Kiteboarding+Skills

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Tip of the Day: Your instincts are Wrong! and no one tells you this. Well I am .... Over the next several weeks, I will list the 12+ natural instincts that beginning kite board students rely on when they learn to fly the kites, body drag and attempt to ride a board. Unfortunately, these instincts are the Wrong thing to do! Of course I will also list the alternative action that should be practiced in order to override these dangerous and/or non productive instincts that have been shown to slow the learning curve and or endanger the students while learning this sport. The only way to override an instinct is with repetitive training of the alternate action. =====

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Practice, Practice, Practice. #1 Instinct When the kite pulls hard, we instinctively pull back on the bar with both hands. This action prevents us from steering the kite further. If the kite is descending, it will crash. If the kite is ascending, it could lift you. If it flies across the power zone, it will drag you away. Not Good. Not Safe. Slows the Learning Curve Tremendously. =====

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Instead: Plan (A) You should PUSH with one hand towards the kite, while the other pulls, and STEER the kite towards a WEAKER part of the sky.... then stop it there and think before you move the kite again. This action is the action you must practice and get good at. =====

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Plan (B) If you are scared or just don't know how to steer the kite ... Let go of the bar to let the kite lose some of its power and fall. Then think about what just happened before you pick the bar up again. This action saves you, but it will NOT teach you to steer the kite better. This instinct listed above, is the most common instinct. It's a dangerous one and its a learning curve destroyer. Practice Steering well with your kite in light winds or on short lines or just fly a smaller size of your kite to develop the ability to steer well to control power, no mater how hard a kite pulls. Steering properly will control power, direction, support and safety. Dont short change yourself on training to overriding the instinct to pull with both hands. =====

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[[#xYour Instincts are Wrong Part #2 The 2nd most common instinct that gets you in trouble. When a beginner/intermediate level kiter loses control of the kite and/or his/safety safety... ie: the kite forces you to do something you didn't plan on doing. The kiters instincts are to hold onto the control bar or pick up the control bar in a subconscious attempt to make the situation better. The problem with that ... the kiter seldom has a proper plan of action once they do pick up the bar. They often pick up the bar by one end rather than in the center and make the situation much more dangerous. This "Instinct", is the reason so many kiters get dragged away or get lofted and hurt by their own kite. Unless you know exactly what you are doing ... DON'T hold the control bar nor pick up the control bar. .......... Instead: When in doubt ... let the bar out. and If you are still in doubt ... leave the bar out. Instead: You should your hands on the chicken loop and be ready to "release the chicken loop"... if letting the bar slide out doesn't calm the kite down and make your situation safer. If the kite does calm down and you feel safe again ... Stop and Think about what went wrong and what to do, before you pick up the control bar again. ......... Note#1: Letting the control bar slide out fully, works with most modern Bow/SLE style kites as long as the following conditions are met. The kite is connected properly to the control bar and lines. The Control bar is the "Correct" bar and size for your kite. The Stopper ball has not been pulled down to restrict bar movement. The Kite leash is connected to the "kill" point of the safety system. Note #2: Just letting the bar slide out, can not be relied on to calm down the majority of C style kites ... especially older model C kites. With many C style kites, you may have to kill the kite rather than just let the bar slide out. Note #3: Avoid buying cheap, used gear ... especially gear that is not using original factory components and safety systems. Trust me .... most of the really cheap used gear is giving you stuff that has been modified and or re-equipted with non compatible control bars and safety systems. Your safety and success are more important than saving a few dollars. ......... Final Tip: Practice, Practice , Practice , letting your bar slide out an observe what the kite does and get comfortable doing touch downs with the kite to train yourself to let go of the bar if you can't control your kite with proper steering.]] Your Instincts are Wrong Part #2 The 2nd most common instinct that gets you in trouble. When a beginner/intermediate level kiter loses control of the kite and/or his/safety safety...  ie: the kite forces you to do something you didn't plan on doing. The kiters instincts are to hold onto the control bar or pick up the control bar in a subconscious attempt to make the situation better. The problem with that ... the kiter seldom has a proper plan of action once they do pick up the bar. They often pick up the bar by one end rather than in the center and make the situation much more dangerous. This "Instinct", is the reason so many kiters get dragged away or get lofted and hurt by their own kite. Unless you know exactly what you are doing ... DON'T hold the control bar nor pick up the control bar. .......... Instead: When in doubt ... let the bar out. and If you are still in doubt ... leave the bar out. Instead: You should your hands on the chicken loop and be ready to "release the chicken loop"... if letting the bar slide out doesn't calm the kite down and make your situation safer. If the kite does calm down and you feel safe again ... Stop and Think about what went wrong and what to do, before you pick up the control bar again. ......... Note#1: Letting the control bar slide out fully, works with most modern Bow/SLE style kites as long as the following conditions are met. The kite is connected properly to the control bar and lines. The Control bar is the "Correct" bar and size for your kite. The Stopper ball has not been pulled down to restrict bar movement. The Kite leash is connected to the "kill" point of the safety system. Note #2: Just letting the bar slide out, can not be relied on to calm down the majority of C style kites ... especially older model C kites. With many C style kites, you may have to kill the kite rather than just let the bar slide out. Note #3: Avoid buying cheap, used gear ... especially gear that is not using original factory components and safety systems. Trust me .... most of the really cheap used gear is giving you stuff that has been modified and or re-equipted with non compatible control bars and safety systems. Your safety and success are more important than saving a few dollars. ......... Final Tip: Practice, Practice , Practice , letting your bar slide out an observe what the kite does and get comfortable doing touch downs with the kite to train yourself to let go of the bar if you can't control your kite with proper steering. =====

Your instincts are Wrong, Part 3 We instinctively look at the kite to control it ... this must change if you want to get better and safer in this sport. As a beginner, you need to evolve your kite skills enough that the kite becomes part of you. If you focus on the kite visually, you are disconnected from it subconsciously. You need to learn to make the kite part of you .... develop, subconscious control. Remember: You cant see kite power, you can't see wind, and you can't see balance .... but you can Feel these things. You must learn to "Feel" the kite, as the Primary method of control for the kite. You will then look "Where" it's going, as a secondary method of control. We should look at the backdrop (sky, background and water), not the kite, to control it. Sure, you will See the kite, but you should not make it your focal point. Looking at your kite to control it, is like looking at the car steering wheel to drive the car. We look at the road to drive, not the steering wheel. Obvious reasons why. So, how do you learn to fly by feel: Practice, Practice, Practice flying the kite and follow this program. ( I suggest, Land based practice in winds less than 10mph) 1) learn to fly the kite in light winds while looking at it and get the basics of control down so well that you don't drop or crash the kite anymore. 2) now practice flying the kite in light winds while looking at the sky and background. Practice flying the kite from one background point to another. ie: ( fly the kite from one cloud formation in the sky to another ) 3) now practice flying your kite in light winds while you look down at the ground. Try to feel where its going in the sky. Try to feel what it's doing ... diving, holding still, Falling ?? Note: of course, ... you are allowed to look at the kite, if you feel your losing control and need to maintain safety. 4) now practice flying your kite in light winds as you use it to stand up from a seated position on the ground. (simulated waterstart.) 5) now practice flying your kite in light winds while walking to the left of the wind as if you were trying to ride a board in really light winds. (while signing the kite gently in the sky), then practice stopping... make the kite fly slowly up overhead to stop your travel. Then change direction and walk to the right of the wind while signing the kite, as if you were riding that direction. Do these skills so well that you never drop or crash the kite and you realize, you can fly by feel. Learn this before you practice water skills if you live in light winds. It will accelerate your learning and increase your safety. FYI: You can feel where the kite is. You can feel where its going. You can feel if its falling. You can feel if its flying up or flying down. You can feel if its holding you up or pulling you over. You can feel if its looping. You can feel how strong or weak its pulling. You can feel if its flying well or flying poorly. You can feel if its flying into the power zone of away from the power zone. You can feel if its about to hurt you. You can feel if its getting out of control. You can feel when the safety system actually kills it. You can feel if the winds are even strong enough to go to the water for skills. You can feel when its about to fall. You can feel when the wind changes direction. You can feel when the winds get stronger or weaker. You can feel if the kite is getting to strong for your safety. You can feel if the steering commands are working You can feel the kites power change as you move the bar in or out. You can feel if you get unhooked. Should i go on ?? ....... Spend the time to develop the ability to fly by feel. Sure, we do see the kite while we ride ... but we are not focusing our vision on it. We are feeling it and looking where it's going.

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[[#xYour instincts are wrong ... Part 4. Light Wind, Launching & Landing. Most beginning kite boarders have the following instinct, and it hinders their success. When one attempts to launch or land a kite in light winds, they instinctively run or walk away from the kite (crosswind) to help it fly better, but the kite fails to launch or actually falls from the sky. Then they say, "There is not enough wind to fly this kite". Funny thing is ... they are often mistaken. It was actually a pilot error, rather than lack of wind that causes this launch or landing failure. Solution: If they had paid attention to the wind direction and walked upwind as they attempted the launch or landing, they would have found much more success. Give this technique a try: Just before you attempt to launch or land your kite in light winds. Feel where the wind is coming from and tell yourself to walk or jog in that "upwind" direction, to assist the kite in launching and landing. If the kite is airborne when you walk upwind, you will be creating extra airflow which improves its flight. This upwind travel also keeps the kite slightly downwind of the neutral zone and maintains slightly more power while you launch and land in light winds. Note 1: If the kite is touching the ground ... walking upwind will not have the same positive effect. You must have the kite off the ground and in the air, for your upwind travel to have an effect. Note 2: If you perform this technique and the kite still fails to launch: Please re-check your equipment connections/settings and make sure you are in the correct launching zone. Note 3: If its not flying well or your not flying it well, don't take it to the water. You'll just waist your time and get frustrated. In case your still confused about wind direction: Stand still and feel the wind blowing on you. Now make these mental notes: UpWind, is the direction the wind is coming from. DownWind, is the direction the wind is going to. CrossWind, is to the right or left of the wind direction.]] Your instincts are wrong ... Part 4. Light Wind, Launching & Landing. Most beginning kite boarders have the following instinct, and it hinders their success. When one attempts to launch or land a kite in light winds, they instinctively run or walk away from the kite (crosswind) to help it fly better, but the kite fails to launch or actually falls from the sky. Then they say, "There is not enough wind to fly this kite". Funny thing is ... they are often mistaken. It was actually a pilot error, rather than lack of wind that causes this launch or landing failure. Solution: If they had paid attention to the wind direction and walked upwind as they attempted the launch or landing, they would have found much more success. Give this technique a try: Just before you attempt to launch or land your kite in light winds. Feel where the wind is coming from and tell yourself to walk or jog in that "upwind" direction, to assist the kite in launching and landing. If the kite is airborne when you walk upwind, you will be creating extra airflow which improves its flight. This upwind travel also keeps the kite slightly downwind of the neutral zone and maintains slightly more power while you launch and land in light winds. Note 1: If the kite is touching the ground ... walking upwind will not have the same positive effect. You must have the kite off the ground and in the air, for your upwind travel to have an effect. Note 2: If you perform this technique and the kite still fails to launch: Please re-check your equipment connections/settings and make sure you are in the correct launching zone. Note 3: If its not flying well or your not flying it well, don't take it to the water. You'll just waist your time and get frustrated. In case your still confused about wind direction: Stand still and feel the wind blowing on you. Now make these mental notes: UpWind, is the direction the wind is coming from. DownWind, is the direction the wind is going to. CrossWind, is to the right or left of the wind direction. =====

Your Instincts are Wrong ... Part 5. ( Water Skills ) When it comes time for a beginner or low level kiteboarder to attempt water skills ... they usually pick the least desirable location to attempt water skills experience. ( Body Dragging and Board Riding ) We all instinctively enter the water upwind of other riders or we attempt to join the mix of other riders. Instead, we should look for the area that is ideally suited to our success, safety, enjoyment and the overall safety and enjoyment of other water users. ........... With that said, take a moment and remind yourself of a few Novice kiteboarder facts: 1) You are not as good as you think you are. 2) You will definitely blow downwind as you attempt body dragging and board riding. 3) You will most likely drop or crash your kite a few times. 4) You are most likely in the water before you have developed good kite skills. ( Do you still stare at your kite to you fly it? ) 5) You most likely assume your kite will relaunch as easy as the videos make it look. ( Not! ) 6) You are not prepared to perform a Self Rescue. 7) You will instinctively attempt to hang onto the board while you let the kite fall or crash. ( Kite is always #1 ) 8) The general public is unaware that your kite and lines are dangerous to them. (They think your kite is cute and they want to come near you to check it out. ) 9) You haven't put much thought into, how you're going to get back ... in case things don't go as planned. 10. You haven't thought much about the rights and safety of other kiters, boaters and beach users you may encounter. 11) You assume you should copy what the other beginners are doing. ( Monkey see, Monkey do. ) FYI: They are most likely doing the wrong things too. .............. Anyway ... Here are the things you should do: Set up and Stay down wind of other kiters, water users and beach users. Maintain no less than 3 line lengths away from other kiters and the public. Don't go further from shore than you are able/willing to swim with a kite attached to you ... self rescue. Keep the kite flying no matter what, unless you decide it should go down or be shut down. Give up the right of way to the general public ... you are what is dangerous, they don't even know it. Use your kite as a tool, to pull you away from potential hazards. Select a location that provides Side shore or Side On Shore wind conditions. Don't go out in OFF Shore winds nor attempt to drag or ride in ON Shore winds. As you walk back to your starting point, keep the kite over the water, not over the land. Remember, your actions may be copied by other beginners, do the right thing. Make sure you are experienced and comfortable performing an Emergency De-power ( Killing the kite ) Beginners, Remind yourself: Body dragging is actually 4 skills, not one.
 * Enter the water
 * Body drag
 * Exit the water
 * Walk back to starting point
 * All of these, without dropping nor crashing the kite!

Your Instincts are Wrong ... Part 6

Body Dragging:

When it comes to Body dragging skills, your instincts are going to send you into the wrong places and focus you on the wrong tasks. ........

Your first instinct; is to head out as far away from shore as you can, and drag for as long of a distance as you can.

Instead:  Don't drag further from shore than you are willing to swim with a kite attached to you.

 Remember: Kites don't always relaunch and the fact that you let it fall or crash, proves your not very good at flying it. ........

 Your second instinct; is to focus on dragging on your belly, one or two times and then try the board.

 Instead: Think of body dragging as a Vital Skill that gives you independence and confidence when board riding is not possible or safe.

 Body Dragging Skills should not be short listed, and never blown off. (See list below)

 I still see lots of kiters that are wearing a board leash. Know why? Because they can't body drag well enough to put there own board on ... or they can't body drag well enough to get it back when it falls off.

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 The Body Dragging Skills:

 *You need to learn to enter the water without dropping or crashing your kite.

 *You need to learn to drag where you want to go and the speed you desire, while on your belly, on your side and in an upright position.

<span class="text_exposed_show"> *You need to learn to Body Drag with only one hand controlling the kite.

<span class="text_exposed_show"> *You need to learn to keep the kite flying and in control the entire time. No falling or crashing the kite.

<span class="text_exposed_show"> *You need to learn to body drag without looking at the kite .... look where you're going.

<span class="text_exposed_show"> *You need to learn to body drag upwind.

<span class="text_exposed_show"> *You need to learn to exit the water without dropping or crashing the kite, nor losing control and drag onto the beach.

<span class="text_exposed_show"> *You need to learn to walk back up the beach with the kite flying over the water and not lose control. Remember: No dropping or crashing the kite allowed.

<span class="text_exposed_show"> .......

<span class="text_exposed_show"> Does that list of skills sound like a 5 minute task?

<span class="text_exposed_show"> It should take the average person, 1-4hrs to master this list of skills on the water.

<span class="text_exposed_show"> Most people drag less than 30 minutes of time before attempting to ride a board.

<span class="text_exposed_show"> Most people drop or crash the kite while body dragging and they think they are ready to ride a board.

<span class="text_exposed_show"> Think about this ... if you can't keep the kite flying while body dragging ... do you really think your going to keep it flying when you add a board to the equation?

<span class="text_exposed_show"> ........

<span class="text_exposed_show"> Bottom line:

<span class="text_exposed_show"> When you are able to accomplish the body dragging skills listed above ... you will find that board riding is actually much, much easier to accomplish and you can always get yourself back to shore, even when you can't ride back to shore.