Not @ 12 O'clock- Maximize Kiteboarding Progression and Increase Safety

Since the beginning of time, the majority of kiteboarding instructors have been teaching students to fly their kite to 12 o'clock for safety and control. Against the teachings of so many knowledgeable kiteboarders, this video teaches you why it is actually unsafe to have your kite at 12 o'clock, and brining your kite up to 12 can actually slow down your progression in the sport, as a beginner. Watch this video to understand why 12 o'clock should be a no go while kiteboarding.
00:00 Intro
01:09 Reason 1- On The Beach
02:55 Reason 2- Getting the Board On
04:13 Reason 3- Water Starts
07:34 Reason 4- Stopping
10:01 Conclusion
#elitewatersports #kiteboarding #information #12oclock #progress

[@stephenbarron8543]

Very good tips. Bits about the beach are especially important, imo, especially if the wind is "punchy." Having the kite stall or getting lifted off your feet is not ideal while on land. I admit I wasn't taught this by my main instructor, but got some hints while watching people have less than optimum experiences by not following this advice. Additional advice: watch what others are doing and ask questions of those that appear to know what they are doing. Kiters love talking about kiting.

[@ewatersports]

Great tip, thanks for sharing!

[@gastonbarouille767]

Last Saturday I went to ride my Flysurfer Speed 5 15m. The wind was 8 to 13kt onshore somewhat flucky. I rigged my kite In a narrow space with dry sand, not too far from the shore. This kind of kites are usually started right from downwind because they are self-inflatables. When the kite reached 12 the wind punched it a bit and I was destabilized and the kite drag me for about 15/20 mt...I didn't wear my helmet nor any RIGID chest/spine protection. Sadly the sand wasn't clear of obstacles and my head and body knocked few rocks before my kite stopped crashing on the beach. Long story short I suffered bilateral pneumothorax and I have 3 vertebrae broken. I could move my legs and my arms but I'll have to be in bed for the next two months, I even couldn't seat at bed because my spine needs to be quiet. I was very very very lucky. Never rig your kite in a risky place, near to the shore o leave it at 12 O'Clock. Keep your attention. Kites are like airplanes: the riskiest moments are takeoff and landing. RIDE SAFE

[@ewatersports]

wow this is terrible. Im so sorry this happened. I wish you the best and fast recovery!

[@1975mpb]

I can’t even kiteboard yet but this makes complete sense. Coming from a wakeboard/waterski background, 12 is like boat in neutral. You can’t get yourself in position with a slack line. 11 or 1 is like boat in gear. This would have helped me a ton when I had lessons. Good info and excellent explanation.

[@ewatersports]

Exactly! Thanks for the feedback!

[@aleshaborisovich]

I like this video and find it helpful even though I'm kiting from 2005 :)

[@mylifein75sqft87]

That was a really good video Aaron! I'm going to try it next wind. Thank you!

[@wilkothewiz]

This is probably why I struggle to go up wind with my kite still to high in the wind window and loosing ground in my tack

[@HerbertOwen]

Excellent

[@AKJammer1]

In foiling, learning footswaps, many instructors say to bring the kite to 12 and sheet in to make yourself “weightless” on the board. I’ve been working on foot swaps for a year and have never felt that. If I have the kite at 12 then usually I end up losing power after the swap and sink. I find that keeping the kite between 1 &2, then popping the board to get some rise before the swap seems to work best. Great vid. Thanks.

[@ewatersports]

Aaron here: I have a fantastic video on this kzbin.info/www/bejne/m4azoJtpgrtppbMsi=Xsin-_Ru9GvUJwVp. FOR FOILING ONLY! if you want to go right. You'll actually start with kite on left at 11:00. Maintain constant pressure. then when you want to ride to the right, as you dive past 12 this will cause a bunch of lift, you only want to dive never lower than 130ish to fight the horizontal pull that you'll receive if you go lower.

[@d.z.2550]

Thank you! Awesome video and will try it the next time one the water. I started to kite in 2022 so still pretty new to the sport. But I read a lot, watch tutorials etc. so I knew that keeping it at 12 o' clock isn't save. Especially in gusty conditions. So I did a refresh because it was a rule at the spot and the teacher wouldn't want to hear any reason to not keep it a 12 o'clock. And if you don't keep it at 12 o'clock, they get mad.

[@ewatersports]

Would love for you to send them this link. Some just don’t know or adapt. I personally use to focus on 12 teaching. And over the 15 years I’ve learned that it will only hold the client back. But on his defense, the instructor should always have a plan and strategy for maximizing progression in the conditions present

[@raghuram2815]

These are such amazing tips, that I've always wondered why other instructors/schools don't follow. I still remember during one of my early lessons, the instructor had me just "learn to maintain the kite at 12". After having done that for hours together, my neck aches so bad that I felt miserable that evening and the day after. I felt like "shit, is learning to kite feel this bad on the body?". Add to that, till date, I've never understood the instruction to put the board on with kite at 12. Maybe this part isn't as big a deal for most, but It feels impossible to me. Focusing on keeping the kite at 12 while struggling to get the feet into the straps. Feels so wastefully strenuous.

[@ewatersports]

We agree, and we are happy to know that you found value in this video! Happy shredding!

[@LG-ju2tp]

Thanks so much! I learn so much with your videos!

[@TampaChup]

Great info Aaron. Much appreciated!

[@ewatersports]

My pleasure!

[@danilabagrov7151]

Thnks a lot! Nice and working haks!

[@ewatersports]

You're welcome!

[@JCandAT]

Great pointers, all makes sense. Question… beach start, I understand that is a more intermediate maneuver, but I kite a lot in a place with beach breaks, and I am trying to become good at beach starts. For a beach start, should I not put the kite to 12, get myself weightless so I can get onto the board? Your thoughts…

[@ewatersports]

crossing from 130 to 1030 will give this lift. Here is video on beach starts. kzbin.info/www/bejne/rqSbammDmbith5Ysi=1PuDnTgSFyGo3O1q. and beach exits....kzbin.info/www/bejne/pnLCdGWbas5-hbcsi=3QsmIm3a1x_jhUYU

[@sheltontian4972]

Hi Aaron, It was nice meeting you at 520 Slick in Cocoa Beach Fl last Feb when you and your team was doing big air there. should the board perpendicular to the wind or to the kite when keeping the kite at 11 or 1 o'clock?

[@ewatersports]

In the video there is a section on this. 5:05 The constant pressure... you'll should not think so hard on positioning... where the wind is coming from, or where the board should be. If you keep the lines between your knees evenly, you'll be perfect. So yes to always being perpendicular

[@sheltontian4972]

@@ewatersports Thanks for your quick reply. the next question is how to keep the kite at the 45 degrees after standing up on the board. I have hard time to maintain that angle.

[@ewatersports]

That’s a situational determination Come take a lesson with us? Hands together? One hand technique? Board retrieval helps master control… Change wing tip setting to slow and more bar pressure..

[@sheltontian4972]

@@ewatersports If I was in your area, I would definitely take lessons from you. Unfortunately, I am far far away. I enjoy watching your videos over and over again. I will try those tricks you mentioned. I am looking forward for your new training videos. Please keep up the good work. Thank you!

[@sheltontian4972]

@@ewatersports at 4:14 in your video, your kite was moving from 1 o'clock to 11 o'clock ten dive to the right to waterstart, and your board moved from perpendicular to 1 o'clock to perpendicular to 11 o'clock then pointed to down wind to the right. is that right?

[@lifeisgoodoutdoors2680]

12 o'clock to rest, to pee 😅😂😊

[@ewatersports]

two people in this world. The ones who lie about peeing in their wetsuit and the other is the one who is proud of it. There is no third :)

[@lifeisgoodoutdoors2680]

@@ewatersports now you know when you see me here in Palawan at 12 o'clock 😂 I feel no shame

[@chrisduc1]

Totally do not agree

[@ewatersports]

You'll find that our channels branding on comments are all about feedback. An open discussion for all. There are literally so many scenarios out there that alter the way of teaching. Along with different walks of life. If you want. Please help us all out.