Learn how to put the "Boarding" into your kiteboarding!
Today, we’re going to do one of the most important videos we’ve ever done. 3 tips to master kite control. This is part one of two, I’m going to do a second video on advanced kiteboard skills to expand on this next. We're lucky to live in a time where all kites are really user friendly but it came at a cost. It seems like most new kiteboarders don’t know how to control their kite with the edge of their kiteboard.
In the early days of kiteboarding, riders had to use their edge control their kite. Now, depending on the kite you have, this might not have as much of an impact. Some kites respond better than others. Either way, if you can learn these techniques, you're going to be a better kiteboarder.
The goal of this video is to help you put the boarding into your kiteboarding. You’re going to jump higher, you're going to learn new tricks easier and honestly you’ll just have more fun riding if you can get these skills down! It's one of those things that most advanced riders just assume everyone knows but as it would turn out most people don’t actual know how to or they might do it a little but they are not fully aware of it.
Edge control impacts everything from depowering the kite, riding upwind and especially jumping. It’s everything for unhooked riding but you can sort of get away without it while hooked in. I’m going to focus on hooked in technique for this fundamental video.
Edge Control Basics
Dig an edge and shoot the kite forward
- Can slow momentum kite responds faster
- Kite will site further forward so its more efficient riding upwind
- How people used to slow down. You are reducing the kites' power by pushing it further forward in the window
Coming off your edge
-Build speed for more power or height on jumps
- Sets the kite deeper in the wind window to a fault
- Helpful for controlling unhooked and for power on powered kite low tricks
- Balance the kites lift on harness vs edge of your board
- Ride downwind to set the kite deeper in the window (Priming the kite for power)
- Too deep and can slow you down too but the sweet spot will help you pick up speed.
- Use it to control the kites position in the window.
Jumping applications
When jumping, you can come off your edge a bit, and set the kite deeper. When you send it up, it will be deeper in the window and you’ll pick up speed for a bigger jump or more power for unhooked and kite low tricks
