Kitesurfing Butterslide

The idea behind this video is to work your way into powered, stylish Butter Slides. These are an easy trick, but they do take a little leg strength. That means your first Butters will be low and quick. Over time, your legs will get stronger and you'll find the perfect approach.

Nothing feels better than a kiteboarding Butter Slide

Step One - First Attempts

Keep the kite at 45 and get good speed. If you go slow, you will sink. Go slightly downwind and lean back. Put your weight behind your tail. Bring your back knee into your chest and poke the front leg out. Ride as long as you can and, as you feel yourself sinking, shift your weight back over the board and ride downwind to stay on a plane.

You might spend a couple weeks on this step as you get stronger and refine your technique.

Keep your weight behind the tail of your kiteboard

Step Two - Butter Better

Now that you are stronger and feeling confident, you can add some power and style to your Butters. Shift your weight further back behind the tail and apply more pressure to your back leg. Aim to get the board as vertical as possible. To add extra style, you can tweak the board. To tweak, all you have to do is bring your back leg into your chest and poke the front leg straight. You can also shift your weight not only behind the tail, but back behind your heelside edge.

This shifting of weight will look like you are slashing a wave or board sliding a halfpipe. It adds a lot of flavor to this simple trick and demonstrates control.

Step Three- Other Variations

From here you can work on landing tricks in a Butter Slide. Once you have the muscle memory, all you have to do is shift your weight back and land on your tail after a trick. I like to add a downloop so I have a little extra pull to press against and slide longer. As an added bonus, you can use the front loop to transition!

You can use this same process to work on Nose Butter Slides as well. Simply switch to topside and practice the same steps on your opposite leg. Chances are one leg will be stronger than the other; my left leg is noticeably weaker than my right. If you practice both right away, you can stay balanced. Eventually you can work on popping over to your nose for a very stylish Butter.

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