Kiteloops are advanced maneuvers and can be dangerous. Extreme care should be taken and extreme enjoyment will be the reward. Take care and practice in low winds with plenty of room! You'll need a smaller kite and shorter lines . An 8m with 22m lines would be okay.
The Kiteloop. This is what many kiters live for. Super scary to learn but super exhilarating too. When is a good time to learn?: When you're feeling confident enough in your jumping and kite control to push the limits. Kiteloops require full commitment, good timing, friendly conditions and guts. Hype aside- you can learn these slowly, minimising the risks. This is achieved by gaining experience and confidence from downloops (pulling hard on your front hand as you are landing your jumps). Downloops are a great way to start getting used to looping without the power. As you gain confidence, start downlooping earlier and earlier. You'll realise there is more and more power in the loop the earlier you go. Eventually you'll be slaying the loops before the apex of your jump- there's your full blown kiteloop! Then there are the megaloops ofcourse, but thats for another day.
Classic error: Kite too big + lines too long= kite isn't fast enough to complete the loop and catch you, causing you to hit the water really hard. How to prevent this: get on the right gear!
Below are the steps for an authentic kiteloop. Get confident with downloops first (explained above) then nail some proper kiteloops.
Trick Steps
1
Ride in with pace, kite at 45 as if youre going for a normal jump. Make sure you've got loads of space downwind.
2
Crank that kite up to 12 and edge hard
3
Release your edge as the kite starts to pull
4
As your kite reaches 12, pull really hard on your back hand with the bar fully sheeting in
5
Keep the pressure on your back hand until you have completed the loop. It's important to take the power of the loop through your core. To help you stay in position, bend your knees and tense up that core.
6
When your kite is going back up to 12, sheet out to help it climb faster (This will be once your kite has gone through the power zone)
7
Prevent the kite from over-flying (where the kite goes behind you due to excessive rider momentum towards the kite) by moving the kite around when it is at 12 and or downlooping on landing.
8
Aim completely downwind when landing and prepare for some serious pace.
