How To Give a Piggyback Ride | "Ride With Blake"

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This week we thought it would be fun to teach you something a little unconventional. While it's not your typical trick tip, giving a piggyback ride with your kite can be pretty fun!  This is a great way to share the stoke with anyone!

If you have any questions, give us a call 800.622.4655 

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Printable Steps for the Beach

Step 1

Be Comfortable

You're going to get close!  Be confident and comfortable in your skill level before taking anyone out with you.  Make sure you are comfortable with the person who is going to be clinging to your body and hanging off of the back of you while you're out there as well.  Its also important that you're sufficiently powered to be able to get 2 people back to the beach.

Step 2

Weight Forward

Getting started is the toughest part of this.  Make sure that your rider is as close as possible to you to distribute the weight evenly.  Their chest should be as close to your back as possible, with their arms wrapped around you and their legs wrapped around your waist.  

Tips:  Rider's arm placement

• Their front arm should be wrapped under your front arm
• Their back arm should be over your back shoulder
• Avoid both arms around your neck so that you aren't choked as you lean back

Take is slow.  As you start, rock forward to stack the rider on top of you (do not lean back).  Put both of your shoulders over you knees and get small!  Have your knees close to your chest and keep your weight over the board (which is similar to the light-wind start).  This will help prevent you from sinking back down into the water.

Ride towards the kite and make sure that youre sending the kite a little past 12-o-clock and back to get the most out of that initial power stroke as you can.  Get up you speed before you start to lean back.

Step 3

Have Enough Power

Make sure that once you get up, you dont lean back all the way.  Stack your shoulders over the back of the board and use your rider's weight to do the same.

The higher your rider is on your back, the easier it is!  If your rider is up higher, they can lean forward and help distribute the weight, rather than pulling you backwards.  Poor weight distribution makes for an exhausting ride!

Tips:  Re-positioning

•  Drop you head and shoulder forward which allows your ride to re-position their ride height or their arms without loosing balance.
• Ride a larger board if its available.  This will make it a bit easier for learning.

Cycle the kite as you get powered!  Keep the kite moving up and down and try to keep it a bit higher (around 45*) to avoid having most of your weight pushing down on the water

Step 4

Transition with Power

Keep your own weight forward and use the weight of your rider instead.  If this doesn't feel right at first, just sink in and head the other way rather than creating a dangerous ride for your human backpack.

Step 5 

Keep it Short

Make sure you have enough energy to get out AND back with your rider.  This isn't only extra exertion for you, but also for your rider who is hanging on back there.  If fatigue sets in, and you cant make it back, just body drag with your rider back to shore.

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Blake's Gear Picks

Many of you have been asking about my 2018 Gear picks so I'm going to include a few links.

Kites

Cabrinha Switchblade

Cabrinha Contra

Board

Cabrinha Excalibur wood

Harness

Ride Engine Hex Core

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Blake Olsen

A Michigan boy through and through (even though he was born in Saudi Arabia), Blake is a youth with a lifetime of experiences and adventures. Not only that, he's passionate about sharing his zest for life with others. He is proficient at many fields, including kiteboarding and acting as concierge to any who simply ask. Looking for an adventure? Well, Blake is your guy. From sailing the Gulf and the Caribbean to backpacking Hawaii and Southeast Asia, he knows his stuff and can make your vacation into an adventure.

Webpage: BlakeTheOlsen.com
Instagram: @BlakeTheOlsenFacebook: BlakeOlsen