Secrets of Jumping

[yojimbo]

I am also learning how to jump. One of the first things you encounter is that when you crash you tend to lose your board. This is a huge hassle so come up with a way to keep the board strapped to your feet.

I use racing bike inner tubes tied to my foot straps.

[couzteau]

I found this series of pictures in a book I had flying around. I'm still learning myself, but together with all of the comments the picture becomes clearer.

[MehYam]

...I STILL jump like a gimp going the "wrong" way. What'sup??! For some reason the notion of pop going towards the shore at 3rd is completely unintuitive. Is it just because I'm not facing the waves?

Finally had a breakthrough yesterday with jumping "switch". For me, half the problem was having the guts to start sending the kite in the first place - it just feels strange and unfamiliar, like writing with your other hand. So lesson 1 is "just go for it!". The other half of the problem was timing the pop, and I discovered a dirty cheat by accident: after you've sent the kite past 12, pull the kite forward and pop exactly then. Basically, time the pop with the instant your right hand pulls back on the bar. This isn't the best technique and feels nothing like how I jump when facing the 'right' way, but it's a start - I can now consistently produce controllable jumps in the 'wrong' direction.

It's like there are two different kiters out there, one for each direction, and both need to be trained individually. And some things work better in the 'wrong' direction. When facing 'wrong', I can upwind more strongly, ollie to toe side more smoothly, and toe side better. When facing 'correct', ollie-ing off of waves is more easy, jumping is completely natural, and toe side turns work much better.

[robotvox]

This is a very informative thread. An oldie but a goodie.

For me, the most helpful suggestion given here was, forget about sending the kite for a moment and just practice your pop. (thanks jono) This really helped me understand jumping and I progressed quickly from there to sending the kite at the right moment. This technique also lead me to love those 'power jumps' where you have the kite low, just hauling ass a bit upwind and launching off the waves (port tack at 3rd) without lofting the kite whatsoever. Oh man that's fun.

:shock: =D> Five consecutive kiting days at 3rd, often right up till sunset! Will we see number six?

[kailuakiter]

yup, it's all about the pop. It seems like people skip that fundamental step since a bow kite will get you off the water with or without pop, but for good jumping it really is all about the pop.

[robotvox]

There is something that has me confused. Ever since my first days of skateboarding and surfing, (oh jeez, 20 years ago) I was always goofy footed, without a doubt. But since I've been jumping and attempting to jibe at 3rd, I can't help but feel that regular footing is my strong side. What gives?

Some possible factors may be; the orientation of the swell, which comes in parallel or slightly behind one's course during the starboard tack, so waves can sneak up on you, whereas on port tack you are riding into them and can see them coming. Also, regular footing puts the right foot in back, which is my strongest leg. (right handed)

I'm curious if any other riders have found their strong side in kiting to be opposite of their stance in other board sports?

p.s. fun bit of trivia gleaned from the internets, don't know if it is true:
"Goofy Foot" is one of the oldest terms still current in surfing jargon. It describes a right foot forward surfing stance and was coined from a Walt Disney film in the 1950's in which Goofy surfed with his right foot forward.

[adamrod]

yup. i'm a regular foot guy but i do all my tricks goofy. i attribute it that it's much easier to huck something when i'm in view of the beach.

when you're talking tricks, (handlepasses specifically), people tend to be best passing the bar from one hand, so when hadlow does a trick "switch" it's not a matter of goofy or regular, but which hand he is using to pass the bar.

it seems that your strong side in kiting is more a function of where you kite than personal preference. for instance most kiters who grew up kiting at 3rd are strongest on starboard (which is goofy). I think you'll find that people are strongest on the tack in which they are heading toward shore.

[robotvox]

for instance most kiters who grew up kiting at 3rd are strongest on starboard (which is goofy). I think you'll find that people are strongest on the tack in which they are heading toward shore.

hmmm, I wonder why that is, maybe because of photo opportunities? :)
still, I don't seem to fit the mold, since port tack feels right for me at third, yet goofy is what i'm used to. Oh well, if it aint broke, dont fix it!