The Kiteboarding Manual by Andy Gratwick

Author:Andy Gratwick
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781408192047
Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing
Published: 2015-03-11T16:00:00+00:00

Coming in solo.

1 Slow your speed, raise your kite with tension and prepare to dismount.

2 As you descend the board, it should pop up as your weight is released.

3 Connect your palm with the windward rail to push this down and make the board go vertical rail to rail. At this point it will sit under your arm beautifully, hopefully.

4 Walk out smiling.

SETTING IT UP

Prepare and plan properly, looking at where you are going to come in, how fast, and what the shore-break and beach surface is like. The timing and the speed of approach are very important. Needless to say, pick a quiet spot, free from crowds or any hazards on the shoreline or beach.

Come in and scope the area once, gauging the water’s depth and movement and the kite’s power first. For this move, unlike downhill skiing, speed is not your friend. You need to shed all the speed you can, flying the kite high in the window, still in the direction of travel so you have planing momentum, but slowly with lots of lift in the kite, as this will help you to stand.

THE GO

Bear away slightly, slowing more as you do so, then carve to windward very slightly.

Press/load the board quickly but lightly, then gently hop off to leeward (downwind) of the board, with your back foot first.

The front foot needs to flick the windward rail downwards as the board pops up so the wind blows this rail down and seamlessly blows the whole thing sideways on to your side and under your arm.

It is important that the water depth is correct: it should be about knee- to thigh-high. If it is too shallow you could twist your ankle, and if it is too deep you may find yourself in an interesting body-drag with a board somewhere under your armpit!

KEY POINTS:

•Slow down.

•Bear off, then carve to wind and gently pop.

•Hop off, pushing the windward rail down.

•The board will automatically travel downwind on to your side, so have your arm up to grab it into your armpit.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.