This tutorial explains the shallow water running start.
If you’re going to ride to the left, you start with the kite just on the right-hand
side of 12. That’s just on the opposite side to which
you will ride. With the back hand you hold the front strap
of the board. With your front hand you steer the kite forwards,
in the direction you will ride. As you steer, you also run crosswind as quickly
as possible. As you pick up speed and the kite passes 12
you should feel line tension building. Throw the board directly in front of you,
pushing the board down so it drops to the water quickly and doesn’t get flipped by
the wind. Bring in the bar to help lift you and jump
onto the board. This should all be complete while the kite
is at a high angle, around 11 o’clock. You then get both hands on the bar to control
the kite and ride away safely. Now let’s look more closely.
Let’s look at a running start to the right. Start with the kite slightly to the left of
12. Hold the board with your back hand.
Dive the kite forward with your front hand as you run crosswind.
When the line tension starts to increase, throw the board down in front of you.
Jump onto the board, pulling in the bar a little for support.
This should be completed before the kite crosses 1 o’clock.
Now let’s look more closely. As mentioned, it’s important not to dive
the kite too low. In shallow water it’s much easier to get
injured, and the lower the kite dives the more likely it is that you will get launched.
Luckily, with a running start you don’t need to dive the kite much at all.
A move from 11:30 to 1 is more than enough. Or a move from 12:30 to 11 is more than enough.
This might not seem like a big enough power dive to ride.
But, during a running start, you get lots of extra line tension from the run itself.
The faster you run the more the kite will pull, and that’s why you don’t need to
dive the kite too low. Note, running direction is important to consider.
If you run downwind you will reduce line tension. You may find you don’t have enough tension
to ride. If you run a little more upwind you can increase
line tension. However, if you run upwind too much the line
tension will be too strong and you may get lifted or struggle to run.
Generally running crosswind or close to it lets you pick up speed easily and generates
plenty of line tension. Note: riding in shallow water is not for beginners.
Beginners need 50cm of water depth or more so that if they fall they won’t impact the
ground. Good luck learning the running start.