Part 1 Part 2 Part 3
Basic Riding Skills
Thus far I have added to following items to the list. I will extend this further as and when I add video footage of the relevant tricks:
- Various Launching techniques
- The seated launch
- The sliding launch
- The upright seated launch
- The Jump Launch
- Basic Riding Skills
- 180 Powerslide
- Frontside Powerslides
- Jumps
- 180 Jumps heel-side
- The backside powerslide
Step 1 – Various Launching Techniques
There are a number of basic launching methods to use on cable ski. Two of these are considered suitable for beginners and the other two would be more suitable for riders who already have basic jumps and balancing skills.
The seated launch
The initial launch is the sitting launch at the bottom of the ramp. The attached video called “SEATED LAUNCH.MPG” shows an example of this. This position does offer a jerk at the initial launch stage so depending on the level of the water, this might not be considered suitable for women with lower arm strength.
The basic technique would require you to sit and the bottom of the ramp with your board at a slight angle (45 degree angle, not square with the direction you are taking off and not in the same direction either) and to lean back as hard as possible. Rather lean back too hard and slide on your ass than lean forward and catch a leading edge which will catapult you forward into a faceplant on the water. If you lean back too hard, you can still recover by sliding your board in the direction you want to travel and when the fins catch the will straighten you out. Always keep the handle into your waist (i.e. arms not straight) as straight arms have a tendency to pull beginners over and off balance. The rope into the waist promotes leaning back.
The sliding launch
The sliding launch is a more recommending launch technique for females and/or children and it involves a more progressive pull rather than a sudden jerk. In the example we have used a kiteboard (146x40) to show that the 4 fins still allow for sliding of the board on the water, as this technique is not limited to wakeboards. The female in this video example battled with the seated launch (due to the sudden pull) but managed to get upright and going on the first try using the sliding launch, so different things work for different people.
Basic technique can be seen in the example video entitled “SLIDE LAUNCH.MPEG”, however this would involve remaining seated with the handle into your waist. When the cable takes, slide down the ramp with your board perpendicular (or point sideways to the direction you are travelling) while leaning back. As you hit the water continue in this stance and only slide your board around 90 degrees when you are comfortable and have your balance. Word of warning – Use of boards with a centre fin on the heel side of the board will limit sliding ability. DO NOT TRY THIS TECHNIQUE WITH THE BOARD POINTING IN THE DIRECTION YOU WANT TO TRAVEL INITIALLY WHEN YOU ARE NOT EXPERIENCED ON CABLE SKI, AS THE BOARD WILL NOSE DIVE AND IN SOME CASES THE WATER CAN BE SHALLOW AT THE LAUNCHING POINT.
The upright-seated launch
The upright-seated launch may be offered at some cable facilities where a seat is offered for slalom and wakeboard launching. This is not recommended for beginners where the water is shallow however should the water be deep; a beginner can try this technique.
The basic technique is relatively simple for someone with existing board skills. It involves sitting on the seat, and simply hopping off the seat as the cable takes, as can be seen in the video example ”UPRIGHT SEATED LAUNCH.MPEG”.
Jumping Start Technique
The last technique is an intermediate technique as is not difficult once you have obtained basic board riding skills.
This technique is 90% timing and 10% technique, as you will discover in your initial attempts. (About 3 attempts before getting it right for the average rider who has existing board skills) The most common mistake is jumping when the cable pulls as this will pull you off balance and you will land face forward on the initial attempts. The correct technique is jumping roughly 1 second before the cable takes. This will put you in mid air when the cable pulls and will result in you being pulled onto the water. The technique is dependant on facilities and it is best to speak to a local before attempting the technique due to local conditions and launch facilities. The example shown “JUMP LAUNCH.MPEG” is using facilities in JHB. We have use a 4-fin kiteboard (146x40) with Cabrinha FS Plates in this example to show that this technique does not require a wakeboard or bindings.
Step 2 – Basic riding skills
In the picture example we have tried to show the riding line, which should be used for riding on a cable ski facility. Initially you will experience a slack in the rope, and a sudden jerk, often pulling the rider off balance (with the resultant swim back). As you become more experienced corners become smoother, and the jerks become almost non-existent. (Try to look at it like a learner driver…initially jerky and pull-offs and gear changes become smoother as time goes on) If you are still having major problems, try to ask the controller of the cable to load you after an experienced rider and follow his line in the water. In some cases, it could be a lack of edging ability and in others following a bad line.
While building your initial skills, try to build your edging skills so you can increase your ability to hold an edge. Initially you will find your legs and arms tiring during this process but this will help build your endurance for Kitesurfing anyway. Once you are able to travel both goofy and normal (normal is left foot forward, goofy is right foot forward) you will find this is alleviated. It is important to try maintain correct posture while edging. Front leg almost straight and back leg locked in a slightly bent position. See “HEELSIDE EDGING.MPEG” video example supplied.
While you are in a position where you have not learnt to ride backwards, try to improve your Toeside edging ability. (Toeside indicates the edge of the board, which you are edging on, is the one near your toes) The following picture shows an example of Toeside edging while the video “TOESIDE EDGING.MPEG” gives a video example.
180 powerslides
Once you are able to consistently circle the cable facilities without falling, you will want to start learning to slide the board 180 degree to travel the other direction. (Goofy if you started normal, and normal if you started goofy) This requires commitment more than anything else. The less commitment, the harder the fall. Try to find a section of flat water with very little chop if you can. While riding, move directly underneath the cable and start increasing the pressure on your front foot until you have even pressure on both feet. At this stage all you require is commitment…push your back foot forward while maintain enough pressure on your heels so that you don’t catch your leading edge but not enough to edge, as you would while turning. If you keep turning instead of sliding, you are either using too much heal pressure or too little front foot. As you slide past the 90 degrees, you should feel your board start to straight again. Initially riding this direction will feel uncomfortable but this will change over time. BEWARE THE LEADING EDGE. IF YOU CATCH YOUR LEADING EDGE YOU WILL HIT THE WATER HARD. If you are having problems, try taking the fins off your kiteboard, but make sure you master this technique with fins on the board.
Once you have mastered the 180 powerslide, try to improve your board technique travelling backwards as soon as possible. By this I mean, if you normally travel normal, practice goofy as much as possible, and visa versa. The reason for this, is kiteboarding requires equal riding in both directions (you have to get back don’t you?) so building your skills on the unnatural riding direction is important. If you use cable for this, practice riding backwards, turn after turn, or ride normal one round and goofy another. Eventually you will find that your normal will almost match your goofy although Toeside riding in your unnatural direction takes a little longer. (hard Toeside edging)
The Frontside Powerslide
The front-side powerslide is something widely used for initial jibes in kiteboard, although if you can master this on a cableski facility, a kiteboard will be easier as you have more upward pull. The major difference is the kite will tend to pull you up and over, so be weary that you have to lean back slightly further on a kite.
On front-side powerslides, it is exactly the same as a 180 powerslide, the only difference being you remain in the powerslide position for longer. This would allow you to rotate the board back to the original position or 180 degree’s. Powerslide can often be anything from 2 seconds to 20 seconds (or the length of the straight at the cableski facilities), and you will find as your balance and technique improves it will be easier to control this for as long as you want to. If at any stage you feel off-balance, simply switch back to the directional travel.
If you are not confident with this technique, bare in mind the consequences of this trick can be painful, so if you have access to a wakeboard, use it initially (it is more slippery on the water) or remove your fins. Video example coming shortly.
Jumps
The initial jumping technique will help you for landings and increase your board balance. It’s also the first step towards some gibe manoeuvres, which require you to pop the board 180 degrees before carving into a turn. While travelling on the board, bounce the board, like you would while hopping on a trampoline, however don’t try to jump you board out of the water yet. While you are hopping the board, you will feel the board building up to a jump on the second bounce. This is the standard technique used to gain height on jumps in wakeboarding. With this technique, you will quickly realise jumping height is gained through board speed and timing as opposed to brute strength. (Watch a 14-year-old petite girl doing jumps, and then turning 360 in the air with a handle pass and having so much time to do the trick and you start to see the timing aspects coming into play) The following example shows a jump with a grab, there is a Video example coming shortly.
180 Jumps (heel-side)
The 180 Jumps heel-side are the first trick you will start to learn and is used widely in jibing techniques in kiteboard. The term heel-side is used and indicates your heel’s are on the inside of the turn. I.e. if you are travelling left foot forward, you would turn 180 degree’s to your left. This technique is the same as the jump, except as your jump rotate the board quickly 180 degrees toe-side. As you land try to keep your balance above the board. You should find this technique relatively easy to master depending on board size. (Board sizes of 160cm and over are more difficult) Once you have mastered this technique try to get used to doing this on the reverse, which will feel more awkward. There is a video example of this coming shortly.
Putting it all together:
Once you have managed to execute all the above tricks its time to start putting them together to help your kiteboard.
There are two basic drills to practice using these techniques:
The powerslide Jibe Drill
The powerslide Jibe is usually the first Jibe most people will learn using a twintip. This involves edging hard normal across under the cable. As you reach the far side, start to flatten off (but not too much or you will get a large slack in the towline) and as you feel yourself really slow down, even out pressure on both feet, execute a powerslide and as you feel yourself accelerate again, move on your edge again and start back across under the cable riding goofy this time, as you reach the other side, repeat etc. Although not an exact replication of a kite, it’s close enough for the guys to get the basic feel for what to expect. Video example to follow shortly.
The Jump 180 Jibe Drill
This involves a similar technique to the above (travelling normal), however as you flatten off, wait for a second, and then jump the board 180 degrees. When you land, keep your balance, and then execute a heel-side carve while travelling goofy and then repeat. This will improve your carving on Jibes travelling both directions. Video example to follow shortly.
Backside Powerslides
Backside powerslides are good fun, look good and can be used anywhere you have remotely flat water for kiteboarding. You will often notice some of the wakestyle pros using them in video’s like Boost and Boost 2.
Cable ski is no different, with the exception of the fact that you don’t have to worry about where the kite goes while you are facing away from it. The technique again is not difficult, however it requires commitment, particularly with a kiteboard, which has a flatter rocker and the additional fins. (I would not try this on a board, which has a centre heel-side fin, particularly when you are first learning it. Whatever you do, rather learn to far back then not back enough, because if you catch your leading edge you will hit the water backwards at speed. (headache material)
The easiest methodology to use is travelling directly under the cable on flattish water. (Technique is travelling normal, for goofy, reverse the instructions) Take your right hand off the ski handle and start leaning backwards as if you are trying to touch the water with your right hand. Simultaneously turn your board to the right and take some pressure off the toe-side edge which trying to maintain even pressure on both feet. At this stage you should feel the board start to slide, reach down and touch the water with your right hand to maintain even balance (i.e. stop yourself not leaning back far enough) and hold it for as long as you can (or want to). To end, simply increase the toe-side pressure and straight the board to be on your way. Expect spray; so don’t be surprised if you get water in your face or eyes. Also remember to watch where you are going by looking under your arms or legs while travelling backwards to avoid hitting something or someone in the water. (Dogs, boards, people you don’t like etc)
When converting this to kiteboarding, remember the following:
- You might want to this unhooked as you will not be able to turn backwards very easily while hooked into a chicken loop, but this comes down to personal preference.
- You won’t be able to hold the bar with both hands so grab the bar in the centre (if unhooked) as close to the chicken loop as possible to prevent the kite changing direction when you turn your back holding on with one hand.
- Some wrist attached leash will be too short to use this technique as when you turn your back your right wrist will pull the kite leash and change the kite’s direction.
The following “BACKSIDE POWERSLIDE.MPEG” video shows an example of a backside powerslide.
We have used a 4-fin kiteboard (146x40) with FS Plates in this example to show that this technique does not require a wakeboard or bindings.