Safety When Launching and Landing - The Kiteboarder Magazine

Pivec and Top Hat give up the goods on being successful in the waves
spot for awhile before you go
out. If you have experience surfing,
then you probably already
have the skills. Try to adapt
some of the concepts to your
kiting style. Watch the best guys
at your beach and check out surf
videos to imitate body position
through moves. Try not to get
yanked down the wave by your
kite. Using the right size kite is
key. Think smooth and fluid.
Q: What wind conditions/directions
are best in relationship to
wave direction?
A: Today’s kites make it safe to
fly in almost all conditions, even
in offshore winds as long as you
have boat back up. Never go out
further than you are willing to
swim in. If it can go wrong, it will
go wrong.
Q: Should I ride overpowered
or underpowered?
A: It is always safer to go
underpowered. A surfboard’s
buoyancy replaces the need for
a larger size kite. This allows you
to fly the kite without losing edge
control, which is a very important
key in riding big waves.
Overpowered kiting is best for
freestyle and big jumps.
Q: How do I best position myself
to catch a wave, so I’m not
riding whitewash?
A: As in everything it takes time
and with practice, it will come. It
does help to enter the wave either
before or at the peak of the
wave (peak meaning where the
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wave is at it highest when first
forming). With each wave should
come more knowledge.
Q: Where should I enter the
wave when first starting waveriding?
A: There are many types of
waves. As a rule of thumb, it is
always good to start at the start
of it or the peak.
Q: Where should I position my
kite to start a bottom turn?
A: It really depends on what kite
you fly. Bow users will keep their
kite in one spot and just sheet in
and out of the loop, hardly moving
the kite. This is why they use
a bigger kite than a C-kite rider.
A C-kite rider flies their kite more
generating more power from
the wind window. Usually, you
send your kite back towards the
wave before you even go into
your bottom turn. Then, when
going for your top turn, your
kite should already be facing
the shore putting it into the right
position to do two or more turns
without moving it. Then, you do
it all over again.
Q: How do you keep from
getting overpowered when
unhooked?
A: Make sure your kite size is
not too big. If you are surfing
towards your kite, you should
never get yanked. Your body
positioning and arm should act
as a shock absorber moving with
the flow of your riding. Be one
with your kite.
Ben Wilson fades into a carving cutback
dragging his hand with style.
Lens: Ben Kottke
Q: In general, where should my
kite be when riding a wave?
A: This is tough to answer in only
a few sentences. The best tip is
to watch some guys ride waves
at your local beach or in a video.
A lot of it is trial and error. As you
get better, you will become more
aggressive with the kite.
Q: What is the trick to riding
switch tack?
A: Start practicing switch on a
wakeboard or twin tip just to get
use to transferring you weight
the right way. Then, adapt it to
a surfboard. Your natural stance
will always be stronger. If you
put the time in you will soon
become a switch master. Starting
on flat water doing little turns
is a great way to learn the basics.
As soon as you feel confident,
adapt it to the surf.
Q: Are their any other things I
should know?
A: Waves are the future and any
average kiteboarder can get into
the surf whether hooked or unhooked,
strapped or strapless. In
the end, it is all about having fun.
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