KiteSOFAing Episode 2: Looping the Kite

Learn to progress your kitesurfing from your sofa!
Episode 2: Looping the kite - Many kiteboarders will look scared when you tell them to try looping the kite but not all kite loops have to look the way the Pro's do them at the King of the Air! In this episode Rob will introduce you to the key steps so you can practice your first loops of the kite safely in shallow water. Understand why you can loop the kite without getting pulled off your feet and how your kite and bar movements make this possible.
WE WANT TO KNOW YOUR QUESTIONS
Email us your questions for the next episode - tricks you are struggling with, mistakes you are making, or anything you think we might be able to help with. Send over any video clip or record a short video asking your question.
[e-mail]
Check out our full range of kiteboarding, kitesurfing and kitefoiling coaching videos and become a better kiter today even if you can't get out on the water:
www.progressio...
Kitesofaing is Progression's new web series, offering constructive techniques you can practice at home during the COVID-19 lockdown (though nothing to stop you carrying on when things go back to normal). The plan is for two videos each week:
The Weekend video will be focused on "doing", activities you can try and practice at home
The Mid-week video will cover a range of topics and focus more on better understanding through detailed theory briefings and question and answer sessions - submit your questions to Rob at [e-mail]
Thanks to:
F-one: www.f-one.world
Manera: www.manera.com
Music: Brooklyn Nights by Chelsea McGough (via Soundstripe)
Producers: Rob Claisse & Michelle Blaydon
Kiters: Liam Whaley, Lasse Walker, Rob Claisse, Artur Santos Bodinho, Danny Morrice, Oleg Krasnoborov
KOTA footage: © Red Bull Media House

[@540Lean]

Thumbs up for the foiling footchanges video to come. And this one too.

[@robclaisse]

Hey Olivier, yes it is finally coming!! This week for sure :-D

[@kathrynbarry8620]

This lesson 1 on kite looping was perfect! It was broken down into such clear, easy to follow steps. I got the looping while standing in water in both directions! Now I need help with looping while kiting on my board!

[@ajw7136]

Great video, just what I've been trying to find. I've watched loads but this one is superb, you actually show what to do with the bar and how it affects the kite at the same time, thanks.

[@progressionsports]

Glad it helps, looping the kite doesn't need to be an extreme movement as its more about keeping your kite stable and constant pull through out. Then obviously as you get more experience you can use it for crazy extreme tricks!

[@JonathanInsermini]

Great video. Progression videos helped me so much a few years back when I started kitesurfing. Now getting a foil. I'm getting your videos again. Cheers from Melbourne, Australia.

[@progressionsports]

Thanks Jonathan, glad they are helping with your foiling.

[@oceanromeo]

Brilliant Rob. Just what I wanted to see. Learnt so much from this and can now see where I’ve been going wrong. Explained so well both verbally and visually. Can’t wait for this madness to end and to get back out onto the water to practice it.

[@robclaisse]

Hold in there Andy, summer will arrive and lockdown will end soon enough and then we'll get to put all this into practice - whether that is in Egypt or here in good old Blighty!!

[@user-gm7gs6vf2y]

Fantastic video, this has been very helpful! Wish I had found your videos a long, long time ago...!

[@simonm7776]

Great explanation Rob. Yes that was my mistake, amongst others, not sheeting in fully at the start of a down loop

[@robclaisse]

It's something we've learnt over the last few years on our camps, every time we teach people to loop the kite they all say "ohhh, I'm supposed to sheet right in!" - so you are in good company :-D If you focus on that one thing you'll up your chance of success massively, get that kite turning nice and tight and high. Let me know how you get on when you get to practice this next.

[@milanlukic5748]

Sometimes it is better to only pull the bar halfway while looping the kite. If you sheet in the bar, the kite creates more drag and the kite will lose FORWARD momentum. By pulling the bar half the kite will keep more FORWARD momentum (creating a faster loop), but it wil loop a little wider. Your linetention will also be more consistant, because you don’t have to sheet the bar out all the way. This will prevent backstalls after the loop and a nice rise back to 12 o’clock. Maybe a part 2 soon? 🙃

[@erbartlett]

Where do heli loops come in when landing bigger jumps? How do you keep them overhead?

[@707rudo]

Brilliant explanation thanks mate!!! Backrolls when ya get a chance? I kill all my power when turning sharp before sheeting in for the lift.

[@progressionsports]

Thanks Rudi, I'll have a think about what we could do for a back roll episode!

[@progressionsports]

Hey Rudi - I don't suppose you have any video of you attempting back rolls?

[@pinkbloom99]

great lesson!

[@vitoriacarvalho7114]

Bodinho 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻 2:54

[@staycrispystudio183]

Started watching this, great video Rob! My question is I tried doing a down loop transition and noticed that when I pull the bar in (say left hand) it creates the loop but the bar is spinning/twisting from my grip. I assume I have to hold that bar in tight to resist the bar from spinning? So i end up spin the bar out to avoid that twist but I dont think thats right... could it be, that I am not sheeting in all the way as well? Thanks for your help.

[@progressionsports]

Yes you want to be sheeted in, somewhere between half way and full, depending on the kite and the style of loop you are performing. The bar shouldn't feel like its trying to untwist and there shouldn't be much pressure causing it to want to untwist unless the line running through the center of the bar are catching. When bar are you using?

[@A-fl1ln]

Danke/thank you

[@alphubel1000]

thanks Rob, makes much fun to watch these Tutorials!! Greets from Munich! Daniel // one question: if I try to nail a higher jump I usually pull the bar down to my body after I left the water. Shouldn´t make a difference to your procedure, or? In this case I would then loop the kite after pulling the bar as you explained, or? THANKS

[@robclaisse]

Hey Daniel. Depends what type of kite loop you are trying to do? More gentle and controlled, megaloop or late loop for landing?

[@WibovanNoort]

After the kiteloop, sometimes my brain wants to pull the wrong end of the bar with twisted lines. Need to consciously realign the bar with the kite.

[@progressionsports]

Yeah that is not an uncommon reaction. Two thinks to try: 1) Take your hand off that is not pulling to stop yourself reacting in that way 2) Don't spin the bar to untwist the lines, ride with the lines twisted for a bit to get used to the feeling and look of it. This might help you to stop feeling like you "need" to untwist them

[@royfigueroa9210]

Tip: how to use downloops on a downwinder?

[@progressionsports]

It's on the list for future videos along with a whole loads of tips for better riding downwind with more speed, control and broad reaching. Watch this space.