How to Darkslide | 2 Easy Steps // Kiteboarding SA Masterclass

In this video I'll teach you how to do a darkslide, with some easy steps this is a trick you'll be doing forever.
Kiteboarding / kitesurfing darkslide tutorial.
00:07 What do the following tricks have in common?
00:36 Kite steering
01:10 Exercise 1: Suspended flight
02:25 Keypoints: Soft pop
02:55 Keypoints: Kite steering
03:37 Additional Exercise: Loop practise
04:25: Control your flight height
05:48 Exercise 2: The Darkslide
07:02 Keypoints Darkslide
Like, Comment & Subscribe to stay updated with the latest content!
Filming / cover picture: José Denis-Robichaud
Recommended kite: corekites.com/us/kite/kites/n...
Do you want real time tips on the spot?
Book a lesson: stevenakkersdijk.com/sa-maste...
The gear I ride: corekites.com/us/team/athlete...
Follow me:
Instagram: / stevenakkersdijk
Facebook: / steven.akkersdijk
Website: stevenakkersdijk.com/
Video supported by:
CORE Kiteboarding

[@leanmeankitingmachine4279]

The Darkslide is my all-time favorite trick. I had way too much respect to try it. After I decided to finally try it, it only took me like 5 attempts to get it. The secret was to practice the steering 2 or 3 times with no loop (just like you say) and then just lean forward into it. I skipped the whole "pop"-Part, because it didn't feel comfortable. For me, it was more like a "falling forward" to get it without thinking too much about my board and pop. :D. Worked wonders. Of course, you have to work on cleaner and longer slides afterwards, but the feeling of nailing it fast boosted my confidence a lot. Hope that helps someone :D. Great Video - thank you!

[@stevenakkersdijk]

Awesome that you took it to the next step! Some people need less explanation than others (too much can even throw you off) Happy it worked out for you 🤙

[@martinvilleneuve4904]

The best darkslide tutorial on youtube, the multi-step explanation is just perfect 🤙🏼

[@stevenakkersdijk]

Thanks Martin! I'm very glad to hear that, enjoy the session!

[@bjornkrocker6141]

Thank you Steve! You‘re videos are helping a lot to improve my skills! 😊 Love the road to kiteloop. Greetings from Fehmarn 🤙

[@stevenakkersdijk]

Great to hear! Have fun on the water and I might see you in Fehmarn one day!

[@bjornkrocker6141]

@@stevenakkersdijk That would be soooo GREAT! 😃 The Headquarter is around the corner😉 perhaps you pic up your new Nexus personaly 😊

[@1N2345]

Really good explanation! Can't wait to try it out on the water!

[@stevenakkersdijk]

Hope you enjoy it and best of luck 🤙

[@erbartlett]

Simplest explanation I’ve seen yet, really breaks it down to be manageable for us mere mortals :)

[@stevenakkersdijk]

😂 You got this Evan! Have fun out there

[@erbartlett]

@@stevenakkersdijk Thanks, I'll film a session where I do these exercises and I'll post it!

[@colthenrie1631]

Took a lot of tries, but got it done in a long session at OBX. You breaking it down to easy steps was key for me. Thanks again!

[@stevenakkersdijk]

Awesome Colt! Sounds like it has been a very successful trip to the OBX. Shame I couldn't be there this time, but happy to hear I was still able to help.

[@moffmo]

Great breakdown - going to try this on my next session. Thanks Steven.

[@stevenakkersdijk]

Glad it was helpful! Enjoy 🤙

[@LuigiSimoncini]

great video! Clear, well-thought-out explanation and truly actionable breakdown steps (suspended flight!). Need similar tutorials for strapless, please.

[@stevenakkersdijk]

Thanks Luigi! Happy that you enjoyed the video. I'm planning to add more strapless videos and tutorials to my channels as that's something I love doing and ride for 50% of the time 🙈

[@gBayCanada]

Excellent, as always. Can't wait to try this progression. Big thanks.

[@stevenakkersdijk]

Thanks Mike, fingers crossed for some wind!

[@ride_the_wind]

Thanks for your time and insights Steven!

[@stevenakkersdijk]

My pleasure Paul! thanks for the support 🙌

[@JCorver]

Awesome tutorial us usual! Please keep 'em coming!

[@stevenakkersdijk]

Thanks! Will do!

[@kaluaohaohala4944]

Wow, by far the best video on this I have seen so far! Great work, thanks!!

[@stevenakkersdijk]

That's awesome to hear! Thanks so much!

[@valentinfunk202]

Wohoo it's up, thank you!

[@stevenakkersdijk]

Hope you like it!

[@gethighwithmike]

Epic bro! As usual ⚡

[@stevenakkersdijk]

Thanks mate! See you soon in Capetown?

[@niles781]

Best darkslide tutorial. I learned it and my first babykiteloops with your channel :) Thanks Steven.

[@stevenakkersdijk]

That's awesome! Super stoked that the videos are helping you to progress. Keep on shredding 🤙

[@MrArvydeliz]

Amazing content! Thanks Steven!

[@stevenakkersdijk]

My pleasure!

[@FRv4S]

wow!,,,the darkslide with the back roll looked almost unreal!

[@stevenakkersdijk]

It’s a fun one to try once you have the darkslide dialled

[@dejo333]

By far best tutorial content i ever seen.

[@stevenakkersdijk]

Thank you so much!

[@roumenkaramanov1211]

SA has the best explanation 🔥 Thank you Steven🤙

[@stevenakkersdijk]

Glad you think so! It's my pleasure!

[@prematsebastien5497]

it's just a perfect explanation !

[@stevenakkersdijk]

Thanks Sebastien, I’m happy you like it 🤙

[@Simonfulify]

Best darkslide tutorial

[@stevenakkersdijk]

Thanks! That's a big compliment 🙌

[@jeromeserre]

Fantastic explaination, thanks!

[@stevenakkersdijk]

You're very welcome!

[@marcskupin-wu6bx]

Your tip with 15 degree helped me a lot!

[@stevenakkersdijk]

That's awesome! Happy to hear that.

[@steinerikgabrielsen2988]

Excellent explanation, thank you

[@stevenakkersdijk]

You are welcome!

[@filipebezerramorais1182]

As you know in Kitesurfing there is lots of key points that, like you said, unlock the tricks and moves. Im a Helicopter Pilot and for me everything is about understanding the mechanics of how the wing flyes and how it afects you as a pendule. I have looked you and your videos for some time now as im using CORE kites and i find you the best on making these key informations available. For sure you are helping me unlock lots of moves. THANKS!!

[@stevenakkersdijk]

I'm very happy to hear that! Thanks a lot and I hope you can continue improving your riding.

[@philmarch171]

Great video. Gery informative and well illustrated.

[@stevenakkersdijk]

Thanks you Phil! Happy you like it

[@AODCandyman]

Hele fijne uitleg!!!🤩

[@stevenakkersdijk]

Dank je! Veel plezier met het oefenen 🤙

[@croquar]

Well explained thanks

[@stevenakkersdijk]

You're welcome!

[@onurkitesurfer215]

Great Tips

[@stevenakkersdijk]

Glad you think so!

[@Carllab]

Awsome video, Nice to see you and Josie in Souris PEI!

[@stevenakkersdijk]

Thanks Carl. Was fun to check out the spot and I think it has huge potential, unfortunately not much wind over there this time.

[@netopantoja8988]

Top d +

[@stevenakkersdijk]

🤙

[@freddydad1]

great vid..👍👍

[@stevenakkersdijk]

Thanks! I'm glad you enjoyed it.

[@unknow826]

now please do one for the moonslide! i can't find a lesson for that trick anywhere hahaha

[@stevenakkersdijk]

I'll add it to the list. Probably it will only be a 1 min short, but that should be enough. Keep an eye on my channel for upcoming Thursday.

[@unknow826]

@@stevenakkersdijk as a new XR rider i'm finding these "hover over the water tricks" so much easier, i can already do the backroll off the darkslide, but for some reason i can't do it before 🤣😭

[@windsurfsongkhla]

thanks

[@stevenakkersdijk]

You're welcome!

[@Vlox47]

Great tutorial, can't wait to try it! I like the lead-in with long, low jumps to get the float and kite steering. I should probably practice that before just sending it and hoping for the best! Also - any tips on harness? I had a dakine boardshort seat harness that broke. I tried some waist harnesses but when jumping they dig into my ribs pretty bad. Does this just take getting used to? Part of me just wants to get another seat harness despite everyone saying to "graduate" to the "cooler" waist harnesses.

[@stevenakkersdijk]

Thanks! I can really recommend to start off with the long floaty jumps. Should make them darkslides a lot easier. I find that a waist harness is a bit nicer once you start riding more, but it needs to be comfortable. I really enjoy the hard shell harness, but in the end it's more important that you feel good out there, and a harness poking the ribs doesn't help. Have you tried the Mystic Majestic harnesses?

[@Vlox47]

I tried an older Majestic harness and I certainly liked it more than the Ride Engine one (I think the RE just doesn't fit me). It was the same day too so am thinking discomfort from the mystic may have been from already being bruised by the RE. I am hoping to try a stealth as well as I hear good things.

[@tmotten]

This is my target vid of getting off the progression plateau. I think I'm struggling with the short or quick loop. I'm flying an 11m Pivot and find it dips down a lot when I use only the center of the bar pulling me a fair way downwind on a carving transition. I get it to loop on a dime when I jank the actually steering line to avoid it smashing into the water in a crash. Would you say that's a bad habit (and I should just learn it holding the center of the bar) or acceptable skill to control the kite in normal situations like this trick too? Ps: love the suggestions to learn only a piece of it first. I wanna do backroll downloop transitions but with the shore break here I'm in terror of being one of those daily torn kite owners.

[@stevenakkersdijk]

It's not easy to steer the kite very hard with one hand on the bar. Usually I do a bigger loop which does result in more pull. You can add a 2nd hand to the bar if you want to pull a short loop, or you can slide your hand to the side of the bar. I would avoid grabbing the steering lines as this could result in a line wrap around the bar and it just doesn't look very clean 😉 Enjoy the riding and have fun!

[@matthiasme4360]

Hey Steven, thanks for the great tutorial! I was wondering where those spots are that you used for the filming (at timepoints 0:50 and at 4:42)? Is it somewhere in the Netherlands? Thanks!

[@stevenakkersdijk]

First spot is Kite point at Prince Edward Island and the 2nd spot is the Kiteranch, Keho lake in alberta.

[@matthiasme4360]

@@stevenakkersdijk Thanks for the info, so not directly in the Netherlands:-D Are there any real flat water spots in the Netherlands that you can recommend? Somewhat less choppy than the Ijsselmeerspots with really flat water to practice? Thanks and appreciate the time you take to answer!

[@ProfDrBjoern]

🤙🏽

[@stevenakkersdijk]

Glad you like it 🤙

[@clivehurdle2274]

Hi Steven when you say down the kite you say do it hard and short what do you mean by short ? Clive.

[@stevenakkersdijk]

Hey Clive, with that I mean to steer the kite hard so it makes a very short loop. You do this by pulling the bar all the way down and giving a lot of steering input.

[@ruhrkiwiAQ]

top

[@stevenakkersdijk]

🤙

[@bebeebike]

i thought dark slide and backroll hand drag were the coolest tricks to do for a granny kiter like me, but now that i have seen moonslide i need a tutorial of at least 20 minutes to watch at 0.25 speed

[@stevenakkersdijk]

😂😂😂 I won't make a full long tutorial yet as it's not such an easy trick. But Thursday I'll release a short 1 minute how to video with some explanation. Hope that will help 🤙

[@trevorliska2385]

That moonslide…. It’s on!

[@stevenakkersdijk]

Oh yes! Such a fun but weird trick

[@carlitokite]

@@stevenakkersdijk how hard is it compared to darkslide ?

[@jorgenschippers7518]

Kan je dit zien als eerste trucje? Of wat is leuk om verder mee te gaan ben namelijk redelijk bang om te springen!

[@stevenakkersdijk]

Voor een eerste truc is hij helaas erg lastig en het helpt als je spong ervaring hebt. Je kan kijken naar deze video kzbin.info/www/bejne/fZ7Readre82IfNk Daar zal je meerdere beginner tricks vinden.

[@jorgenschippers7518]

@@stevenakkersdijk super dankjewel! 😊

[@MARCELLO6859]

You need suitable wind and water conditions to easily learn these maneuvers. Very often these conditions are not there and it becomes very difficult to learn.

[@stevenakkersdijk]

That's very true, but the suspender flight exercise is quite easy to do in many different conditions and chop doesn't matter that much. For the Darkslide chop makes a big difference though.

[@a.lame.username.]

I've been kiting for 20 years. Always in the surf. Every season I try to learn the Darkslide. Never really nailed a good one 🤨 Oh to have steady wind and flat water!

[@stevenakkersdijk]

Flat water and steady winds help a lot 😅 if you practise the suspended flight a lot the timing for the darklside will be easier to do it in between the waves. Maybe this will be the year 😜

[@keendnb]

Water 😉

[@stevenakkersdijk]

Een hoop water 😉