Hand Drag Backroll

How to

1. 1

   Edge with weight back

   Ride with speed on a strong upwind edge, weight toward the tail and back leg bent, kite at 11 or 1 o'clock.

2. 2

   Drift the kite up

   Drift the kite up from 11 or 1 o'clock, slowly if you are well powered and faster if you are underpowered, without popping.

3. 3

   Drop your front hand

   Release your front hand, roll your shoulders toward the water and reach it down, easing the bar out with your back hand to keep lift.

4. 4

   Carve over the hand

   Extend your front leg and keep pushing with the back one so the board carves upwind and rolls over you while your hand drags.

5. 5

   Look and dive

   Steer the kite forward, look over your front shoulder, get your front hand back on the bar and dive the kite to land downwind.

Common mistakes

• Popping into the rotation

  →Stay on the water and let the carve from your front leg start the roll so your hand can reach the water.

• No rotation

  →Shift your hips further back toward the tail, extend your front leg and turn your head once you are inverted.

• Dropping out of the move

  →Move the kite deliberately until you feel lift and steer with your wrist, not by pulling your arm, so the kite doesn't stall.