Darkslide Kiteloop Transition

Today we are going to cover a Darkslide Kiteloop Transition. This is an advanced trick and is similar to the hand drag and the 360 video we did in this playlist. In the sense that you will be sending the kite from one side of the wind window to the other for lift and then looping the kite at the edge of the window followed by a second half loop to transition.

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Step One - Small Send & Pop

Come into this trick with a light pop and be subtle with sending the kite. You don’t want to come into this one too powered. It’s a balance to get just off the water so that you can lean into the slide without going to high or catching an edge.

Timing

You can pop as soon as you start sending the kite. You don’t need to pull too hard on the bar either or you’ll get pulled forward.Everything should be a smooth send and jump. The kite should be at noon when you pull the bar in and initiate the pop.

Step Two - Lean slightly forward and point your toes

After you pop, lean forward and let the kite pull you up. Point your toes forward and let the top of your board drag through the water. Knowing how to do backroll hand drags will help a lot. The kite movement here is the same. You’re swinging the kite across the sky above you and this motion is what will keep you aloft in the air. You want to send the kite slowly on this one, so don’t steer too hard.

An important tip is to do not lean too far forward. With Darkslides, it's great to get so low that your chest touches the water but remember, you still have to do a kiteloop after this! It's much easier if you maintain a more upright position so you can “pop” into the loop at the end.

Step Three - Sheet Out

After you leave the water, you’ll want to sheet the bar out. This will stop the kite from pulling you too hard. As you’re sheeting out, the kite’s going to be traveling from the apex to the other side of the wind window. This loft period is what will hold you up during the slide. It will also change the angle of attack making the drag more mellow and longer.

The sooner you start your slide, and the longer you can keep the kite on the front hand side of the window, the longer your slide is going to be. You'll go faster and get pulled downwind longer but the kite will have more time to cross over to the other side of the window and you'll get some long powered slides out of this technique. 

Step Four - Loop it at the edge

You want to loop this at the edge of the wind window, not downwind of you for a powered loop. As the kite reaches the edge, you’ll want to pull hard and commit. This is the same as the loop used on a backroll hand drag.

This is a transition, you’ll want to do more than just a kiteloop. You’ll have to do an additional half loop to send the kite back the other direction so you can tack that way. One tip is to move your hands when it reaches the edge of the window. You can slide your hands out and push on one side while pulling on the other. Be mindful not to loop early on this one. You really don’t want to do a proper kiteloop on this one. That would be intense. Keep it on the edge and loop it fast where there is less power.

Step Five - Land Flat and Downwind

After you complete the loop, sheet the kite out to send it back up to catch you. This is done while initiating the half-loop redirection to complete your transition. Remember to land in an athletic stance with your shoulders & knees stacked over your ankles and board. If you end up looping it too hard, you’ll want to land downwind to take power out of the kite. Once you get your technique dialed, this is one of the few tracks where you can almost land right into your next tack.

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Blake

Rygo

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: @BlakeTheOlsen

  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