back loops

[Guest]

I've been trying back loops with little success. where should the kite be and how much power should I have and speed? thanks.

[Backloop]

The most ease way to learn to backloop is to remain the kite at 60 degrees and when you approach a chop turn your head in the direction you want to rotate and you are making small backloops. When you master this move then you can jump with your kite and when you feel the upward lift do the same movement you master without jumping with the kite!

Good luck!

[Guest]

thanks I'll try that first

[cglazier]

Here is an excellent description of backloop technique which I have copied from the yahoo kitesurf group:
*************************************

From: "Gurpreet Pandher" <gkpandher@tinyonline.co.uk>
Date: Mon Feb 11, 2002 3:44 pm
Subject: RE: [ksurf] Move/Trick Discussions


Here's what I wrote on back loops earlier this year. Personally I used to
find them easy but recently, after some time off the water, I've not been
getting height or inverting right. I reread what I wrote and found it
useful:-


>>I think back loops are safer and easier. You don't have to be so
suicidally
committed and you can do them when very underpowered (ie barely planing and
not enough wind to do a standard jump). Part of the reason that this is so
is because as you rotate your body away from the kite, you are putting
tension on the line - whereas with a front loop, you are throwing your body
at the kite and detensioning your lines. If I'm overpowered, I feel safer
going for a triple back loop than a single front loop. If you screw up on a
back loop things don't seem to go too wrong.

Here's how:-

1/ Low Back Loop - cruising along on a reach, kite fairly high (say 70
degrees). Barely bring the kite back (say to 75 degrees). As you do this
look over your leading shoulder, lifting your front foot. (If you don't lift
your front foot a little it tends to be a spin rather than a loop.) As you
lift off, you will be rotating. Start returning the kite by as much as you
initially reversed it, as soon as you are airborne (exact timing depends on
the turning speed of your kite). The board will come up and over. Keep
looking over your leading shoulder and spot your landing. If you see that
you have little room to complete your rotation then tuck your feet up to
prevent premature contact with the water. If you haven't gained height in
the jump then you shouldn't overrotate but if you do, extend your back leg
to touch down with the tail of the board. If done correctly though, you will
land slightly tail first exactly as you finish your rotation with full
planing speed. If you've accidentally gained height and can't touch down at
the end of your rotation, then keep your feet up and look hard over your
leading shoulder and go for the second rotation.

2/ High Back Loop - decide beforehand that you're going to get some height.
Good power with kite high (say 10 o'clock). Reverse kite back fairly
strongly to say 1 o'clock. At this point look over your leading shoulder and
lift your front foot. As you take off and rotate you will feel lift. As soon
as you leave the water start to return the kite (I use a very exagerated bar
movement with my 11.8 AB). Keep looking over your leading shoulder and you
will have plenty of time to spot your landing. As you approach the full
rotation extend your legs to prevent over rotation and land slightly tail
first.

3/ Double and Triple Back Loops - its best to decide before you leave the
water what your going for. You get a feel for the power in the kite and the
ride on the water surface as to what possibilities are open to you. You can
salvage an overotated single back loop by trying to sneak in a second but
this is less satisfying. Technique for a planned double is as for the high
back loop but be more committed, using more power. Rotate fast from the
moment you leave the water. Don't try spotting a landing after the first
rotation but keep looking over that leading shoulder, twisting from the
waist. Spot your landing as your coming around from your final rotation
which tends to be a spin rather than a loop. Touchdown as above. Be pleased
with yourself if land planing from a double and book yourself up on the Pro
Tour if you plane out of a triple.

4/ Inverted Back Loop - the high back loop looks better if you slow the
rotation halfway through and stall it freeze-frame with extended legs.
Technique is as above in 2 but once you're halfway through extend your legs
(the higher up above you the better), looking up at the board. After a brief
rest upside down, look over your leading shoulder again to continue the
rotation and spot that landing. The longer you hang, the less likely you are
to plane out of this one.

Hope this helps you crack the back loops. Simon, Poole, UK.<<

[kiterdude]

Where your head goes your body will follow!

another tip.....do the backroll one handed, just swing one arm backwards...and there you go...really easy.

Mahalo!

[Guest]

Nice one Simon, this helped my back a lot! I had the opposite problem of doing fronts easily but getting spanked on the backs. They never usually ened up as rolls, only spins but i have them cracked now! Doubles here we come!

[Guest]

Simon thanks for the advice. I'll have to reread this, but I think I've got it.

[Xboy]

If you are unfamiliar with the feeling of a back loop, try do some dry land practice on a trampoline. Instead of a Ski handle take your Bar along. Wakeboarders/Snowboarders all use Tramps to perfect technique and it works...