theory Kite land boarding : a general guide

Introduction

This is intended to be a more generic guide, with an emphasis on technique rather than specific instruction. There are already quite a few guides on both mountainboarding and powerkiting out there, some instructional (like Mark crooks Ride guide and some geared more towards safety (such as The Flexiguide to getting started.)

images/common/blue_arrow01.gif Mark Crooks Ride Guide

images/common/blue_arrow01.gif The Flexiguide to getting started

I did not want to cover ground that has been already covered but wished to construct a guide that was more open to individual interpretation; I believe that the sport of kitelandboarding to still be young enough that one can create their own style and that cannot be achieved by simply copying what other people are doing.

Part One : Learn to Powerkite

In order to kiteboard you need to possess the skills needed to powerkite and the skills needed to mountainboard, so the first logical step is to learn to powerkite (though you can start off with part two: Learn to board). Ideally you need to start off with a small trainer kite; this can be a small foil or a large delta (this is covered in more detail in the Flexiguide to getting started). Professional instruction isn't a bad idea, especially if there are no local flyers in your area to learn from. However choose wisely for the quality of instruction on offer varies widely. Once you have mastered kite control then you can move up in kite size and start learning powerkiting techniques such as scudding and jumping.

This initial stage should not be rushed, you need to be fully competent with both kite and board before putting them together. You need to spend enough time kiting that it becomes second nature, when you can react to the kite intuitively and feel that you have become one with the kite then it's time to take the next step.

Part Two : Learn to Board

This is pretty much the same as part one except you can replace the word kite with mountainboard. Again there is no substitute for professional instruction and there are some good ride guides out there such as the previously mentioned one by Mark Crook. You don't need to begin with a small trainer board but it might be an idea to start off with a budget board if you are unsure of your commitment, you can always upgrade later. The important thing is to get comfortable with your board, don't be afraid to adjust things such as trucks, you want to get the board as in tune with your riding style as possible. When you start to feel a real affinity with your board and can confidently ride in all acceptable conditions then comes the final stage.

Part Three : Putting the two together

Here's the tricky bit, and this is where things start to get vague. There are step by step guides to kitelandboarding out there such as kiteatb's excellent guide, here are some excerpts:

images/common/blue_arrow01.gif Start Moving

images/common/blue_arrow01.gif Slow Down and Stop

Such guides are useful and have their place but I wanted to show you a different path.

First off, pick a low wind day or a kite that's not going to give you too much in the way of power and just get used to flying the kite whilst stood on the board (it helps if the board is perpendicular to the wind direction). You'll find that compared to static flying that you have to twist your body a lot more when the kite is at the edge of the window and the fact that you can no longer take a step back means that you'll have to fly your kite more proactively. Once that has been mastered you need to up the power a little, not too much, you don't want to start jumping yet.

Again just fly the kite whilst stood on the board, this time however you will start moving across the wind when the kite is in the right place. You should at this stage be totally familiar with where the powerzone is and can start experimenting with board angles when the kite hits the power. You'll soon discover that a line that goes downwind too much will leave you with slack lines and a luffing kite, whilst too much upwind and you'll come to a stop. If you find that you cannot get a line upwind and that you are having to bring the kite down real low to get enough pull to initiate movement then you need to up the power a little. I recommend spending a lot of time in this zone i.e. getting used to cruising, stopping and taking different lines. If you start to get bored or want more of a challenge then blind or toeside riding can be attempted as well as powerslides , I find a 180 degree slide into toeside and then carving it back to heelside to be particularly satisfying.

The final stage of jumping and all that goes with it should only be considered when you feel totally relaxed with the combination of board and kite. Emphasis these days tends to be on tricks with little attention going towards the subtleties of jumping, this is a shame as a better understanding of this can lead to a reduction of risk.

The amount of variation in jump vectors does tend to rely on the performance of the kite, the higher the performance the greater the variation. When static jumping there is the possibility of different jump vectors, for example the pendulum jump tends to take you more across the window than downwind whilst a slingshot style jump will take you more or less straight downwind. Whether or not and to what degree you redirect will also affect your jump.

These types of variation can be utilised whilst jumping with the board but to an even greater degree due to the higher speeds of the rider and how it affects apparent wind. It's all in the line that you are taking, your speed, where you put the kite, and with depowerables, when you pull the bar in. If you wish to move onto tricks it is best to cover basic jumping until you have a feel for when the ground is coming, spotting your landing is always a good idea but having an idea of the nature of the jump that you are going into will make knowing if you've got enough time to go for a grab a lot easier.

The final jump vector is the sum of the rider's line and speed plus the forces generated by the kite. For example if you are taking a line across the wind with a lot of speed and jump with the kite overhead, redirecting it so that the kite is now facing in the direction of travel, you will end up in a jump going across the wind. If you do the same jump but bring the kite lower in the window so that it's pulling you downwind as you jump then the jump will take you more downwind.

So good luck in putting it all together and remember to take it slow. Pushing yourself hard may result in a faster learning curve but it also increases the risk and there's nothing like a serious injury to hold up your progress. Fly safe, ride safe and most importantly have fun.

A final word on safety.

Please follow appropriate safety procedures, for example when kiting, always follow the golden rules:

Do not fly within 3 miles (5km) of an airfieldDo not fly with lines exceeding 200ft (60m)Do not fly in stormy conditionsDo not fly near overhead power cables, roads or railway linesDo not fly in crowded areas or near parked carsDo not cause inconvenience to othersDo not tether yourself to any fixed point while flying your kite.Do not use power kites for paragliding or parascending.

In addition here are some more general safety headings:

Be safe, be protected.Always use appropriate safety equipment such as helmet, pads and if necessary body armour.Be aware.Strive to be fully aware of your environment at all times.

Kit care.

Check your kit repeatedly for wear, servicing and replacing worn parts when necessary.

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