# Popping

Popping

Popping is the name given to your take off for any move. It is the first skill that you need to work on right after you have accomplished riding along and staying upwind. It’s the basis to a smooth, controlled move whether that is your first jump or a powered handle pass.

Aim: To get small airtime without using the kite to pull you off the water.

How to do:

1. Ride a long at a comfortable speed.

2. Bring your kite high around 11 o clock if your heading left or 1 o clock if your heading right.

3. The aim is to not use your kite so keep your hands in the centre of the bar and park your kite in this position throughout

4. Bare off down wind, so come off the heel edge of your board by placing your weight evenly over the whole of your feet and head towards the kite. (If you are doing this correctly there will no longer be spray coming from your board_

5. Lean your butt out as far as you can to get as much weight onto your heel edge as possible.

6. Drive hard through your back foot and use your front foot to direct your board up into wind slightly

7. Push through your back foot

8. Pull the bar into your chicken loop to gain some additional power

9. Keep your shoulders square in the direction where you are going and keep looking forward.

10. Spot your landing

11. Aim your board downwind and push the bar away from you as you come into land.

12. Direct your kite to build up the speed and ride away.

N.B. Steps 4 – 8 are doing in very quick succession and this is where you will need to practice hard in order to get the right timing.

Common problems: If you are rotating then you need to concentrate on keeping your head and shoulders facing forward and keeping yourself strong at your waist to prevent your hips twisting when driving through your back foot.

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