Hi, I've just been checking out vids on strapless foiling (how to). Noticed in this vid they always loop the kite to get up, rather than straight dive the kite. Is looping better, or just for light winds?
If you are riding a small kite, looping the kite may give you a bigger power surge to get you up on the board without the lift. Same thing when you are riding along flat, looping the kite should accelerate the board without dragging you off.
If you have plenty of power (as is normal when learning) you shouldn't need to loop.
I do downloop water starts almost every time I get up on my foil, but that's mostly because I chose to the smallest possible kite and I mainly go out only in sub 15 knots...added to the fact that I'm not light.
It's all about how powered up you feel before the water start. If you pull the bar all the way or close to all the way in when sitting down in the water and you notice ZERO or next to zero lift, then a traditional water start might not do the trick.
If you do feel lift when you pull the bar in while sitting down before the start then Looping your water starts might just be an overkill and send you overboard
Yeah as others have said it depends on how powered you are. Normal foiling is flying underpowered compared to surface riding. I often loop and very commonly do 2 loops. Back loop to get you up out of the water and front loop to get you on the plane. It makes for an easier start than working the kite up and down.
If you are powered up (similar size to surface riding) then you wont need to loop.
I almost always down loop the kite to get started. I ride a small paipo strapless and need the back hand on the board to keep my feet up against the board. 10 meter kite is the smallest I foil on. With a downloop swoop I can get on the board and up and planing in one quick motion. The downloop allows you achieve all of this quickly and is easy once you learn the technique.
speedy87 said.. What are the steps to learning a water start using a down loop on a foil kite?
I often do a kite loop to water start with a lei in marginal winds. I'm now mostly using a foil kite which I am yet to try looping. Given the extra power offered by a foil kite I imagine you would only need to, or be advised to use a kiteloop to foilboard water start with a foil kite in very light winds,but I could be wrong.
speedy87 said.. What are the steps to learning a water start using a down loop on a foil kite?
I often do a kite loop to water start with a lei in marginal winds. I'm now mostly using a foil kite which I am yet to try looping. Given the extra power offered by a foil kite I imagine you would only need to, or be advised to use a kiteloop to foilboard water start with a foil kite in very light winds,but I could be wrong.
I tried strapless foiling the other day and you need the kite to lift you up on to the board. I didn't loop though just dove the kite from 3-10 the opposite way and when I was standing up on the board I dove it down hard the right way to get going.
