Don't Kite Stagnant! Keep the Progression Going!

[ramsey]

Hi All,

Ok we are getting close to nearing the end of the summer kiting season. I like to look back and see how I've progressed this season. I'm curious about everyone else here in the bay? What tricks/skills have you learned, and what do you want to learn?

This year learned for me : Raley-Blind, Kiteloop-Blind, Indy Glide ( ok not pretty, but my avatar is ok), surfboard tack.

Next year what I want to learn: Blind Judge, Back and Front to Blind, Grabs to Blind, KL3, switch toe-side top turn, pop shuv-late flip.

You are never too old to learn something new. Don't let your kiting stagnate. Keep it fresh whether its a fat bottom turn strapless or a switch back mobe.

What is your list?????????

[kitenaked]

Monster kite loop and landing without killing my knees and ankles.

[BAK_iphone]

My biggest trick for the 2011 season will be the same one I've been working on for years - avoiding crutches, casts, braces, stitches and/or surgery while still having fun.

Posted with TouchBB on my iPhone

[nick_80044]

This was my first full season, the one in which I went from all the beginner struggling and frustration of last year to being a "real" kiteboarder:

--riding solidly upwind
--much improved at controlling the power and kite control in general
--transitions
--riding leash-less
--jumping (not spectacular, but it's coming along)
--first sessions at Berkeley/Emery Point

I agree with the idea of always having a new goal or challenge to look forward to. Can't wait until next year!

[joemount2004]

3rd season for me (although 2008 was only a 1/3 season or so... I started in late July)

- semi-powered kiteloops
- downloop transitions
- backroll with a kiteloop (theres probably a technical name for it)
- improved strapless riding (nailing most gybes)
- kiting crissy regularly
- very basic unhooked riding

next year? who knows, never figured out how to duck tack???

[adamrod]

this year?
switched to boots (so much better)
able to land most of my blind judges
more consistent back2blind airpass
more consistent KLHP
shuvits on a skim
720 surface pass on a skim

that list is a bit sad really, cause i didn't technically land anything new...but I feel like I got an awful lot more consistent on everything. I really have to credit the switch to boots for a lot of that. never having to body drag for my board really speeds up the number of tricks you can try in a session. getting super light/flexible boots like the U2 makes the changeover pretty easy. (they weigh about the same as my straps did). Going to 1.0" fins helped too. as did the new kites.

next year?
land more back2wrappeds
backmobe
KL313
slim chance

[The111]

Hurray, a brag thread! Started kiting in April. Notable milestones:

Going upwind
Basic transitions
Toe-to-heel carve transitions (and vice versa)
Toeside riding
Jumps... bigger jumps... more consistent jumps
Back rolls... bigger backrolls with a kitesend
Jumps on my "weak" side (regular footed)
Downloop transitions (on the water) - way easier than I was expecting, nailed it first try the other day
one mostly successful self-rescue in deep water (but not perfect)

The absolute most satisfying moment was either the moment that getting upwind "clicked"... or landing my first backroll.

Things to try next year (or this winter if I get lucky... not looking forward to this end of season thing):
Riding unhooked (only tried once or twice)
Riding blind?
Front rolls (not tried yet)
Aerial transitions - I have tried this one a LOT and don't really feel like I'm getting that close... any tips?
Downloop aerial transition - heard this might be easier than the above
Kiteloops? (too soon?)
Variations on vanilla jumps - tweaks/grabs
Even BIGGER jumps
unstrapped?
waves?

next year? who knows, never figured out how to duck tack???

What is that?

[dpca10]

Strong side tricks:
-Rally to Blind
-Real Unhooked Backroll kiteloops unhooked (maybe you could call it F-16's)
-Finally sticking >70% of my unhooked Downloop S-Bends
-Actually doing nice S-Bends unhooked and not just front rolls
-Inverted kiteloop transitions with a grab

Weak side tricks:
-A real Rally on my weak side,
-unhooked back and front roll
-Unhooked kite loops
-Various transitions with grabs and inversions
-Riding toeside on my week side (really I had never really bothered)
-Big jumps with tail and nose grabs

My list for next year:
Rally to blind on my weak side
Rally to wrapped on my strong side
---> Blind judge
-Back to blind
-Nuc grab
-** Mega Loops

[wjb]

This year:
jibes solid both directions (finally )
strapless
shuvit on skim

Forward from this point (season doesn't end it just gets colder )
Continued improvement in the waves
Tacks
strapless air

[sloughslut]

Be able to make it back where i started