Month: May 2017

Kitesurfing Techniques | Transitions To make a smooth kitesurfing transition you need to understand a few key points about both kite control and weight distribution between your front and back leg/hip. Understanding these points is the key to changing direction and making smooth transitions on the board. Kite control: Starting position for smooth transition Depending on the direction you are riding you need to position your kite at either 10 O´clock or 2 O´clock before you start your transition. Remember you will turn your kite in TWO stages. From 10 or 2 O’clock you will turn the kite aggressively to generate moderate power as you send it through the edge of the wind window to the 12 O´clock position. Too much power and you will lose control and go over the board superman/superwoman style, too little power and you will not have enough speed throughout the transition to complete the turn. Starting the turn: Kite movement and shifting your body weight For this example we’ll assume you’re travelling upwind with the kite at 10 O´clock. Your weight will be in your back (right) hip/leg in this direction of travel. Turn the kite up hard from 10 O’clock and as it passes 11 while moving at 45 degrees across the wind window, push out with the hip of your back leg so the board travels in a down wind direction for a few more meters. Then, while you are travelling downwind these few metres, flatten out the board and stand more upright as you start to transfer your weight to your front hip and leg, which is about to become your new back leg and hip. When should you turn? Throughout the downwind part of your transition the kite will be traveling past 11 to 12 O´clock, and the power and speed