Kit used in video:
7m Naish Torch 2011 and 130cm Naish Momentum 2011
Jumping is something that you are ready to learn as soon as you have figured out how to ride along and stay upwind. Probably you will try it before you have learned to pop, but you will also need to learn to pop to give yourself good control of your height and landings.
Aim: To go up for long enough to squeak ‘crumbs crikey’ before you come back down again.
- Ride a long at a comfortable speed.
- Bring your kite high around 11 o clock if your heading left or 1 o clock if your heading right.
- Send your kite from this position back as fast as you can to just past 12 o clock.
- Use the skill you have learned from popping to bear off down wind before the kite pulls you upwards
- Lean back hard over your heel edge as the kite comes over 12 o clock.
- Pull the bar in towards your chicken loop
- Push off your back foot harder then your front but do this a fraction later then when you are expecting the kite to pull. (People often try to jump too early)
- Stop your kite from heading much passed 12 o clock as soon as you take off. You can see in the picture that I have already straightened up the bar and am pulling neither left nor right from very early on in the move.
- Keep your shoulders and head facing forwards
- Once you reach the apex of your jump start redirecting your kite by pulling on your front hand
- Let the bar slowly away from the chicken loop
- Spot your landing while on your way down
- Point the board downwind
- Dive your kite to gain power and ride away.
Common problems:
Jumping but coming in low and fast: You are not getting the timing of the take of quite right. Try to bare off down wind as you send your kite and then lean back hard over your heel edge. Resist the kite a fraction longer before pushing through your back foot to take off.
Dropping like a stone: You are sending your kite too far back and unable to redirect your kite in time. Remember step 3 - the real small movement of the kite. It’s the speed that you do this at which makes you do a good jump
Not enough height: Try to speed up each step the most important being step 3-5
Pendulum: If you swing underneath the kite you are not holding your edge long enough when sending your kite or you are not getting the edge of your board in enough. For this reason you still get some air but the kite swings you underneath it and may topple out of the sky.
Pics: Expix
