Surf Kiting 101
By Trip Forman

“Riding the Ocean” seems to be on every beginner and intermediate rider’s wish list this season. Thanks to the power and maneuverability that kiteboarding allows, it’s easier than you think ! Here are the basics to making the most of your first days in the ocean.

Gear and Set up
The gear that will make ocean riding the easiest and also the highest performance is gear that lets you concentrate on the waves and conditions rather than on your equipment.

Medium aspect kites are great in the waves. They relaunch fast which means less swimming and more riding. This often translates into the kite relaunching before it is destroyed by the next breaking wave. These kites also have a very consistent pull through the turn, with a very pivoty turning style. Both of these characteristics translate into excellent waveriding capabilities.

Short lines seem to be the buzz these days, but you can go too short and when you do, your jumping and windrange will suffer. Line lengths in the 27-23m range seem to have the best all around performance for jumping, waveriding and tricks. When you drop to 20m, you’ll find more responsive waveriding, but noticeably less lift in the jumps and your lightwind range will suffer when the breeze drops out.

Lees het hele artikel hier!