Kit used in video:
10m Naish Torch 2011 and 130com Naish Momentum 2011
A front loop is a 360 degree forward rotation on a fairly flat axis. To do this move you need to be comfortable with jumping higher then 1.5m’s and landing consistently. The ability to back loop is useful but not essential.
Kite:
You should use your kite exactly as you do for jumping
- Ride a long at a comfortable speed.
- Bring your kite high to just before 12 o clock.
- Send your kite from this position back as fast as you can to just past 12 o clock.
- It is the speed that you move your kite through this small distance that will make you ping upwards
- Redirect your kite forwards half way down from your jump
Body Rotation:
- ‘Pop’ into a jump as your kite is passing through 12 o clock. Unlike back loops you must first gain height before going into the rotation, so the aim is to not rotate the moment you leave the water.
- Its only a split second between popping into a jump before initiating the rotation
- Initiate the front loop by lifting your front knee up towards your chest and dropping your front shoulder down towards your front knee.
- Simultaneously throw your head down to smell your back arm pit.
- Tip: Try to imagine throwing yourself into a commando roll across your garden It’s the same principle of lifting your front knee, dropping your front shoulder and following your back shoulder round with your head.
- Keep following your back armpit round for the first ¾’s of the rotation.
- As your coming round to complete the rotation look up from your armpit to spot your landing. It is at this point that you will need to start redirecting your kite.
- Land with the board pointing downwind and dive your kite hard to ride away with speed.
Things to remember:
- Keep your hands in the centre of the bar because once you have sent the kite you need to try not to pull on the bar until you are ¾’s the way around your rotation. Only at this point you need to use the bar to redirect your kite ready for landing.
- Keep your head following your armpit for the first ¾’s of your rotation. By looking up too early you immediately stop your rotation and land with your back to the kite.
- Remember to jump up first into the front loop before initiating the rotation.
- If you are not making the rotation you must take off into it and lift your front knee and drop your front shoulder with much more aggression.
Pics: Expix
