Ride with Blake | How to Throw an Inverted Front Roll

The inverted front roll is a slightly more advanced variation of the front roll. 

The last few days in key West haven’t been that windy. In truth, it’s a much-needed break! I thought I would take a bike ride down to the White Street Pier and break down my favorite trick for you. The inverted front roll!

One of the most fun aspects of our sport is taking these basic tricks and adding your own personal style to them. 

This is an intermediate level trick, that said if you can do three standard front rolls in a row it's time to spice things up. 

Normally I try and break things down into five steps. This one is a little more difficult so I had to break it up into 8 steps. If you have front rolls dialed, try and spice them up with this variation. If you can, throw in a grab to make it your own!

Before we dive in I have one more thing to address. 

• The secret to doing any kiteboarding trick is body awareness.
• You will notice all of my tips are some variation of what you should be doing with your legs, hands head and so on. 
• Visualize theses motions and commit them to memory. 
• Realize your first few attempts your are going to crash. 
• Every time you will get better at each step. Before you know it you will have a certain body awareness while riding. From there, the potential is only limited by your imagination. 

Step one

Pop with a lot of speed. This will help build momentum when you invert. You might have to bounce the board a little before you pop to break the surface tension of the water. You can also work your kite a little bit to build up speed. Once you've done this send your kite, lean back and dig that back leg as hard as you can. Your really want to explode of the water and throw your body into the air. 

Speed equals a better pop, more airtime and helps with the momentum needed to do this trick 

Step two

After you explore off the water bring your front knee right up into your chest. A large part of this trick is using momentum to initiate the rotation.  Your back leg should follow right behind. Imagine you are slamming your knees into your chest. 

Step three

Dip your front shoulder and angle your head back. As soon as you take of and bring those knees up you will want to dip your front shoulder down towards the water. This will initiate the front roll.
Remember this is all a fluid movement each step building off the momentum of the last. The first attempts will be awkward but you will eventually find your own rhythm. 

Step four

Throw your head back. This is the secret to turning a normal front roll into an inverted one! Try and look at the water if you can. This will ensure you are committing to the trick. It will also help you find your bearings while rotation. Having a point of reference will help you control the landing. 

Commit to inverting. You want to try and look at the water. It looks better and you can keep your bearings 

Step five

(Sorry, we missed the bullet point in the video)

Keep your back hand on the middle of the control bar and bring your front hand to the small of your back. This will accomplish two things. Bringing your front hand behind your back will help you arch your back adding some style and helping you follow through. Keeping your back hand on the middle of the bar will minimize kite movement allowing you to maintain control while inverted. 

Step six 

Kick your legs out. Right after you dip your shoulder and throw your head back follow the momentum and kick your legs straight up. Technically this is an optional step but it does ensure that you get all the way upside down. It also just makes the trick look more fun. I like to tuck my knees back into my chest right after and go for a grab after this step. It serves as a marker for my muscle memory if you will. 

Step seven 

Keep tension in your lines. Just pay attention to the bar pressure and make sure you are in control of the kite. This way you can come down gently. Line tension is the key to maintaining control. If there is no tension in the line the kite is going to do what ever it wants no mater how hard you pull the bar. There are multiple ways to come out of this trick I'll address two. The first and most practical is to keep the kite at noon until you hit the water. As soon as you make contact or the moment before even, dive the kite down in your direction of travel. Something I like to do is dive the kite a little earlier to initiate a free fall and then bring it back up to catch myself. This can get a little hairy so be prepared to take a few hard falls if you opt for this route. 

Right after I complete the roll I like to dive the kite to imitate a free fall.  The trick is catching yourself before impact! 

Step eight

The final and most simple step. As you make contact with the water bend your knees and land riding downwind. This will make for a softer landing. as a bonus tip make sure you spot your landing before you touch down. 

Well, that's it, my friends. Get out there and give it ago!

Peace

Blake

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

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