This video shows you how to get started with jumping.
Starting with the basics of small, safe practice jumps.
Then the technique for large jumps.
And a look at the most common mistakes.
The basic idea behind small jumps is to steer your kite toward 12 for lift.
Then bring your kite forward again to ride off.
Let’s look at that in detail.
You should be riding at a medium, slow speed.
Leaning back gently.
Bar out a little, so you can keep your edge.
With the bar out, steer the kite towards 12 slowly for small jumps.
As the kite nears 12, pull in the bar for lift.
Then start steering the kite back in front to keep riding.
I’ll play that one more time for goofey riders.
Remember, you could jump high if you ride fast and bring your kite to 12 quickly.
Try to keep your kite speed and board speed low at first.
Doing lots of small jumps will teach you more than crashing a few big ones.
Once you’re consistent with small jumps, you can gradually build to bigger ones.
Basically, you will start riding faster and steering the kite up quicker.
But there are a few important differences in technique to learn.
Okay so let’s look at bigger jumps in detail.
You’ll start riding in faster, leaning back harder to hold your edge.
You then steer your kite up a little faster than before.
As the kite’s reaching 12, you’ll start feeling lift.
Quickly pull in the bar and pop out of the water to take off.
You should start gaining height quickly.
Your kite may even pass 12 on bigger jumps.
If you get big air, it’s important to look up and stabilise your kite near 12.
A kite at 12, will provide the most lift.
You should keep you kite here as you fall.
Only once you’re getting near to the water again, would you move the kite in front.
Just before landing, you should aim to bring the kite down about 30 or 40 degrees.
The amount you dive the kite before landing, has a big effect.
If you land with the kite still at 12, you may fall softly BUT you sink and the kite
may stall out of the sky.
On the other hand, if you dive the kite too far before landing, you will loose it’s
lift and fall hard.
You’re aiming in between.
Trying to hit the GREEN zone just before landing.
Lets see that again, for goofey riders.
Here’s 3 of the most common mistakes for you to watch out for.
Are you skidding or landing on your ass?
This happens a lot.
It usually happens when people land with their board point cross wind or up wind.
As you jump, you will always start to travel down wind.
To land smoothly you must also aim your board down wind.
Try to point the way you’re travelling.
You should also make sure your back foot lands first - if the front lands first you will
nose dive into the water.
Do you find yourself doing long but low jumps?
To prevent it you must remember to keep leaning back and holding your edge until you the kite
lifts you.
Do you start spinning involuntarily on large jumps?
One way to minimise rotation is to keep you legs hang.
Having your weight hang below the barness creates a self righting effect (a bit like
having the weight low down on a boat or rubber duck).
And of course having your weight spread out, will slow rotation.
Good luck learning to jump and I hope this helps.