When it comes to kiteboarding, kite control will always be number one – the better kite control you have, the easier kiteboarding will be. Whether you’re learning how to body drag or learning a new trick, having control over the kite will help you accomplish your goal quicker and easier. To do so, there are a few tips and tricks that may feel unnatural to some but have been proven to enhance your kite control.
Most experienced kiteboarders can spot who is a new rider just by how they steer the control bar, for example with their hands on the ends of the bar. Steering with your hands on the bar ends causes oversteering of the kite. It typically feels comfortable and easier for new riders to do, but it will take away from their ability to feel where the kite is without looking.
Tip #1: Learning & Improving Kite Control
To prevent oversteering of the kite, keep your top hand close to the center of the bar. What is considered your top hand? If the kite is to the left – your top hand would be your right hand, and if the kite is to the right – your top hand will be your left hand. It is also important to know that letting out of the control bar with your top hand will cause the kite to fall downwards. In order to correct this, you will pull in while bending the bar slightly and the kite will lift upwards. Finally, the further out your hands go, the more exaggerated the movement of the kite will be – so remember keep your hands close to the center.
Tip #2: Kite Control Combined with the Board
When you’re first learning how to ride the board, riding around many other people can be intimidating due to a lack of confidence in your kite control. Keeping your hands close to the center of the control bar will help give you a better feel for where the kite is in the sky. Prior to riding the board, we encourage you know how to steer the kite while only using one hand on the control bar.
Tip #3: Kite Control & Jumping
A common mistake while learning how to jump is oversteering your kite. When you oversteer the kite when attempting to jump, it will result in a lack of height that is necessary (as well as wanted) to make the jump possible. This can be corrected by by bringing your top hand closer to the center of the control bar.
In the end, we suggest to always stick to the basics, whether you’re learning new tricks or learning how to ride. If you find yourself oversteering, remember to bring your hands closer together. Focus on feeling where the kite is in the sky through your fingertips and in time, you will develop the kiteboarder instinct that will allow you to progress safely and fast.
Sponsored By
