Hey,
Ive been nailing back rolls for a while now throwing in grabs and variations ect,but cant get front rolls down.
When I head upwind and pop,I get plenty of height but cant seem to throw myself into a forward spin.
I have read tips and tricks on this and different sites about throwing your head to look under your trailing under arm ect but it just wont click.
Hopefully one of you have just started to get them wired and can give me some help.
Cheers
let it blow,ooppps,I mean lotofwind
yes this is a serious post
I had the same problem. It feels odd going the front roll but after some thought and practice they are easy enough. I found that visualizing yourself doing a front roll on land goes a long way.
Just think of tucking your head into your front shoulder and follow the natural rotation by tucking up to help rotation until you come around to spot your landing. just stand (attach bar to fixed object) and think about the move over and over tucking your head.
Timing is also key here and you should go for the roll once you have some height and crank into the move.
Top tip:
- Start learning rolls by sending the kite high, jump, tuck and roll and as you get the move you can bring the kite lower and initiate the roll once you have good edging and 'pop' in the bag.
Finally just keep going for it and you will crack it sooner or later.
As has been mentioned, tuck you front knee up while looking round your shoulder. The more you can tuck into a ball the faster you seem to rotate. Faster rotation gives you more time to come out of the roll cleanly. You'll get it, just keep trying mate.
A true front roll is sorta like a cart wheel, you don't throw like a front somersault.
You should try to throw you head and shoulders across your body and down towards our front knee as you lift it..
This kicks of your intial rotation, to speed it up lift and pull up and in your back leg as well, this is why tail grabs help brings your back leg up.
Make sure to kep looking with your head all through the rotaion to stop your rotation exten out of your tuck, look for your landing with your head and turn your kite down to pull you out with forward speed..
Hope this helps,
Good luck and great kiting ds:-)
Im stumped on front rolls. And I've given up trying for the moment. When i send the kite back down, i always send it the wrong way, and loop it and get unexpectantly drilled.Still good fun....sortof.
dont send ur kite, just bring it up higher and pop hooked in for now... once u get the pop and rotate down boosting and rotating will become easier.
Yep agree Charl, don't send it just make sure you are powered up enough to just pop and remember as soon as you leave the water to pull on the front hand to dive the kite forward and keep the momentum.
Dawn Patrol - Take your back hand off the bar before you pop, that way it should be impossible to steer the kite the wrong way.
If you don't feel comfortable taking your back hand off the bar. At least move it to the centre of the bar and move the front hand out towards the front of the bar.
Froont rolls aren't the easiest trick to learn just time and patience, maybe try a tantrum instead?
i reckon moving your hands off centre only teaches you bad habits. better off to learn it properly from the start, even if it takes longer.