Road to Kiteloops | Timing, Gear and MEGALOOPS // Kiteboarding SA Masterclass

The Kiteloop is a trick that changed my kiteboarding career!
In this 3 episode mini series I teach you how to get started with loops, all the way to Megaloops.
Part 1: Getting started with Kiteloops • Road to Kiteloops | Ge...
Part 2: Your first Kiteloops • Road to Kiteloops | Yo...
Part 3: Timing, gear and Megaloops
00:00 Intro and recap
01:11 How to land bigger kiteloops
02:18 When to pull your kiteloop
03:48 Different line Lengths
06:13 Different kite types
08:05 How to land a Megaloop
Long vs. short lines video: • Short vs. long lines /...
Janek his Instagram: / janek_grzegorzewski
Like, Comment & Subscribe to stay updated with the latest content!
Filming: José Denis-Robichaud, Leon Shots
Cover Picture: Thomas Burblies
Recommended kite: corekites.com/us/kites/gts6
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/
Supported by:
CORE Kiteboarding

[@alexcelli2545]

Noooooo, this video actually changes everything!!!I always flew the kite straight at 12 after the loop, but It seems that to direct it a little bit aorund 12 can helps a lot during landings...I can't wait tor try!!!Thank you so much, your work is simply great!!!

[@stevenakkersdijk]

It will make a big difference! I'm sure you'll land a lot more of your loops now 😉

[@Tavdog]

I think so too!. I would sometimes delay the sheet out so that the downloop wouldn't catch too early but this might be another way to accomplish this.

[@Avelton]

Very nice video Steven. Clear and easy to understand!

[@stevenakkersdijk]

I'm happy you like it!

[@NickChongi]

Great work! Thank you!

[@stevenakkersdijk]

Thanks for your support

[@lentefrente]

Best videos that I know for advanced riding. All the essentials in there. Keep it up!

[@stevenakkersdijk]

Thanks, will do!

[@KiteboardingInUruguay]

Excellent Steven, thank you!

[@stevenakkersdijk]

My pleasure!

[@KiteboardingInUruguay]

@@stevenakkersdijk I tried a few loops last Friday and actually landed a couple. I focused more on jumping vertically as suggested in your second video and it worked nicely! More wind at the weekend, so I’ll try again. I’ll send you some video when I post it, would love to read your feedback!! 🤙🤙

[@stevenakkersdijk]

Have fun!

[@yveslucas5212]

One of the best kiteloops tutorial, great job

[@stevenakkersdijk]

Glad you think so!

[@kitesurfflyer454]

Great video series! Thanks man!

[@stevenakkersdijk]

My pleasure, thanks a lot for watching!

[@kitesurfflyer454]

@@stevenakkersdijk Have you messed with the GoPro Max? Check out what I just posted... kzbin.info/www/bejne/rYuYhXekiLOtn9E

[@johnravensbergen3324]

awesome series!! Provided great insights, instructions and the inspiration to try my first loops. Great job breaking it down - it really helps to visualize the entire jump.

[@stevenakkersdijk]

Awesome, thank you!

[@fysalides1]

really masterclass videos!!

[@stevenakkersdijk]

Glad you think so!

[@Hippiehunt3r]

Thanks for sharing your knowledge with us bro

[@stevenakkersdijk]

My pleasure, happy to help people out with their kiteboarding journey

[@narutolis1]

Thanks Bro! I needed this 😅

[@stevenakkersdijk]

Glad I could help! Happy Sending 🚀

[@micpilk]

Thank you for putting so much hard work into these videos. Stoked for the next time we get nuking winds here in Maui. Looks like a light forecast for the week but hopefully we get the 30 - 35 knot winds back soon! 🙏I learned a lot from this one, mostly about the recovery loop going around instead of straight overhead. I'm excited to give it a go!

[@stevenakkersdijk]

Awesome to hear that! Fingers crossed for some good winds in Maui, enjoy the send 🚀

[@He110World]

hey man hope you're safe

[@Alexomator]

Great Video! Thank you very much.

[@stevenakkersdijk]

You are welcome!

[@Alexomator]

@@stevenakkersdijk In part 2 you recommend going with a 7-9 depending on the weight ... whats your opinion on looping a 12? Especially for people in the higher weight clases (90kg+).

[@stevenakkersdijk]

If you go for bigger kiteloops (4m plus) I really can't recommend doing it with the 12. It steers really slow and most likely won't catch you. Biggest I would take is a 10m if you want to keep your knees in one piece

[@Island606]

Very nicely done tutorial! 👌🏻👌🏻

[@stevenakkersdijk]

Thank you! Cheers!

[@NoobWithEpix]

Awesome series, it really is helping me alot in my loops journey. by the way, you should make a video/series about your top 5/10 kiting spots where you've kited around the world. I saw that you been in my local place, ria de alvor (portugal) in one of your vids, and it looked sick! cheers

[@stevenakkersdijk]

Ria de Alvor is a super fun spot! Still need to go there in season. Up to now I've only been there in spring or autumn. It's for sure a thing I would like to start doing.

[@gustavotorresvan]

thats is really good information about looping no one has explained that well

[@stevenakkersdijk]

Thanks! That's a very nice compliment 🤙

[@CompleteHospitalityManagement]

Cool!!

[@stevenakkersdijk]

Glad you like it. 🤙

[@notAdamDriver]

Fantastic videos! Love the exercises. I’m just thinking about kiteloops and the exercises are perfect for me to work on until I’m confident and comfortable. Thank you and keep the videos coming.

[@stevenakkersdijk]

That's awesome to hear, good luck with the exercises and have fun!

[@gethighwithmike]

Great video bro!

[@stevenakkersdijk]

Thanks mate!

[@odysseyalternative]

Engagement comment so KZbin knows your videos are sick!!! 🤣 Also these vids are coming out at the perfect time, I’m just starting to pull my first loops in the air so you’re saving me a lot of learning the hard way and probably some crashes too! Haha Thanks dude 🤘🏼

[@stevenakkersdijk]

Thanks a lot man! Comments are always welcome 😉 Happy that these videos came at the right moment! Enjoy the send! 🚀

[@yanndabadie2855]

awsome series steven.it would be cool if you could show us how to make those big inverted frontrolls. i always loose perception of where the kite is. once again awsome videos. the quality is amazing

[@stevenakkersdijk]

Thanks! I'm glad that you're enjoying them. I'll put the inverted front roll on the list. 🤙

[@dr.med.sabineegger]

thx a lot. really helpful. did my first dark slide into bankroll successfully yesterday after watching one of your videos! keep going!

[@stevenakkersdijk]

That's awesome! I'm very happy that my tips helped you out.

[@getsharp]

Great series. I wish you also talked about the take off, kite steering and pop timing ,and body positioning. Cheers!

[@Bubblemaker1987]

did you also watch the other 2 episodes?

[@stevenakkersdijk]

Happy you enjoyed it! I could have talked a bit more about the take off, but all the rules and timing from the first episodes apply to the bigger jumps as well. Maybe I can cover it a bit more in a next video.

[@manuelluisnunezmartinez1677]

Great videos, buddy. I will see you in the water 🤟🏻

[@stevenakkersdijk]

Thanks! Sure hope so.

[@Carlesdjoul]

Merci pour cette vidéo !!! Pendant un bon moment je suis resté bloqué à trop réduire ma vitesse avant de décoller et commencer mon loop au sommet du saut ( parfois même trop tard)... l'appréhension de l'arrachage ! J'ai réussi à passer le cap et je commence à envoyer mon loop un peu avant l'apogée du saut et j'ai réalisé que oui il y a plus de puissance mais je trouve ça plus fluide et maintenant j'arrive enfin à faire le pendule et ressentir la chute libre pendant la ressource du kite !😁 Maintenant resté plus qu'à monter plus haut et gérer le timing pour le loop de réception! Encore merci pour tes conseils !!!

[@stevenakkersdijk]

My pleasure Dejoul! Keep on sending it and building up the height on the loops 🤙

[@danibarilov5875]

Wow finally someone explained to me! thank you! yesterday on my session I crashed so many times because of mega loops and it was like a 50/50 landing

[@stevenakkersdijk]

My pleasure. Hope the video helped in higher landing rates 🙌

[@hexofficial69]

Your Videos are so good!!! I Hope for the Rotations Kiteloop Video

[@stevenakkersdijk]

Thanks! Looking forward to creating that one somewhere next year.

[@simonclarent3742]

Nice video Steven!!! You are quite helpfull! You have a great video on inverted backroll, next trick after I’ll master the transition. Any tips for heavy rider like my self? I am 120-125kg and losing weight, but due to my general built and height I’ll be very heavy. I am gonna switch next year to a kite like core XR or ozone edge for that big boost, but other then that, any tips? Have you met heavy big air kites? Or am I doomed? I can jump in good winds for around 2-3 meters but I am a beginner for now, so I don’t push my limit and just get hours in water and experience bunch of conditions and so basic low risk stuff like small jumps and backroll a in the future. Thanks!!!

[@stevenakkersdijk]

Hey Simon I'm happy that the videos are helping. For the heavier big air riders I think it's important to get a kite that is stable in the air. You don't want to edge in to the wind and collapse the leading edge. I can't speak for the Edge as I haven't riden it. But I know that the XR is a very solid kite, especially if you pump it up towards 9-10 PSI.

[@mok2203]

Great video. Good tip on the kite’s position before the landing loop. What types of twin tip do you favour for landing big loops : is it more the larger wakestyle’s kind or the slightly less large freestyle orientated ones ?

[@stevenakkersdijk]

I really enjoy the bigger wakestyle twintips as they have less flex and provide a stable landing platform. On the smaller board I often find that I have trouble keeping my weight above the board.

[@mok2203]

@@stevenakkersdijk agree with you, prefer the wakestyle models too.

[@pimvandendungen1931]

Muchos gracias, Steven!! Precies wat ik nodig had. Wel beetje lastig om nu te slapen met al die anticipatie-adrenaline :) Gelukkig geen wind op komst :( dat helpt

[@stevenakkersdijk]

Ja die anticipatie-adrenaline ken ik wel inderdaad. Hoop dat er snel weer wat wind aankomt 🚀

[@vikingh3008]

🤙

[@stevenakkersdijk]

🚀

[@Bubblemaker1987]

Great tutorial as always! So what exactly happened with that 2015 crash of the first vid? And is it preventable/recoverable? :).

[@stevenakkersdijk]

Thanks! That crash was a combination of pilot error and just purely bad luck / timing. I took of in a massive gust that shot me up higher than I thought it would, but I still looped my kite early (50-60% of my final jump height) This gave me a massive boost forward at which point the wind gust died. That left me flying faster than the wind and therefor my lines slacked. I could have prevented it by pulling my loop at a later point.

[@Bubblemaker1987]

@@stevenakkersdijk Thanks!! This clears up a lot about this crash and others that seemed similar (for instance Lasse Walker at Kota 2016).

[@stevenakkersdijk]

Yes, that was a similar kind of crash.

[@Schwifty303]

Would you consider the Ozone Amp v1 a pure C kite or closer to the GTS? I own a Vegas as well and I find the Amp a lot quicker on recovery with a a lot more lift. The tips about body position and loop direction are gold man! Cheers! ^^

[@stevenakkersdijk]

I would consider the Amp a bit of an in betweener between Open-C and pure C. Also depends a little if you fly it with a bridle or 5 lines setup. But I haven't tried the kite to be fair. But seeing Ruben Lenten was involved with the design I guess it loops pretty good 😉

[@clementkoefoedrasmussen6494]

Yaayy! Nice Vid. Steven I have seen some people who, right before they take off to a loop, countersteers. So for example when jumping to the left they send their kite up, and then right before take off they steer a little bit to the left - before initiating the loop. Can you explain that?

[@stevenakkersdijk]

Hey Clement I've seen a couple of people do it as well. For instance Joshua emanuel a couple years back when he won the Red Bull megaloop Challenge in the Netherlands. Countersteering like that will give you some extra height, but I feel that it goes at the cost of pull during your loop.

[@clementkoefoedrasmussen6494]

@@stevenakkersdijk yeah alright, makes sense. Tried it myself, it does require some technique

[@davidflusin5705]

Great video, and just right for me too 😋 - What kite sizes vs wind speed would you start (horizontal) kiteloops in (for an avg 75kg rider)? It's easier to loop small kites but then you need more wind to get enough height. Would you really recommend XR6s for learning proper (horizontal) kiteloops? I loop my XR6s (10&13.5m - Heli loops, downloops, jump transition loops, darkslides...) but it does pull a lot on the bar when it powers up. I tried a GTS4 12m in 20+ kts the other day and the loops were so smooth and easy, I didn't feel like I was doing pull ups when pulling the loops and thought it would be an easier, safer way to start. I hesitate to start horizontal loops with my XR6s because I'm concerned I won't loop it hard enough due to bar pressure. Any thoughts/advice?

[@stevenakkersdijk]

Hey David. I would really recommend riding a kite smaller than 10m if you want to start with loops. All the other kites will be to slow and make for hard landings. I can really recommend an 8m XR, that kite loops super well. Have you checked the other videos in this road to kiteloops series? You'll find multiple answers in there.

[@davidflusin5705]

@@stevenakkersdijk Hi Steven, thanks for your reply. I have checked the other videos and already manage the exercises in them (on 10 or 13m XR6). I have a 7m XR5. Is it modern/fast enough to start kiteloops with? How much wind would you recommend starting in with the 7m?

[@stevenakkersdijk]

@@davidflusin5705 7m XR6 will be perfect if you're 75kg. Take it for a spin in something like 25 knots (can also be a bit less or more, see what you feel comfortable with) If you can jump 3 meters high with it you can start looping it 😉

[@davidflusin5705]

@@stevenakkersdijk The 7m is an XR5, not 6. Same answer?

[@stevenakkersdijk]

Yep, XR5 in that size also does the trick

[@madsteeez]

Nice! And I thought I needed a C or Delta kite to do proper loops🤦🏼‍♂️. I can stay with my Evos or even get a Rebel? Sweet🙏❤️

[@stevenakkersdijk]

I think the Evo will be perfect and very similar to the CORE XR in the Bow category. Not too sure about the rebel though, haven't seen many Duotone riders loop that kite, but I guess it will also work

[@madsteeez]

@@stevenakkersdijk how nice is the internet age that I can just comment on what I watch and I almost immediately get a response from the actual author and actor of what I had watched😄🙏. And yes I love my Evos. I've got one in 10m² and one in 14m². And I've got a beat up core xr from 2011 in 6m² that I want to replace soon. I've been experimenting with looping my kites more in low winds and on transition jumps. But I always thought to do the full kiteloop to heli loop thing I'd need a less bow-y shape, so I was thinking about getting a neo or something like that because I'm into waves too. But after your video I'm considering just getting my third Evo in like 7m².. I love that kite! So versatile and so easy to jump with❤️

[@stevenakkersdijk]

The Neo will also be a fun and versatile kite, depending on your wave vs twintip sessions you can decide between the 2. Neo will be better in waves and the Evo better on the twintip. One way or another, you'll have a lot of fun 😉

[@madsteeez]

@@stevenakkersdijk even though I'm really curious what the neo would feel like, since I'm looking for a small kite, I'll probably go for an Evo, because the stronger the wind the better any kite would drift, right? Once the waves get any good I leave my kite on the beach and just go surfing anyways🤙

[@stevenakkersdijk]

Sounds like a plan.

[@nilsemmahendrickx-iskandar5350]

Nice video, but this video is for next season, MAYBE! I still need some more faceplants from the 2nd video hahaha. 🤙🙈

[@stevenakkersdijk]

Next season or maybe the one after. Its not how fast you get there but the fun you have during the journey. Enjoy the send 🚀

[@SteveHofsaess]

Great video, which kite in the duotone line up is easiest for kiteloops ? Maybe the Evo

[@Vituuzin]

Dice

[@stevenakkersdijk]

I think that the dice is similar to the GTS (open-C) and the Evo is similar to the XR (bow kite) Looking at the Duotone riders I actually see a lot of them looping the Evo. So I have the feeling that the newer ones are pretty good at it as well.

[@dverschoor84]

Toffe serie, dit gaat zeker betere loops opleveren!

[@stevenakkersdijk]

Nice man. Nu alleen nog wind 😅

[@tropicalsurfhousesurfingsu8078]

Thaks i have question. Dose the bar back line and front line have to exactly equal length ? Like when you check the bar some bar become stretch thet the back line hare shorter then front line . Especially bars thet hare abuse on Kiteloops. It dose make difference when you pull in the bar all the way if there depower trim. Hare your line equally length all the way in power? Is possible to kiteloop with some depower trim on the bar or those create slag.

[@stevenakkersdijk]

The line lenghts differs from brand to brand, but most of them have equalizer line lenght when the bar is fully powered. Its very true that a difference between the front and backlinks can occure due to back lines shrinking. Best way to deal with this is to connect them to a solid object and stretch them to the right lenght again. You can loop with your kite depowered, but there is a chance that the loop will become bigger and therefor harder to land.

[@oseenerby3031]

I am a havier rider. Should I use better a Nexus or a XR? At the moment I have 10 + 12 Nexus 2, but i am looking for a additional 7 and 15 Kite. Sometimes I heard heavier riders should take the XR. I am not a big air kiteloop type. More a oldschool hooked freestyler.

[@stevenakkersdijk]

Thanks for your message, I'm 88kg and mainly ride the Nexus because it's more playful and versatile. But I have to say that the XR is a power machine and very well suited for heavy riders. Pull the bar down and you get instant lift. So I think that will suit your riding style well from what you described. I would suggest you get an 8m and 15m XR, those are absolute power houses and the 8m is the best size in my opinion.

[@NoobWithEpix]

Hi , I only have 24 meter lines, is it ok to learn to kiteloop in this line lengths? Or should I just go get myself 20/22 lines

[@stevenakkersdijk]

24m lines are also completely fine! But after a while you might enjoy the sporty feel of the 22m lines a bit better.

[@Theworldisfullofthem4000]

I learned to loop on a cabrinha moto 9m Tried to do it on a 10m rebel and got wrecked 3 times. First try with a moto nailed it

[@stevenakkersdijk]

Oh yeah, 10m rebel is not the best for kiteloops. But I'm happy you managed with the Moto!

[@zhili7964]

❤❤❤❤，So，what is the best angle of the bar when people do a mega loop，thanks

[@stevenakkersdijk]

All depends on the kite size, line length and type of kite. So very hard to say 😉

[@zhili7964]

@@stevenakkersdijk get it,thanks

[@Theworldisfullofthem4000]

Sometimes I loop and it comes around with power and it catches me other times a jump and the kite doesn't have the same whip. Is this to do with timing??

[@stevenakkersdijk]

It can be the timing of your loop, but most likely it's your take off. If you're not carving in to the wind you might get pulled forward on your jump rather than up. If you loop the kite at that moment it will have less power in the loop and also less wind to come back up towards 12. Focus on jumps where you go as straight up as possible and not forward

[@paulfpv7193]

What would be the minimum height for a 9m gts6 or 7m xr6 to pull a loop and be caught afterwards?

[@stevenakkersdijk]

That all depends a lot on how you loop it, the timing and the wind. but if you do everything right you need 3-4 meters on the GTS 9m and 2-3 meters on the 7m XR

[@paulfpv7193]

@@stevenakkersdijk Thank you I always thought you have to jump 12m+ or something but I never jumped that high. Its good to hear that this height isn't necessary. :)

[@davidpienaar5106]

Hi Steven Great seres and explanations! Was wondering what you think about that theory that you shouldn’t pull a loop between 2 and 7 meters? I have been looping in small jumps but not sure if I can gradually work up to bigger jumps…. Or do I now have to go straight to looping on my bigger jumps?

[@stevenakkersdijk]

Hey David. On older kites it used to be a problem, but the newer kites from the past years are so quick that you can pull a loop at pretty much any height and still keep your knees in one piece. Best option is to take an 8m or 7m kite out and ust gradually start adding a meter of height in every jump.

[@davidpienaar5106]

@@stevenakkersdijk Thanks for the reply!

[@Tavdog]

Cruser and I tried out the technique today. It seems to work although to do a downloop you need to actually over rotate the kite which can take longer and might not catch. Here is the video us trying it out here on Maui : kzbin.info/www/bejne/jpWpeGuHarqEoM0

[@stevenakkersdijk]

Looks like you guys had some fun there. There is a very fine line with steering your kite for too long and over rotating it. There is some jumps in your video where I can really see that you steer it for too long and there for the kite loses speed. 00:36 in your video for instance. (there was enough height soo all worked out fine) at 02:40 the movement if the kite already looks a lot better. Don't forget that it becomes more important the higher your jump is. With those higher jumps your kite also has more time to catch you. Super fun frontroll contraloop by the way. 😉

[@robertsbenedikt4813]

How about Nexus2 for kiteloop? Size?

[@stevenakkersdijk]

The Nexus2 is an awesome Kite for kiteloops. It also falls in the Open- C Category. It will generate a bit less of an explosive pull than the GTS which makes it a very fun and playful kite to loop with. I loop the 10m, 9m and 8m.

[@luispineres3212]

Ly