KiteATB.co.uk

Checkout our UK 7 Day Tide Forecast on KiteATB, it’s still being tested and feel free to feed back to me on rasga@KiteATB.co.uk, a big thanks to Matt (aka gradiation) for his hard work in helping getting it all sorted.

There are a few known IE/FF bugs to do with the popup on the graph. Feel free to feedback any others to me, and due to a technical issue its English Ports only. . .i’ll update you when the full UK database is implimented.

Kite Loops are being discussed slightly more often now adays, this article should hopefully clear up the definitions of the Kite Loop and its variations. It must be said however that this is a very dangerous trick and we at KiteATB.co.uk would not advise anyone to attempt one, in any conditions. This is just for reference purposes.

A lot of people are confused as to what the term: “Kite Loop” refers to. In a normal jump the kite is sent back to the zenith or further then brought forward (or ‘redirected’) in the direction of initial travel. In a transition it usually continues its path across the top of the window, bringing the boarder down travelling the opposite direction than they started in. In the rough definition a Kite loop is when the kite is flown around in a reasonable circle shape, until it is spun so that it is facing towards the zenith before the boarder lands.

For those who want a deeper explanation as to the different types here are the following definitions as we see it:

Kite Spin: This is when during a jump the boarder turns the kite above them (at the zenith), not lowering it down into the window much at all.

Downturn: This is when the boarder does a jump and just before/as/after the landing takes place he/she downturns the kite under itself (this therefore is not really a kiteloop in the true essence of the term).

Kite Loop: This is when the kite is flown around in a circle similar to that of the Kite Spin, but is flown lower down in the window, however not below the boarder him/herself.

Downloop: This is when the kite is flown around in a circle similar to that of the Kite Spin, but is flown lower down in the window, specifically below the boarder him/herself (ie the kite is lower than the boarder)

This can be expanded further in a number of ways, for example continuing the kites path back the way over the zenith and under in a Kite Loop of some kind is likely to be easier as the kite has less distance to cover before it has done the full turn. Whereas if the kite is redirected forward and under it has slightly longer and will be traveling slightly slower around its loop because it has likely lost speed in the initial redirection.

Chris Caltrop (Pro kitesurfer) classifies them slightly deeper as well as Powered and Non-Powered Kite Loops. For example a Powered Kite Loop would be done with a fixed bridle kite. This would be harder as there are more horizontal forces acting on the boarder during the loop than a De-Powered Kite Loop during which the boarder could de-power kite during the point where most horizontal forces occur.

Once again on a final note: This is an extremely dangerous trick and breaks bones when Kitesurfers try them on water, imagine what it could do on land, if this doesn’t put you off, consider that one of the Top UK KiteATB’ers who tried them is finally getting back into the sport after being out of it for about a year with a broken back after his kite Down Looped during an accident involving a bar end catching on his harness while mid jump.

So, you want to go boarding but where is the best place to go? Well I can definitely say that the best place ever is Australia, though as Australia is a big place I’ll narrow it down for you a bit more, head down geelong way in Victoria and you shall find the Mecca, utopia, or Valhalla of KiteATB!

If you ever have looked into the Australian kite scene then you would have probably heard of the Kite Power guys, who have a shop down in geelong, you may have even see Goshen ripping it up on their site. That magical place where the videos were shot was at “Dogrocks”, an odd name but a great place.

So after a journey into the middle of the countryside (far away from the usual rambling public) you drive up a lane, and see a few rocks, at first I thought that the place looked small, or must still be elsewhere; but no it was just over the other side of the rocks, and there it was laid out in front of me a couple of acres of trimmed grass, and the main attraction a huge wave like feature which could me ridden all over and off depending on the wind.

After standing in awe looking at the place, I decided that I better start and ride, out came the 4m Blade II, while Goshen and Bruce were unpacking the new Blade III’s (had only just hit their shop, and was their first virgin outing).

Well, I guess you guys must wonder what it is like to ride the rocks up close, and carving along them at speed. The God honest truth is that it is an amazing feeling, as you can see from some of the pictures the terrain is very varied, with flat tops, dips curves, and angles all to play with. So it means that you can go to one far corner of the area, build up speed, slowly graduate onto a bit of rock which goes from being a small slope into the side of the “rocks”, and from there you can continue wallriding or go and head up to and end up running through a puddle. . .as I almost did! It is quite a sense of exhilaration when riding on it, as the connection between your board and the ground is different to as if you were riding on grass, or sand, its more solid, (well it is rock!) so also has the “impact factor” of also trying to play semi safe on it, so as not to hurt yourself.

Of course, some of my time was spent just standing around watching Goshen as he blatted around the place picking up speed and using some of the smaller outlying rock features as kickers to launch of, and pull of tricks including no-hands, foot offs, spins and grabs, etc, the usual things but pulled off in stylish moves. One place that Goshen’s style does show off, is on the main rock, in which he seems to do quick board manuals or having no fear when launching off a jump at the top and floating down for a while (picture in Goshens’ gallery).

The kite decisions were of a funny choice that day with kites ranging from 3m upto 8.5m, yet whatever kite used tricks were abound. It is amazing to think that such a spot exists which is say 10 minutes drive out from Geelong, into the middle of nowhere. . .and Geelong is well in the middle of nowhere as well, so its pretty far out in on-where land. So you don’t get the trouble of the passers-by thinking that right where you want to park your kite is an ideal spot for a picnic. It’s one location that I would consider as kite heaven!

From travelling around the place in Australia I must say that the attitude down Geelong way was a nice relaxing one, friendly guys willing to help you out. A big thanks to Goshen and Bruce, from the Kitepower Geelong store, and also to Steve at the Kitepower Sydney Store. Also hello to the boarders that I met down at Eastern Park in Geelong.

So guys, if you fancy a break and thinking about heading out to Australia check out the sights and sounds of Melbourne (with all its pubs), and then pop over to Geelong and hire a board. . and go find a space to board in the freedom down under!