How To Do A Backroll Kiteboarding

This article will break down how to do a backroll kiteboarding. We will go over the key points to safely execute a backroll. This one of the first kiteboarding tricks to learn. The prerequisites to this trick are the load and pop, and little boosts. The two ways to view this trick are kite position and body position.

Kite Position

When learning how to do a backroll kiteboarding, you do not need to be fully powered. You want to be slightly underpowered to moderate power. Keep moderate tension in the bar before your pop. Bring the kite up to 12 o’clock and pull in for the pop.

Timing is important. The load and pop should be timed in conjunction with pulling the kite in at 12 o’clock. The difference between a typical load and pop and a backroll is head position. You should be looking over your front shoulder more on a backroll than a load and pop. More information on this in the next section.

Once you complete your rotation, steer the kite down in the direction you want to go. As you go higher with backrolls, keep the kite at 12 o’clock. Do not over-send the kite. What this means is that if you’re going right, you do not need to send the kite to 11 o’clock. Learning this trick does not require much power from the kite.

Body Position

The key point on how to do a backroll kiteboarding is your head. Your head controls your rotation. You want to look over your front shoulder until you complete the rotation. This will also open up your shoulders. Keep your legs tucked in and make sure to commit to the rotation.

The Pop

The pop for a backroll is slightly different than a pop for a boost. For a backroll, you want to edge the front of the board into the wind as much as you can. As you edge into the wind, pop off your back foot.