so that you
land with speed.
9. Bend your knees to absorb the landing and ride away.
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PRODUCT WATCH
CAUTION Heckler
DAKINE Boost II Deckpad
This fast flying, stable freestyle kite
delivers instant response in the turns
and a huge depower range for gusty
winds. Thanks to the tapered leading
edge and balance of the C5 5th line bar
system, the Heckler is great for wave
riding and new school unhooked moves.
Smooth power delivery through turns
is the Heckler’s specialty. Caution’s
proven, tough construction make this
kite a great choice for freestyle or
wave riders needing a responsive, tight
pivoting, lightweight kite without giving
up durability.
Sizes: 5, 7, 9, 12, 15m
MSRP: starting at $950.00 complete
cautionkites.com
The 2007 Boost II pads feature a revolutionary unidirectional
foot-holding traction pattern. The pad is
angled for getting in the strap, with vertical walls
to keep your foot from accidentally
slipping out. For ultimate comfort,
the pad is constructed of specially
formulated molded shock
absorbing foam with built in arch
support. There are two mounting options
available, peel and stick adhesive backing or
mounting plates, for easy installation.
Sizes: One size fits all
MSRP: $24.00 per pair, $30.00 with mounting plate
dakine.com
CAUTION Hustler
EH KITEBOARDING EH Beast
AIRUSH Halo
In its second year, Airush’s dedicated
bow design has seen an intense
year of refinement. Working within
the parameters of the original bow
concept, they have focused on
increased stability in the smaller
sizes and improved steering and
responsiveness in the bigger sizes.
Sizes: 7, 10, 12, 14m
MSRP: starting at $1078.00 complete
airushkiteboarding.com
BEST Best Bar 07
Best’s all carbon 07 bar features
a new dual depower rope with an
adjustable stopper, Stiffy Disc and
Straight Plate for unhooking, mouse
ear swivel for twist free loops and
spins, and a new ergonomic grip.
Total user adjustability, multiple rear
line re-rides and center line bypass
leash options offer total flexibility in
safety function and activation.
Sizes: 45cm, 55cm
MSRP: Bar w/23m lines $294.00, 25m lines $299.00
bestkiteboarding.com
BEST Drive Series 07
Developed using many high tech manufacturing
procedures and tuned and tested by Shannon
Best, the 07 Drive series delivers maximum
performance, reliability and enjoyment no matter
what conditions you ride in. The series consist
of three regular drives and two limited edition
versions. Features include a CNC Airex foam
core, a single concave bottom, controlled flex
zones, and ABS bottom and top sheets.
Sizes:121 x 37.1,125 x 38.6, & 131 x 39.4cm
MSRP: $529.00 board only; $620.00 complete
bestkiteboarding.com
CABRINHA Custom
The Custom model retains its dedicated wakestyle/
freeride design elements. It is the board of choice for
riders like Andre Phillip looking for performance and
excellent pop. Its wider plan-form and progressive
rocker give the board a solid feel for wakestyle riding.
The entirely new construction technique features
an ABS sidewall, a PVC core, and mixed weight
quadraxial glass to keep the durability high and the
weights low. The new Custom comes complete
with all new multi-density footpads, wide-body
adjustable straps, a handle, and 4 x 2” G10 fins.
Sizes: 128x38, 133x39, & 138x42 cm
MSRP: $604.00 board only; $739.00 complete
cabrinhakites.com
By: Gary Martin
The 2007 Hustler is a wide-style twin
tip that was shaped by the legendary
Jimmy Lewis. A quick to plane, easy-toride
shape was at the top of the criteria
when creating these ultra-smooth,
upwind machines. The 145 is the ideal
novice and heavy guy board with its
wide outline, deep concave bottom
and moderate length. New features
include very comfortable and size
accommodating adjustable footstraps,
stainless steel 1/4” 20 inserts, comfy
ergonomic footpads, new lower profile
carbon grab handle, and indestructible
hyper foil G10 fins.
Sizes: 135 x 46.35cm, 145 x 46cm
MSRP: $610.00 complete
cautionkites.com
GLOBE KITES GK 07 Sonic
The new Sonic is a high aspect
ratio, SLE 4-line kite and offers
excellent wind range. Designed
for intermediate to advanced
riders, the new 07 model features
“freeflow” - single point inflation;
“A-KPO” - a bridle that allows
bar pressure and turning speed
adjustments; double reinforced
shoulder patches; triple reinforced
leading edge seam; and wingtip
battens that work in conjunction with
the “A-KPO”.
Sizes: 6, 8, 11, 14, 17m
MSRP: TBA
litewavedesigns.com
The Beast is a low AR hybrid kite. It
has good low end grunt and will forgive
most common pilot errors. Its huge
range plus smooth gradual depower
gives you the feeling you are riding in a
comfortable and safe Mercedes Benz.
It’s a great kite to learn how to catch big
air and to cruise around safely.
Sizes: 4, 5.5, 8, 10, 12, 15m
MSRP: TBA
cabareteairforce.com/news/189/
RRD Toxic Wave
Wave riding is not just for the privileged
that are able to ride beautiful reef point
breaks in side-off conditions. In fact,
the majority of wave riding is done
in far less ideal side-on conditions.
This twin tip wave kiteboard has a
directional outline and scoop rocker in
combination with a twin tip stance that
provides a platform for freestyle wave
riding. Ride it backwards, forwards,
backside, front side, in the pocket, off
the lip, whatever you want!
Sizes: 148 x 42cm
MSRP: $650.00
robertoriccidesigns.com
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PRODUCT WATCH
JIMMY LEWIS Model III
The Model III is the all around performer
in the Jimmy Lewis lineup. This board
rips in flat water, chop and waves. The
Model III suits the widest range of
riders with four sizes to match every
condition, wind range and rider size. All
Model III boards feature a dominatrix
concave bottom shape with rounded
rails, G-10 thin-foiled fins, a handle
and ergonomically designed adjustable
deckpads and footstraps.
Sizes: 125 x 14.75”,133 x 15.25”,139 x
15.75”,145 x 17”
MSRP: $799.00 complete
realkiteboarding.com
LITEWAVE DESIGNS
MicroDot Foot System
The MicroDot System is made up of hundreds of small
dots each with a zigzag traction pattern. This makes for
a grippy, contouring footbed that is both functional and
comfortable. It is contoured with toe
grip, arch support, and heel well. Padded
curved plate keeps it tight on the toe and
heel, and is easily removeable for travel.
The MicroDot strap uses the same
material as the footbed with a wide,
double overlock Velcro adjustment for a
secure fit. The system comes standard
with all 2007 Litewave boards or is
available separately.
Sizes: Adjustable
MSRP: $109.00
litewavedesigns.com
LIQUID FORCE KITEBOARDING Assault
The 2007 Generation 2 Assault is a high performance bow-style kite that
integrates both bridle and inflatable technologies. To relaunch, simply pull
on one of the back lines and it’s airborne.
The stability and predictability of the
Assault make it very user-friendly. LF
increased the stiffness of the Assault’s
structure, which enhanced its stability
and increased its quickness and power
through the turns. Features include
“total kite depower”, and the “Union
Inflation System” single point inflation
with LF’s exclusive “Union Valve”.
Sizes: 6, 9, 12, 16, 19m
MSRP: Starting at $1199.99
liquidforcekites.com
LIQUID FORCE KITEBOARDING
LF Surfboard
The 6’0” LF Surfboard has a
progressive surf shape that
enables you to ride waves with
or without footstraps. This board
can also be used as a regular
surfboard when there is no wind.
Its thruster short board design
features a single to a double
concave bottom, for acceleration
and control on the wave face.
The 5’8” features a round pintail
shape and is designed for riding
larger waves in more extreme
wind and surf conditions. Both
boards utilize a polyurethane
surfboard construction for a
true surfboard feel and feature dual entry “surf” footstraps
and EVA pads. The front pad can be mounted on an optional
polycarbonate plate, or can be removed for strapless riding.
Sizes: 6’ x 18 3/8” x 2”, 5’ 8” x 17 ” x 1 7/8”
MSRP: $699.00 complete
liquidforcekites.com
MAUI MAGIC Hana Steamer D/L 4/3
Maui Magic has introduced a brand new line of
more than 50 accessories just for women! The
Hana Steamer 4/3 D/L is the personal choice of
2005/2006 World Champion Kristin Boese. With
top quality, flexible neoprene (TriSpan), active arm
construction, cuff lock, V-neck and tons of other
features, the Hana Steamer is a comfortable,
durable, kite-specific suit designed especially for
women that looks stylish too!
Sizes: XS to L
MSRP: $275.95
Colors: Black or Blue
mauimagic.com
NEVER LOCKED OUT Hitch Safe Key Vault
The Hitch Safe Key Vault converts
your 2 inch receiver hitch into a key
vault. It fits inside your receiver hitch
using two locking slide bars with
locking pins. The secure drawer
can only be opened with your own
personal 4-digit code. It also comes
with a cover to provide concealment
and protection from dirt and weather.
MSRP: $79.95, website $69.95 + shipping
NeverLockedOut.com
MYSTIC KITEBOARDING
Warrior Waist Harness
With features such as kinetic back support,
spreader down system (exclusive to Mystic
harnesses), batten load distribution system,
flex edge and a design that allows the
ultimate freedom of movement, the Warrior
is a favorite harness for top riders across
the world. This year, new materials (PV), and
features (double walls for comfortable riding
without a wetsuit for hours) give the Warrior
harness the comfort for riding overpowered
and the flexibility for new school tricks.
Sizes: XS to XL
Colors: Black/Red, Black/Gold, White, Silver
MSRP: $189.95 complete with kite specific
spreader bar, pad, handlepass quick release
mystickiteboarding.com
NAISH KITEBOARDING 2007 Sol
Drawing from progressive wakeboard and
snowboard designs, the 07 Sol combines
the feel of many styles into one. Unlike
kiteboards that try to achieve strength and
snap by using foam instead of wood, the Sol
uses proven snowboard construction with
a tip-to-tip wood-core to give you the same
feeling with no compromise. The Sol has
the ability to excel at power freestyle, but is
still ultra smooth when you just want to go
out and carve. With the Sol’s progressive
outline, look at the width of the board more
than the length when choosing a board size.
Its bigger sizing allows you to maintain all of
the power that you need, while still giving
you the ultimate Sol ride.
Sizes: 130, 133, 136, 139, 142cm
MSRP: TBA
naishkites.com
NAISH KITEBOARDING 2007 Shockwave
The Shockwave’s high altitude and instant
depower characteristics, regardless of
kite position in the power window,
make it a ‘true’ wave kite. Aimed
at the performance wave rider
and jumper, the new Shockwave
has extended wind range, a
refined aspect ratio, and precise
control that will take any kiter
to new heights. It also features
faster turning for efficient riding, and
improved water relaunchability. The bar
pressure has been radically reduced compared to
the ’06 edition, and is now “tuneable” as a result
of its new rigging options.
Sizes: 5, 7, 9, 12, 16m
MSRP: TBA
naishkites.com
OZONE SNOWKITES Manta
The Manta is Chasta’s signature model, designed for those
who want to push the limits of snowkiting. It is basically a very
high aspect Frenzy and requires the
pilot to be highly skilled. Due to
its long wing tips and flowing
shape, the Manta glides thru
the sky with speed and
lift providing a modern
ride for old school fliers
like Chasta that go bigger
than expected and float
longer than necessary
above the Earth.
Sizes: 10, 12m
MSRP: starting at $1299.00 complete
windzup.com
RRD Type 8
The Type 8 is the fastest, most
advanced Freestyle/Wave kite
ever developed by RRD. This
kite has countless tuning
options including the trademark
RRD canopy zipper, for more or
less grunt. It comes standard
with the third generation total
depower bar. This was one of
the first total depower system in
kiteboarding and is awesome for
serious wave riding. Bottom line,
this kite delivers bow kite depower, and
blasting C-kite performance.
Sizes: 5, 7, 9, 15m
MSRP: starting at $1264.00
robertoriccidesigns.com
SLINGSHOT Kiteboarding Fuel 07
The Fuel has a legacy for innovation dating
back to 2001. Over time, it has captured
a loyal following from those desiring
an expert level of performance,
uncompromising power and incredible
durability to achieve top level riding.
New features on the 07 Fuel include
redesigned patented Slingshot
Splitstrut “bolt on” technology; a
redesigned 5-line Profire bar with a
new, stainless steel power steering
dug out that reduces bar pressure/
increases turning speed and prevents
wear and tear on the chicken loop line;
and below the bar depower, trim and a
new active stopper ball. Other innovations
remain in place like Slingshot’s One Pump and
Wave Grenade release – the only deployable
5th line on the market so your kite doesn’t
bow tie and possibly rip when it’s in the surf.
Sizes: 5, 7, 9, 11, 13, 15, 17m
MSRP: starting at $1199.00
sskiteboarding.com
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