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Forums > Kitesurfing General

I'm scared.....

Reply
Created by sharkbait > 9 months ago, 17 May 2008
sharkbait
VIC, 134 posts
17 May 2008 10:49AM
Thumbs Up

I want to try a kite loop while jumping, but i just can't seem to bring myself to JUST DO IT.... I've watched dvd after dvd on how to do it, but at the last minute i back out. Whats the worst that can happen SERIOUSLY if i do it with all safety gear on and away from land!? I keep thinking i'm going to hit the water so hard i'll be knocked unconscious or something, can this happen?

andrewm
WA, 243 posts
17 May 2008 8:50AM
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why not just try it on a 15kt day and a small jump?

doesnt have to be 45kt 15m ruben style.

kytesrfn
NSW, 83 posts
17 May 2008 10:52AM
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Yep your worst thoughts are possible, is a real hard fast landing too. Trust me it hurts, but ya gotta try and try again. As the saying goes "no pain no gain".

TheMedic
WA, 153 posts
17 May 2008 8:56AM
Thumbs Up

Hahahahaha
I laugh for 2 reasons:
1. We've all been there. and
2. I frickin love that dancing fat boy on your avatar.

I was nervous when i tried it first, after watching Len10 do it over and over, i just balls up and did it.
And i bailed mid way through the loop. And that hurt a little. But then you realise 2 things. It doesn't hurt that much and it doesn't hurt at all when you commit and land it.
All i can say is, start small. Do a little jump and yank it. Don't look at your kite, you know what its doing. Just focus on pointing your board at the kite and spotting your landing.
When you do it once you will be driven.

And let the force of Len10 guide you.

Good luck.

Josh

lex123
NSW, 511 posts
17 May 2008 11:17AM
Thumbs Up

Get urself a helmet. they are only like $50. Wise investment if your going to start trying Loops. Im still a beginner, but can't you start doing loops at the higher range of the window?. that way the landings are not nearly as fast and slowed by the kite.

James01
QLD, 283 posts
17 May 2008 11:40AM
Thumbs Up

Hey Sharkbait,

I share your pain atm.

I used to pull them quiet regulary, however i tried a down loop in heavy winds and was a little too confident and mother nature gave me a hell of a beating. Really put me off them. It has been months and months since my last attemp :(

fozzy
SA, 501 posts
17 May 2008 11:15AM
Thumbs Up

As a couple of the guys have mentioned, start in lighter winds to help build your confidence.

Second thing, you can ease into it a little by doing a normal floaty jump first. At the peak of your jump and with the kite at 12 o'clock pull hard on your back hand. If the commitment is an issue, then grab the back side of the bar with both hands so there really is no way out. This method will see the kite loop more over your head as opposed to trying to get level or above it. We're not all named Ruben.

By doing this you can build up to a full on kite loop but I recommend small steps first. This will help your confidence as you will get a little bit of a yank but not a great deal. It will also help you with understanding when the pull will come on in a fully committed kite loop.

Now, glass of water, 2 cement pills and get out there.

Hendo84
QLD, 110 posts
17 May 2008 12:08PM
Thumbs Up

I have just started trying them as well, and everytime have eaten s#@t. It's amazing how hard and fast you hit the water! My last attempt snapped two fins clean off my board!
All part of the fun though, just give it a bash sharkbait and see what happens. What have you got to loose?

airush geoff
974 posts
17 May 2008 10:22AM
Thumbs Up

Get a few of your mates and tell them to watch cos' you're gonna loop it- the possible pain of getting it wrong will pale in significance to how much **** you will cop for being soft if you don't try it !!!!!!!!!!

PS I think that a smaller kite will make the first attempt easier as it will turn quicker












Kitehard
WA, 2782 posts
Site Sponsor
17 May 2008 10:41AM
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Hi Sharkbait,

The kiteloop is the most fun trick in all of kiteboarding. Here's a link to my hints and tips for tricks, more specifically, the Kite Loop and Kite Downloops.

Enjoy kiteboardingschool.com.au/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=65&Itemid=53

Remember, COMMITMENT!

Good winds,

Coral Sea
QLD, 476 posts
17 May 2008 12:55PM
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read Fozzy's post again.

That's exactly it.

Start on a day when there is just enough wind to stay upwind easily and your best effort on a jump is gonna pop you only 1-2 meters off the water.

Jump as normal, as the kite gets overhead, pull hard on back hand to loop it, point your board a little more downwind for landing. The kite won't even get all the way around before you land, but you'll get the idea of the forces involved.

Work up from there. First time I tried it I though "what! is that all there is to it?? why did I wait so long to try that??!!"

Like everything else in kiting, it gets more scary as the wind and kite power increases!



Be scared - that's good. Means you'll have respect for the power of the ocean and live to kite another day.

Conquer your fear - that's better! That's what keeps us all kiting....a-d-r-e-n-a-l-i-n-e on toast for breakfast.

lancekenny
SA, 402 posts
17 May 2008 1:27PM
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Hey Sharkbait I think all went through similar experiences... if you can do a backroll then sometime a backroll with a kite loop may be easier - your not looking at the kite - so if you cant see it - its not going to hurt you

Doing these in marginal conditions can actually be a bit of fun and a great way to progress into doing them unhooked, as the other guys say commitment - you shouldnt really need to fishpole (both hands on the back of the bar) as long as you are committed - typically it hurts more when you try to pull out rather than follow through... good luck and enjoy the ride

sanamarco
NSW, 68 posts
17 May 2008 4:00PM
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Like doing a road gap on a mountain bike, it all comes down to COMMITMENT!!!

You'll get hurt a lot more if you pussy out half way around or just turn it slightly. Its a very hard concept to get used to so just keep reminding yourself of it every time your out there.

P.S.
And be sure to only do loops in a safe area with heaps of open space down wind and deep water

user
WA, 1140 posts
17 May 2008 3:24PM
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Drink a few beers before hand !

Jimmyz
NSW, 446 posts
17 May 2008 6:09PM
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user said...

Drink a few beers before hand !


Beat me to it...

Either that, or gee yourself up til you have butterflies and then just rip it, it will feel good that way, crash or not...

Worst case it getting knocked out, but I doubt you'll get knocked unconcious by a kiteloop if its sub 25 knots, and if ur really worried then wear a helmet, and/or mouthgaurd seeing as having your teeth smash together it the leading reason people go lights out.

But honestly it takes a fair wallop to get knocked out, I've been hit in the head with my mates malibu (dented it), had a 150kilo prop (rugby) fall on my head several times, fallen outof trees, fallen off ziplines, and been hit by my ex gf's mother in her car and landed face first into her bonnet/windscreen.

One thing I would worry about though is landing it, making sure you know when to bail, like if you land it at a heavy angle and you are going fast enough you could hurt your ankle, especially if one foot slips out, which I HAVE done before. In normal crashes I would imagine you'll just swallow a bit of water and possibly receive a seawater enema, which is uncomfortable but funny.

Obviously, have someone watching you when you try it.

I'm sortof new anyway, I've never thrown a low kiteloop in high winds, and havent landed many at all, just keep it high up to start.

Make sure you scream while you do it

snoidberg
QLD, 455 posts
17 May 2008 6:50PM
Thumbs Up

lancekenny said...

Hey Sharkbait I think all went through similar experiences... if you can do a backroll then sometime a backroll with a kite loop may be easier - your not looking at the kite - so if you cant see it - its not going to hurt you

Doing these in marginal conditions can actually be a bit of fun and a great way to progress into doing them unhooked, as the other guys say commitment - you shouldnt really need to fishpole (both hands on the back of the bar) as long as you are committed - typically it hurts more when you try to pull out rather than follow through... good luck and enjoy the ride


i just learnt how to do backroll kiteloops. i dont have the guts to do a kiteloop without doing a backroll tho, maby it is eazyer because u jump backwards putting more tenson in the lines causing the kite to loop faster and tighter = kite highter and safer. but my 1st attempt was kinda sore, tryed it in too much wind and i diddnt pull hard enough with my back hand and looped the kite 2 low hit the water hard. defenetly want just enough wind to let u ride upwind just. the kool thing about just learning kiteloops is it makes lighter wind days more exciteing.

airsail
QLD, 1394 posts
17 May 2008 7:37PM
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Backroll kite loops a definately easier. Been doing them for 2 sessions so far, pulled off every one, bit of a splash but no pain. Do them in marginal stuff, just enough wind to stay upwind but not enough to get any height, you know, the boring wind that is normally not enough to do much with but go back and forth.
The speed of the kite will give you a metre of height, heaps to get you round. Just crank in the bar as hard as you can. Make the light stuff heaps of fun. Try them in the transition too.
Not a real kite loop as they are pretty easy though I wouldn't try them in the higher winds (yet).
Tim

sharkbait
VIC, 134 posts
18 May 2008 10:30PM
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Great stuff everyone, i'll let everyone know how i go! And if don't you'll know what happened.......

Leeds
NSW, 209 posts
19 May 2008 10:24AM
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Select to expand quote


But honestly it takes a fair wallop to get knocked out, I've been hit in the head with my mates malibu (dented it), had a 150kilo prop (rugby) fall on my head several times, fallen outof trees, fallen off ziplines, and been hit by my ex gf's mother in her car and landed face first into her bonnet/windscreen.


Im interested in what you did to make your ex's mum run you over in her car!

BoDiddly
VIC, 622 posts
19 May 2008 10:31AM
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You need some of THIS!

rusty7
QLD, 504 posts
19 May 2008 1:36PM
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there was a post back a few weeks on here about a dudes 1 legged girl friend wanting to kite..... someone added a video of some 1 legged dude doing kite loop back roles, it is good to watch as his technique is perfect and he makes it look real easy. maybe watch this vid and if a 1 legged dude can do it so easy what is there to worry about.!!( disclaimer : Kite loops are not my bag )

Oceaneer
QLD, 182 posts
20 May 2008 3:54PM
Thumbs Up

if you dont like power trick then maybe kiteloops arent for you, But learning to kiteloop teaches you more kite skills. I find people have better kite skills after learning to loop. Just remember to committ, it will hurt less and you will land better because you kite will go back above you. I actually learnt without a backroll but i think back roles are easier. If you are going to try, just pull the loop late, that way there isnt much power in the kite, the better you get the earlier and lower you will pull them.

Hendo84
QLD, 110 posts
20 May 2008 4:05PM
Thumbs Up

Way off topic, but BoDiddly that was one of the funnist vids I've seen. I was p*ssing myself laughing the whole time. Funny stuff!

BoDiddly
VIC, 622 posts
20 May 2008 5:29PM
Thumbs Up

You want strawberry? Well how about RAWBERRY, made with real lightning.... REAL LIGHTNING!

Hendo84
QLD, 110 posts
20 May 2008 5:45PM
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Kenyans

Keahi
QLD, 851 posts
20 May 2008 11:02PM
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400 BABIES

General
WA, 471 posts
20 May 2008 9:29PM
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Drinking that will make you play bingo

manicskier
VIC, 772 posts
21 May 2008 12:16AM
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Uncomfortably energetic... so funny that vid

Oceaneer
QLD, 182 posts
21 May 2008 10:52AM
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there is so much weird crap on you tube, people have to much time

mattyjee
WA, 575 posts
24 May 2008 6:27PM
Thumbs Up

Alright.

I was reading this post with interest, as i was in the same position as sharkbait. Too scared to try a loop (well, an intentional loop anyway).

Well today i woke up and grew some balls. I was almost disapointed at how easy it was after hyping myself out of trying it for the last couple of months. I especially like the way you brace for a hard landing, only to have that last second bit of lift as you touch the water. Pretty cool.

Ok, so i might have been on a 7m kite in 18-20 knot winds but still, its all the same.

sharkbait
VIC, 134 posts
24 May 2008 10:24PM
Thumbs Up

Good on ya mattyjee. There hasn't been very good wind down here in VIC lately so i still haven't had a chance to give it a go. I wish i was up north at the moment.



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"I'm scared....." started by sharkbait