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Front roll tips?

Posted: Mon Aug 20, 2012 4:25 pm
by burtonac
Would love some advice from the experienced masses. I've been landing back rolls consistently for a while now. I've put in a damn good effort on front rolls, watching online vids and talking to some experts ("just tuck your head down and your body will follow"). I'm kinda sick of turning halfway, and then landing hard on my back and seeing stars. I'm finding it very hard to generate rotation in the opposite direction of my board's "pop," even when I get lots of lift and keep the kite high. Anyone have additional words of wisdom for getting that f**ker turned around the opposite way quickly? My neurologist thanks you in advance ;)

Re: Front roll tips?

Posted: Mon Aug 20, 2012 5:06 pm
by kingfisher
I also throw/drop my front shoulder to when I do them .

Re: Front roll tips?

Posted: Mon Aug 20, 2012 5:58 pm
by kitenaked
Relax and dont fight the rotation. I think when you start to resist, you stop rotating.

Re: Front roll tips?

Posted: Mon Aug 20, 2012 8:31 pm
by ramsey
What helped for me when i first started doing front rolls was to bring my knee up towards my chest. Come find me at 3rd. Its easier to see what you are doing wrong and then comment. Other thing is you need to get more height than a back roll so you will need to send the kite.

Re: Front roll tips?

Posted: Mon Aug 20, 2012 8:49 pm
by Bulldog
Hey Ramsey, any advice on how to do one strapless?

Re: Front roll tips?

Posted: Mon Aug 20, 2012 8:52 pm
by Loscocco
Bulldog wrote:Hey Ramsey, any advice on how to do one strapless?
*like*

Re: Front roll tips?

Posted: Mon Aug 20, 2012 9:50 pm
by Jeb Mud
+1 for higher jumps. It's counterintuitive b/c when you're just learning a move you tend to be conservative, but that just makes you more likely to fail...

Also, I find that I initiate the jump by edging upwind but right as I pop up I'm already starting to go downwind to help with the rotation...

Keep trying them!

Re: Front roll tips?

Posted: Mon Aug 20, 2012 10:35 pm
by MehYam
I'm no pro, but +2 for higher jumps. And, the most important tip that helped me was to remember which way to pull on the bar. I had a couple of nasty back-first smacks on the water before I realized that this was the step I was fucking up.

The drill is, before the launch, make note of which hand is forward; i.e. you're heading left-hand forward, you says to yourself you says "pull left, gimpy, pull left...". Pull right to initiate the jump, pop + roll, then pull back left, gimpy, pull left. Don't forget the gimpy.

Re: Front roll tips?

Posted: Tue Aug 21, 2012 9:08 am
by Greg
your simply HOLDING BACK- (stalling)
commit and TUCK (your front leg, SPEEDS ROTATION)
Best to attempt to over-rotate then simply OPEN UP as you come around (SLOWS ROTATION)
- POINT your front foot (in the direction of travel) to land-

Another tweak on this is a Toe-Loop:
start on toe, pop UP INTO THE WIND, grab nose, start rotation, stall board back (twist body if possible) then lean forward (with commitment) to front roll-
(can be done strapless too)

Dont hold back!
Have FUN!!! (you'll get it eventually, then you'll go #-o , what was I thinking)
G'

Re: Front roll tips?

Posted: Tue Aug 21, 2012 9:18 am
by Greg
Oppps- (very important)
first and formost- Bottom Turn (loading up) and POP HARD up and AROUND (this rotation can be VERY LOW if done TIGHT and FAST) or REALLY BIG and SLOWWWWW>>> (just tuck and roll and OPEN UP to land)

Enjoy-
(it's about the only trick I can still do)
L.M.G.