​3 Transitions you need to know

The goal of this video is to inspire you to try some more transitions and mix up your kiteboarding. You can really add a lot of flow and energy to your riding by mixing in very basic tricks into every transition. This week, I'll break down three of my favorite transitions from beginner to intermediate.

Transition One - Beginner

Half Loaded Melon to Toeside with a Downloop

This is a mouthful but it's super simple. You can do it hooked in or unhooked for extra style. Just get a bit of speed and pop off some chop. In the air, bring your back leg into your chest and poke your front leg out and away from the kite.

Reach down with your front hand and grab the board between your feet on the heelside edge. This is called a melon grab. It's okay to just tap the board at first. Over time, try to hold it longer and get your hand closer to your back heel.

It helps to split the bar in the center so you can keep some front hand pressure to keep the kite pulling you forward. As you drop, land toeside and slightly downwind. You can put your front hand back on the bar and pull hard to send the kite into a downloop. Let it pull you downwind and carve around back to heelside. This is going to be the same as a toeside transition, except the downloop will put a little more force into the turn.

Transition Two - Intermediate

Switch Back Roll Jump Transition

This is easier than you think. The roll is not inverted and you're landing in your natural direction, so the kite movement will feel easier. Actually, the landing should feel just like a jump in your normal direction.

Get decent speed and come into a sent switch jump. Send the kite up to noon and pull the bar in while edging upwind against it. Pop a backroll by looking over your front shoulder and throwing your hips around. As you spin, mind the kite via the control bar. The trick is to keep the kite above you and slightly in front of you while spinning.

As you complete the rotation, pull hard on your back hand to send the kite into a power stroke in the opposite direction. The trick to landing this one cleanly is to go with the forward pull of the kite. You need to land this one with good speed and with an aggressive redirection of the kite in the other direction. If you are timid, chances are it will not work out.

Let it pull you downwind as you land. Slowly edge back upwind after you absorb the landing with the board. Try to land with a bit of speed because if you come into this with trepidation, you'll probably just drop onto your back.

Transition Three - Advanced

Raley to Blind with a Downloop

This one is actually also more relaxed than you think. You should be super consistent with your Raley to Blind. If not, it's not too fun to catch an edge on this one. (I'm keeping this video short, but stand by for a Raley to Blind tutorial in our Unhooked series in the near future.) Come in with good speed, lean back and pop a small Raley.

The key to this trick is to pull the bar hard to your hip. You want to be landing almost on top of the bar with this one. Make sure when you rotate that you put a lot of body energy into it. It should be a fast and powerful back 180. You need to land riding downwind on this one to avoid a nasty edge catch. Also, the loop will be impossible if you don't. You can pass the bar quickly on this one.

The key here is that when you land, you twist the bar behind your back. Grab the handle and keep pulling so the kite goes into a downloop. If you are landing correctly, it will just pull you downwind further and you can carve around just like a normal toeside transition. As you come around, grab your harness loop and pull it in to depower the kite and hook back in.

Ryan (Rygo) Goloversic

Many people dream of quitting their job, traveling the world and pursuing their passions. Rygo is one of those people who pulled the trigger. A few years into his career, he decided to change everything and travel as a kiteboarder, freelance videographer & writer. His mission is to share the stoke & help people put the boarding into their kiteboarding. Get outside and kite!

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Producer of: Ride with Blake I Sessions I Versus I Destinations I Foil Fridays