Handling your kite properly in the waves could lead you to more aggressive turns, flow and maybe even a barrel. Kite positioning when riding the waves is one of the most important and tricky skills to learn for successful wave riding. Putting your kite in the wrong spot can wreck your wave and even your session. Trying to control two forms of power (wave power and kite power) can be very overwhelming and daunting, especially in bigger waves. Each wind direction has its rightful formula to make it all come together. Here are some tips to help you pull it all together...
Kitesurfing onshore in right handers
Onshore wave riding is best done in smaller waves, it will get to a point where the waves will get too big and move to fast towards your kite and it will loose tension and fall. The best technique is to keep your kite low (10 and 11) and edge hard against it pointing up wind with control until you get onto the part of the wave you want to ride, once your ready to start riding the wave, release your edge and at the same time drop your kite low (10 and 11) and deep in the power zone but with out turning it only making subtle adjustments, just keeping it heading in the same direction your heading. Bringing it up to high will only result in your going underneath it and it falling out of the sky.
Kitesurfing side offshore in left handers
The key with this direction is to edge hard and bringing the kite right up into the window as far forward as possible before initiating each turn, when you release your edge to initiate your turn it will release the tension of the kite and this will free you up to make the turn. Be careful to not build up too much speed in this direction as the kite will build up lots of speed from the tension of the wave power against the kite power and this can lead to massive wipeouts or ruining the wave.
Kitesurfing side onshore in rights handers
This could very well be the most common and hardest wind direction to ride in as you need to be turning your kite the entire ride. In long down the line waves it can be very tricky as you want to go down the line, but your kite wants to go out in front of the wave. The best way to tackle this is by turning your kite first and then making your turn to follow your kite, when doing it right, you will be making figure eight’s (between 10 and 1 & 11 and 2) or full down loops with your kite while racing down the line. It’s very important though that you initiate you kite turn just before your board turn otherwise you will release tension in your lines and loose the turning of your kite as you head down the line.
Kitesurfing side shore in left handers
Side shore is the ultimate direction, as you can pretty much just set your kite heading down the line and only make subtle adjustments after or before each turns. The key here is to set your kite in the right position in the beginning, so you can enjoy the entire ride, make sure once again you keep your kite low (between 1 and 2) so you don’t go underneath it.
Key Tips for Kitesurfing Waves
No matter the wind direction, you need the kite to be heading in the general direction your going, the best way to do this is by keeping it low in the power zone and visualizing what the wave is going to do next so you can adjust in accordingly.
Timing and flow is essential to good wave riding, this comes in time with lots of practice, try and read the waves and anticipate how the wave is going to break to put your kite in the right position, then you will be in the right position.
Subtleness in everything you do in the waves is generally best, remember the bigger turns you do with your kite, the bigger turns you will need to do with your board.
Kite power to wave power transition – before you catch the wave you are using the power of the kite, once you get onto the wave you have the choice to be using either or both, the earlier you can get on the wave will give you more time to decide and adapt to that power transition.
The most common mistake is making the turn or direction change with your board before your kite, this will release the tension in your lines before you have sent your kite in the right direction, make sure you all ways have your kite turning or moving in the right direction before you make your turn.
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