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Kitesurf trick

Riding Downwind

Basic
  • Fundamental

Pointing the board with the wind and running downwind under control. It is how you get back to a spot you have overshot, and it teaches you to keep the kite flying when the lines go soft.

How to

  1. Release your edge

    Soften your knees and let your weight come over the board so it flattens and turns off the wind.

  2. Lift, then dive

    Lift the kite slightly to help you over the board, then dive it again as you bear away so you don't end up under it with no power.

  3. Keep the kite working

    Steer the kite in steady up and down waves so the lines stay tight as you catch up with it.

  4. Edge to control speed

    Dig your heels in a little whenever you need to slow down or tension the lines again.

Common mistakes

  • Overtaking the kite

    Steer the kite up and down more and edge a little so the lines never go slack.

  • Leaning back on the tail

    Keep some weight on your front foot, especially toeside, so the tail doesn't drag and brake you.

  • Kite left high

    Keep working the kite lower in the window instead of parking it near 12, where it loses tension as you bear away.

Builds on

Track your progress on the Riding Downwind

Log every session on the Riding Downwind in TrickTrack, rate how it went, add photos and videos, and watch it climb:

  1. 1/5Learning & practicing
  2. 2/5Progressing
  3. 3/5Landed at least once
  4. 4/5Consistent landings
  5. 5/5Landed every time
  6. Mastered

Then mark it mastered when it's yours.

Available sooniPhone and Android

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