Kiteing in wave tips

[Proparoo]

Ok, we all see the videos of the pros getting huge air and ripping it in the waves....

How about some tips for the beginner wave kitesurfer...

One question I have is, if you are going out and you get cought in front of a really big set, can you go under the wave and keep your kite in the air?

How about if you wipe out on a wave and your kite goes down and there are more waves coming? Someone told me to pull your safety or you will surely destroy the kite.

Any tips.???

[Bulldog]

Well the best bet seems to be to not wipe out.

If you do, you should try to get back on your board again really quickly. Best to practice this in flat water.

If you can't get back on the board, you need to try to keep your kite powered. The wave is going to push you towards your kite, which will make it drop out of the sky. I found myself jerking the kite around alot more in the waves than I ever do in flat water.

However, as a beginner the best strategy is just to stay pretty far away from the big waves. When you see them coming, take evasive action. There are two ways to do this. First is to outrun the breaking wave and cross it where it is not yet breaking. If you have the right sized kite, you will be amazed at your ability to "speed up" to do this.

The other option is to "run away". If you cannot turn very quickly on your board to change direction, you have no business being out in the waves. On the other hand, you may not know how fast you can do this until you are confronted with a large wave breaking 25 ft. from you, but it's probably not the best way to find out.

Small waves are pretty easy to jump over, just boost right before you get to them. The wave will usually roll under you and you can land on the backside. If a small wave starts breaking on your board, you can "sit down" on the wave by pulling your board out of the water and scooting over it on your butt. I'm sure this doesn't win you any style points, though.

Note: I write this as someone who has kited in the waves only three times, so don't consider it anything resembling expert opinion.

[K. Cliff]

Man I want to be there to see this! I wont laugh at you, I'll laugh with you.

[windhorny]

My first waddell experience was pretty good. I will say what looked like nice gentle waves to practice on from the highway turned out to be 8' waves that scared the B'Jesus out of me. Jumping over waves that dont curl are easy, it's that last one that is scary to get through. i tried to jump over it but the direction of the wind was not the best and instead ended up with a mouth full of board! A little blood was ok til I started to get flash backs of Discovery channel's shark week saying how a great white could sniff out a drop of blood a mile away! Yipes. So I called it a day but would like to try it again sometime.

[Greg]

You can do a modified duck-dive with a kite board, just come up to the base of the wave and plunge the nose down and try to tuck your body down and into the base of the wave, Keep the kite powered, point the board up a little as the wave rolls over.., you'll pop through.. The deeper you plung down the better, takes practice..
In large surf I go for air or turn and run early, remember if you get over-run running away- the kite is going to slack, your rolling in your lines- thats bad..
Finally if your kite is going to get hit be anything other then a very small wave it's common practice to release the kite totally. I dont really like the practice due to the run-away issues but genarally the kite get swamped- rolled and washes ashore. If you hang on be prepaired you some strong pull on the kite lines even in small surf! So in short: If you ever get hung up in kite lines in surf, YOU BEST HAVE A HOOK KNIFE IN ACTION or your SCREWED!!

Real good idea to work you way into the surf line slowly, tell you learn the ropes- go easy..
Enjoy,
L.M.G.

[jowall]

Rich:

I got some practice on small waves first and that's definitely a good move. I learned the hard way about doing an about face in front of a wave I couldn't boost. My attempted duck dive looked more like a body slam and I'm sure it made for quality entertainment on the beach. I came through the other side of the wave feeling like Muhammed Ali. Needless to say the next set I was racing, I learned the u-turn move real quick.

It's kind of like being a newbie all over again, but I see the potential for huge payoff. Once you've riden one wave taller than you, you're hooked.

john

[narly1]

duck dive.
turn and run,
start small...
keep your head on a swivle(keep look n for waves comeing)

all good stuff thanks guys
and you dont have to ride a wave as big as your head to get hooked the chest high ones can be fun too.

[dewey]

I have to agree with Charlie.

I just tried it for the first time and it's a lot harder than it looks.

[zgur]

Gents,

All good tips.

Come next spring, I am going to team with a kite school to offer wave clinics. It will include:
1. Weather/local conditions
2. Surf rules
3. Equipment
4. Technique
5. Safety considerations

BTW - there are general Waddell guidelines on this web site, must read before venturing into the surf....covers many of the basics.....having said that, there is no substitute for having personal instruction in the lcoation that you are trying to figure out.

Stay tuned......

Good wind + waves, Zeev.

[Bulldog]

Charlie,
Dewey's just trying to make you feel better. He got a 25 ft. boost off an 8 foot wave. I thought he was never going to come back down.