Kiteboarding Transitions: Sent Crail Grab

Nuke or Crail? It has come to our attention that this particular grab is actually a Crail grab. In the video we call it a Nuke, however for the written steps, I'll be using the correct name. My apologies for any confusion. The Crail Grab is your backhand reaching across to the nose of the kite. The Nuke is technically when you take that a step further to your heelside edge. -Rygo  

Today we are going to go over how to do a Sent Crail grab. This is one of the more early intermediate level tricks on our intermediate to advanced transition playlist. You're doing a standard jump transition but bringing the board up and across your body while reaching over your front leg to grab the nose of your board. 

We recommend you download the attached PDF on your phone. Check it before your next session!

The prerequisites for this are jump transitions, Basic rolls and basic grabs. We recommend having these basics down as you will need the air and body awareness that comes from practicing them to pull this one off. It's actually not a difficult trick but it does require the rider to twist their body into a difficult grab and redirect the kite while unwinding. If you need more practice with jumping, we'll include a link to our Jump with Style video and our original Nuke / Crail grab video. We also have a detailed video on Jump Transitions you might find helpful. 

Speed equals height 

Step One- Come in with Good Speed 

This is a sent Jump transition. With sent jumps, the faster you go, the more height you will get out of the jump. You should know how to do a jump transition. If you don't we'll recap here. 

Jump transitions 

Ride fast with the kite at 45 degrees. Send the kite to noon while loading up your edge. As the kite approaches the apex, pull in on the bar and push down with your back hand. You will feel the kite pull you right up into the sky. Ignoring the trick for this step, your focus should be on the kite. 

The higher you go, the more you might need to work your kite back and forth in the sky to maintain good loft. Spend some time practicing jump transitions as high as you can go and feeling where the kite is in the sky and working it.

As you start to decent, pull on your back hand to redirect the kite into a power stroke heading in the opposite direction. Make sure to keep the kite moving and in front of you the entire time you are in the air. Land flat and riding downwind to absorb the pull of the power stroke. You should have this mastered before attempting the grab. 

You have two options with kite movement 

Step Two- Alternate Kite Movement 

Alternately, you can downloop out of this trick. This is going to add power and style to the transition. You're grabbing the board with the hand you would normally redirect the kite with. because of this grab, It's actually more natural to hold the grab longer and simply commit to a downloop transition. This comes down to personal style. The send jump is very floaty and smooth while the downloop is fluid and powerful.  If you don't know how to downloop, check out our video from our last playlist breaking down everything you need to know about downloop landings. The Grab is what makes this trick 

Reach your backhand across your body and grab the nose 

Step Three- The Grab 

The Crail grab looks amazing with any trick on any axis. This is going to be the most basic form of the trick. As you send the kite bring your front leg up and across your body. You'll need to twist your front hip towards the sky on this one. Keep the front knee tucked in tight and poke out your back leg in the direction you were traveling. You need to reach your back hand over your front thigh to grab the nose of your board. Hold this as long as possible. Be mindful of the kite just like the first step. Make sure you are aware of where it is in the sky. 

When you feel yourself coming down you can release the grab and place your hand back on the bar to redirect the kite. If you are going to use a downloop, you can hold on a bit longer. 

Spot your landing