These are 2 things i'm currently struggling with:

Big Air:
Every now and then, I'll jump considerably higher than usual, and I haven't read anything about what you should do in such cases.
Usually I steer the kite back, edge upwind, take off, and in no time at all its time to bring the kite forward again for landing.
On those occasions where I get launched, and I find myself in the air for a few seconds, what should i do with the kite? should I just steer it directly above and leave it there until its time to take it forward for landing ?

Also sometimes I find i pick up considerable speed whilst airborn (not due to an unintentional kiteloop) and have real difficulty landing these, should i steer the kite back to slow me down in these cases ?
Perhaps i'm not really properly controlling the kite whilst airborn, and these are just consequences of that lack of control?

Rotational Jumps:
I'm really struggling with a basic front loop/back loop. Every time its a complete wipe out, with the kite going completely out of control, falling out of the sky or kite looping and wrenching me off somewhere!
I'm sure I must be unintentionally steering the kite whilst trying to initiate the rotation, but because i'm busy trying to rotate I'm not looking at what i'm doing with the bar/kite, and all i get to see is the aftermath!

Anyone got any tips on the above? Any help would be appreciated

Ta,

Peet

When your trying your rotations (frontloops and backloops) start off with your kite at 11 o'clock dont put any input into the kite and just edge against it. Remember to keep your hands in the centre of the bar thus stopping you pulling the kite off into a loop. The main problem your gonna get with your backloop's are you're gonna pull on your backhand as you spin to your left. Most people do it when there learning and end up just landing back down with no power to keep on the plane. Just practice, as for boosting I've no idea who boost's anymore

peet wrote:These are 2 things i'm currently struggling with:

Big Air:
Every now and then, I'll jump considerably higher than usual, and I haven't read anything about what you should do in such cases.
Usually I steer the kite back, edge upwind, take off, and in no time at all its time to bring the kite forward again for landing.
On those occasions where I get launched, and I find myself in the air for a few seconds, what should i do with the kite? should I just steer it directly above and leave it there until its time to take it forward for landing ?

Also sometimes I find i pick up considerable speed whilst airborn (not due to an unintentional kiteloop) and have real difficulty landing these, should i steer the kite back to slow me down in these cases ?
Perhaps i'm not really properly controlling the kite whilst airborn, and these are just consequences of that lack of control?

Rotational Jumps:
I'm really struggling with a basic front loop/back loop. Every time its a complete wipe out, with the kite going completely out of control, falling out of the sky or kite looping and wrenching me off somewhere!
I'm sure I must be unintentionally steering the kite whilst trying to initiate the rotation, but because i'm busy trying to rotate I'm not looking at what i'm doing with the bar/kite, and all i get to see is the aftermath!

Anyone got any tips on the above? Any help would be appreciated

Ta,

Peet

The technical sections in http://www.iksurfmag.com/ have got Boosting in Issue 2 and Front Loops Issue 3

Don't try front loops till you've mastered Back Loops though.

I feel your pain with the backloops. I managed to land my first backloop a few months ago with many failed attempts. As Ned says keep you hands close to the centre to stop your first attempt at a kiteloop-backloop. Also I found getting a bit of pop off a small wave really helps, don't look at the kite as I always did (worrying about the kitelooping) as this will stop your rotation half way round. So kite high, hands in middle of bar, a bit of pop off a small wave, swing your head around your front shoulder and then spot your landing as soon as you can.

Neddy Knacker wrote: as for boosting I've no idea who boost's anymore

There's been some boosting in Tarifa recently

I'm doing backflips quite comfortably these days, where i just leave the kite at 11, do a quick pop, and spin, and land again without steering the kite back to generate any lift. Sometimes i even land em on the plane

When i first tried, i was kitelooping every time, but i can do em fine now without.


I then tried to move onto front loops, but these were disasterous, I'd steer the kite back, as in a normal jump, then start rotating forward when off the water, i'd get through about 1/4 of the rotation and notice my kite was way out of control.
I decided to try to steer the kite back from 11 as with the front loop, and try to rotate the other way on take off (to do a back loop), and again, the same out of control chaos ensued! At least its consistent i guess

Now perhaps i'm somewhat confused with what a back loop and a back flip are... are they different? I'd assumed a flip was just like a small pop, where a loop involved steering the kite back and getting airbone.

I read Christian and Karinne every issue, its the best thing since sliced bread!

Peet