hi guys just looking for advice on where to position or fly kite when catching waves so it a/doesent stall ,fall out of the sky and b/doesn't pull you off the wave
haven't found much online on this topic
any clips clearly showing the technique would be great
cheers

What wind angle are you flying bro?

hello,


there are a few websites


www.kitekahunas.com/wave_camp.html
www.bwsurf.com/

lost of practice and a good wave kite will help.

best wind condition cross shore
worse wind condition onshore

I practice all the time on bay waves, ocean waves and flat water.
I focus on
switch stand as quick as possible and loop the kite to redirect the kite


cheers

Just get out there and do it...
Start with smaller waves ..
Be sure to wear a bouancy vest ..
The waves will teach you how to ride them

No simple answer! My suggestion to start with is the follow the kite style. Wheverever you want to go make sure the kite is one step ahead of you.
If you are about to turn the board down the wave the kite should already be turning that way. If youre about to crank a top turn, the kite should already be turning back down the wave.

Buy yeah, get out there, stuff it up and learn! Enjoy.

There is a wave kiting video series called "Kite Kahunas". Watch it. Good advice on how to fly the kite. As DW said above "Kite first, then the board". Lead your turns with the kite first and then follow with the board. This tip really helped me in the waves.

BWS has many great vids. Ben did a good one on setting up for a wave, focusing on kite position. I can't find it now but someone else might know the one and have better luck finding it for you.

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iggypop said..
hi guys just looking for advice on where to position or fly kite when catching waves so it a/doesent stall ,fall out of the sky and b/doesn't pull you off the wave
haven't found much online on this topic
any clips clearly showing the technique would be great
cheers

Can you gybe, switch feet, ride toeside, surf, kitesurf?
as green arrows said it is all a matter of experience
if you are just starting out try a few flat water sessions to get the hang of the board and the turns, they will be the same in the waves but easier
have fun

I tend to downward loop my kites a fair bit.

It depends on a few things, like what type of kite you have the wind/wave angle and the wind strength.

I try and keep them at around 9/10 O'clock, ride towards your kite but not directly towards your kite (hard to explain) as it will stay in the air longer with a bit of tension in the lines. When my lines go slack that's normally when I change direction and re position my kite or just do a downward loop to pop it back in place.

There is nothing more fun than kiting in waves.
It does take a lot of practice though as has already been mentioned. Make sure you start with small waves and if they are too big, you can still go out but just stay in the white water. This works particularly well in straight onshore conditions, because it is very difficult to get out anyway (especially in big waves).

The reason for this is that as you traverse across the white water you go downwind a bit. Both the wind and the wave push you back towards the beach. So don't even try to get behind the break, just practice in the white water which is mad fun by itself. You will find changing direction a challenge unless you're on a TT which is less fun in the waves to start with. If you're on a surfboard I highly recommend a strapped one.
Ignore the nay-sayers, strapped boards are heaps of fun, you can jump over waves much better and overall attack waves much more aggressively without worrying about having to body-drag back to the beach every 5 minutes. Unless you are extremely good, you will have more joy on a strapped board. Just make sure you are proficient in riding toeside. And I mean not just being able to kinda do it. Or you'll end up doing the walk of shame a lot. Once you have mastered toeside it's almost as comfortable as riding heelside and you should be able to get upwind on toe almost as good as on heelside.

Switching is very hard especially in breaking waves. I still haven't mastered it but I'm good on toeside so I don't worry about it at the moment.
Re kite flying, make sure you can stay powered when you change directions. Ideally you do this by downlooping which is a lot of fun and looks epic. Don't practice your downloops in the waves though, it's easy to get confused and dive the kite into the water.
If you don't want to downloop just change the kite direction the normal way but make sure you pull hard so the kite doesn;'t loose too much power through the turn and fly it fast from 1 to 11 or 2 to 10 (or vice versa ofc)

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Kajo said..
Make sure you start with small waves and if they are too big, you can still go out but just stay in the white water. This works particularly well in straight onshore conditions, because it is very difficult to get out anyway (especially in big waves).

The reason for this is that as you traverse across the white water you go downwind a bit. Both the wind and the wave push you back towards the beach.

this is terrible advice, in my opinion. kiting in the surf in dead onshore wind is difficult and dangerous:

-if you f*** up and get dragged or lofted - you'll end up out of control on the beach.

-the waves push you downwind towards the kite so that the lines are always slack and it's very hard to turn against the whitewater to get the lines taut again.

-plus if you drop the kite the waves and wind will dump you directly into your slack lines and you risk getting wrapped.

i reckon cross shore conditions are the easiest and safest to learn in.

Thanks guys great advice I've got three years on a twin tip and have been riding a directional in flat water and bay slop for about a year I used to surf so know my way around out there
I've been out there on a twin tip but was really just kiting across the face of waves and not catching them as such guess it will com with time

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iggypop said..
Thanks guys great advice I've got three years on a twin tip and have been riding a directional in flat water and bay slop for about a year I used to surf so know my way around out there
I've been out there on a twin tip but was really just kiting across the face of waves and not catching them as such guess it will com with time

You still haven't stated your wind angle in relation to the waves. Your technique changes depending on the wind angle.

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stamp said..

Kajo said..
Make sure you start with small waves and if they are too big, you can still go out but just stay in the white water. This works particularly well in straight onshore conditions, because it is very difficult to get out anyway (especially in big waves).

The reason for this is that as you traverse across the white water you go downwind a bit. Both the wind and the wave push you back towards the beach.

this is terrible advice, in my opinion. kiting in the surf in dead onshore wind is difficult and dangerous:

-if you f*** up and get dragged or lofted - you'll end up out of control on the beach.

-the waves push you downwind towards the kite so that the lines are always slack and it's very hard to turn against the whitewater to get the lines taut again.

-plus if you drop the kite the waves and wind will dump you directly into your slack lines and you risk getting wrapped.

i reckon cross shore conditions are the easiest and safest to learn in.

I didn't say it's easiest to go out in straight onshore, in fact it's harder which is why I pointed out the difficulties (such as not getting behind the breaks).
I definitely agree that cross-on is the best direction for learning in waves.

Perhaps I didn't point this fact out well enough in my initial post. I love straight onshore conditions, because it's amazing for riding waves. But it's not good for wave beginners.

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Kajo said..

I didn't say it's easiest to go out in straight onshore, in fact it's harder which is why I pointed out the difficulties (such as not getting behind the breaks).

Perhaps I didn't point this fact out well enough in my initial post. I love straight onshore conditions, because it's amazing for riding waves. But it's not good for wave beginners.

I suppose that is true for beach breaks as i really struggled especially when it is sucky and pitting hard. However if you kitesurf around reefy areas there are usually channels which allow you to hold that edge and make it out the back within 100m or something. I just won't be boosting within 25m of the shoreline incase I drift during liftoff. I am with you though Kajo, straight onshore kicks ass!

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stamp said..

Kajo said..
Make sure you start with small waves and if they are too big, you can still go out but just stay in the white water. This works particularly well in straight onshore conditions, because it is very difficult to get out anyway (especially in big waves).

The reason for this is that as you traverse across the white water you go downwind a bit. Both the wind and the wave push you back towards the beach.

this is terrible advice, in my opinion. kiting in the surf in dead onshore wind is difficult and dangerous:

-if you f*** up and get dragged or lofted - you'll end up out of control on the beach.

-the waves push you downwind towards the kite so that the lines are always slack and it's very hard to turn against the whitewater to get the lines taut again.

-plus if you drop the kite the waves and wind will dump you directly into your slack lines and you risk getting wrapped.

i reckon cross shore conditions are the easiest and safest to learn in.

Lets face it. No real wave riding happens in direct onshore conditions. You can do bump and jump and lay down a few slashes and turns while you loop the kite madly but blasting down the line aint happening. Also waves are **** with direct onshore. They are mushy crumbling crud.

Real wave riding starts at cross on and gets better at cross and is best cross off.

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Plummet said..

stamp said..

Kajo said..
Make sure you start with small waves and if they are too big, you can still go out but just stay in the white water. This works particularly well in straight onshore conditions, because it is very difficult to get out anyway (especially in big waves).

The reason for this is that as you traverse across the white water you go downwind a bit. Both the wind and the wave push you back towards the beach.

this is terrible advice, in my opinion. kiting in the surf in dead onshore wind is difficult and dangerous:

-if you f*** up and get dragged or lofted - you'll end up out of control on the beach.

-the waves push you downwind towards the kite so that the lines are always slack and it's very hard to turn against the whitewater to get the lines taut again.

-plus if you drop the kite the waves and wind will dump you directly into your slack lines and you risk getting wrapped.

i reckon cross shore conditions are the easiest and safest to learn in.

Lets face it. No real wave riding happens in direct onshore conditions. You can do bump and jump and lay down a few slashes and turns while you loop the kite madly but blasting down the line aint happening. Also waves are **** with direct onshore. They are mushy crumbling crud.

Real wave riding starts at cross on and gets better at cross and is best cross off.

Yes I bet cross off is the best. Would really love to get conditions like that one day. Not around here though. Where do people generally go for cross off? Also how safe is that? Do kiters pick a spot with some land mass out there to catch you in case things go wrong?

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Kajo said..

Plummet said..

stamp said..

Kajo said..
Make sure you start with small waves and if they are too big, you can still go out but just stay in the white water. This works particularly well in straight onshore conditions, because it is very difficult to get out anyway (especially in big waves).

The reason for this is that as you traverse across the white water you go downwind a bit. Both the wind and the wave push you back towards the beach.

this is terrible advice, in my opinion. kiting in the surf in dead onshore wind is difficult and dangerous:

-if you f*** up and get dragged or lofted - you'll end up out of control on the beach.

-the waves push you downwind towards the kite so that the lines are always slack and it's very hard to turn against the whitewater to get the lines taut again.

-plus if you drop the kite the waves and wind will dump you directly into your slack lines and you risk getting wrapped.

i reckon cross shore conditions are the easiest and safest to learn in.

Lets face it. No real wave riding happens in direct onshore conditions. You can do bump and jump and lay down a few slashes and turns while you loop the kite madly but blasting down the line aint happening. Also waves are **** with direct onshore. They are mushy crumbling crud.

Real wave riding starts at cross on and gets better at cross and is best cross off.

Yes I bet cross off is the best. Would really love to get conditions like that one day. Not around here though. Where do people generally go for cross off? Also how safe is that? Do kiters pick a spot with some land mass out there to catch you in case things go wrong?

In fact to be more precise i think cross cross off is best. Just like this video. Its the primo angle before its too offshore.
Once too offshore you spend a lot of your time just trying to crank upwind to stay on the wave face.

Is cross off more dangerous? yep. Be prepared to let your gear loose and swim in. Or don't go out.

Select to expand quote

Kajo said..

Plummet said..

stamp said..

Kajo said..
Make sure you start with small waves and if they are too big, you can still go out but just stay in the white water. This works particularly well in straight onshore conditions, because it is very difficult to get out anyway (especially in big waves).

The reason for this is that as you traverse across the white water you go downwind a bit. Both the wind and the wave push you back towards the beach.

this is terrible advice, in my opinion. kiting in the surf in dead onshore wind is difficult and dangerous:

-if you f*** up and get dragged or lofted - you'll end up out of control on the beach.

-the waves push you downwind towards the kite so that the lines are always slack and it's very hard to turn against the whitewater to get the lines taut again.

-plus if you drop the kite the waves and wind will dump you directly into your slack lines and you risk getting wrapped.

i reckon cross shore conditions are the easiest and safest to learn in.

Lets face it. No real wave riding happens in direct onshore conditions. You can do bump and jump and lay down a few slashes and turns while you loop the kite madly but blasting down the line aint happening. Also waves are **** with direct onshore. They are mushy crumbling crud.

Real wave riding starts at cross on and gets better at cross and is best cross off.

Yes I bet cross off is the best. Would really love to get conditions like that one day. Not around here though. Where do people generally go for cross off? Also how safe is that? Do kiters pick a spot with some land mass out there to catch you in case things go wrong?

It just means that when you have a catastrophic gear failure you'll have a long swim and lose your kite. There are lots of spots where it might be cross and if you have a catastrophic gear failure and release everything then your gear will be destroyed on the rocks of the next headland anyway.

oh if only to be a goofy foot on the west coast of Australia...

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Plummet said..

Kajo said..

Plummet said..

stamp said..

Kajo said..
Make sure you start with small waves and if they are too big, you can still go out but just stay in the white water. This works particularly well in straight onshore conditions, because it is very difficult to get out anyway (especially in big waves).

The reason for this is that as you traverse across the white water you go downwind a bit. Both the wind and the wave push you back towards the beach.

this is terrible advice, in my opinion. kiting in the surf in dead onshore wind is difficult and dangerous:

-if you f*** up and get dragged or lofted - you'll end up out of control on the beach.

-the waves push you downwind towards the kite so that the lines are always slack and it's very hard to turn against the whitewater to get the lines taut again.

-plus if you drop the kite the waves and wind will dump you directly into your slack lines and you risk getting wrapped.

i reckon cross shore conditions are the easiest and safest to learn in.

Lets face it. No real wave riding happens in direct onshore conditions. You can do bump and jump and lay down a few slashes and turns while you loop the kite madly but blasting down the line aint happening. Also waves are **** with direct onshore. They are mushy crumbling crud.

Real wave riding starts at cross on and gets better at cross and is best cross off.

Yes I bet cross off is the best. Would really love to get conditions like that one day. Not around here though. Where do people generally go for cross off? Also how safe is that? Do kiters pick a spot with some land mass out there to catch you in case things go wrong?

In fact to be more precise i think cross cross off is best. Just like this video. Its the primo angle before its too offshore.
Once too offshore you spend a lot of your time just trying to crank upwind to stay on the wave face.

Is cross off more dangerous? yep. Be prepared to let your gear loose and swim in. Or don't go out.

Beautiful to watch. Thanks for the link.

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eppo said..
oh if only to be a goofy foot on the west coast of Australia...

Also in the West coast of nz!....

Hang on a minute! Oh yeah I am goofy!

Yeha! hell yeah

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eppo said..
oh if only to be a goofy foot on the west coast of Australia...

Just learn to ride switch

Hi Plummet,
Nice video, looks like an epic spot (even if it is cold - no board shorts!). Where in NZ is that and what time of year?
(I think the cold will keep your spot safe from us warm weather pussies lol)

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Plummet said..

eppo said..
oh if only to be a goofy foot on the west coast of Australia...

Also in the West coast of nz!....

Hang on a minute! Oh yeah I am goofy!

Yeha! hell yeah

Select to expand quote

Plummet said..

eppo said..
oh if only to be a goofy foot on the west coast of Australia...

Also in the West coast of nz!....

Hang on a minute! Oh yeah I am goofy!

Yeha! hell yeah

Looking forward to the video of you coming down one of those monsters on your mutant foil.

i like to surf with minimal turning of my kite, park and ride and rip, stay on the wave, slightly higher slightly lower, yes you need fancy turns sometimes but not all the time.. foil and mountain board teach you how to let kites drift in all directions, minimal line tension and kite movement looks better surfing imo, its all about the gear and skill 'mix'

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Looking forward to the video of you coming down one of those monsters on your mutant foil.

That's the goal. To get down there on the foil. Small problem. Launch sight has a heinous beach break when swell is big and boulders all over the place at the point.

Without even considering the difficulty foiling those waves its gona be insanely hard just to get out into the ocean to try.

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pmk said..
i like to surf with minimal turning of my kite, park and ride and rip, stay on the wave, slightly higher slightly lower, yes you need fancy turns sometimes but not all the time.. foil and mountain board teach you how to let kites drift in all directions, minimal line tension and kite movement looks better surfing imo, its all about the gear and skill 'mix'

Totally agree pmk.

Add to gaining drifting experience in all directions by kiting in the Darwin.
Skinny wind, big kites and often onshore.
It is possible in hand with kite control as you explain , plus looping the kite for position and line tension.
Timing is critical also.

um so any tips on kite position
lets say for cross on shore

i generally fly round 11 or 1, allow the kite to drift down dropping in, ride whilst feathering line tension, bottom turn in time by slight edge upwind to initiate climbing the kite back to lip, maybe almost 12 to top turn repeat, the timing is when to load lines to reposition kite

also maybe bit higher on downwind face to allow more room to move the kite, and bit lower on upwind face as line tension is already there