Another option may be to have a quick lesson from a pro. Seriously, I was in the same situation, just no height, timing all wrong, no pop/loading up. Had a lesson and it became clear instantly. Lets put it this way what I thought was 11 o'clock was clearly way off. I'd been sending the kite from about 9 to 2 and just penduluming (word ?!?). It's the little bit at the top that's important for height. Once you get near the top you need to be quite aggresive, it's more like a little swish near the 12 mark. Once you're near 12, flick it over to one and then back to 12, really quick. You'll go straight up. Then combine that with sitting down and pushing your hips round the opposite way just before you do it !!! I'm saying nothing about landing 'em though as I still mostly end up on my back. I must have a fat arse...

Bumping, this thread as it was great advice in helping me get from jumps of about 1ft to 5-10ft. I still have a lot to work on, but lots of advice in this thread was really great!

I have had the best luck on an 8m kite, underpowered for the day on a lightwind board (148x46). 230lb guy flying 8m kite in about 17-20 knots. It's an awesome feeling whipping an 8m around and getting ripped from the water!

Do you kite where I kite? How do you know?

Pity I hadn't read this thread day before yesterday... yesterday we had 25 knots and I was out with my 7 getting one big air and many medium ones! I hadn't appreciated so far the sequence of sending the kite, first slow, then fast back and fast forward to keep it around 12, combined with the pop sequence, edge, speed, release edge, edge hard, pop. Should go higher next time!!

Get some days like that ... it SHOULD be a day for big jumps but you just can't get off the water, it seems. Today was the opposite - any time I sent the kite, I went up like a good 'un!

Winds can be strange...the water can be glassy and your kite in zenith has a strong pull...
Like 1 knot at water surface and 20 knots 15+m above sea level.
I had this once...just before a storm front...unforgetable 30 min session!

Had 2 days like that in a row that last year near the end of July
The cause.. Upwelling..surf water temp dropped from 88F to 68F overnight+high density plankton
Wind was light south (parallel to shore).....glassy ocean..yes 1 knot at surface...15++ knots in kite

My wife was watching from crossover on shore....nothing was moving in palm trees showing wind
Totally calm from where she was....i was jumping 20ft high on the SP3 21 and Freerace twin-fin
She was shaking her her in disbelief
I call that a Magic Wind

...................... .......................................................

A Magic

Hello Mr.JollyGreen,
Since you weight 230 lbs, your best bet will be to use your 8 meter kite in 28 to 40 knots (but again be careful in strong winds) but this time use a board that is between 135 cm to 129 cm in length but make sure the width of the board is no more then 41-42 cm especially in strong winds because the technique of jumping is Edge > Send > Pop. If you are going to use your (148x46 cm) board in 17 to 20 knots make sure to use something like a 14 or 15 meter kite. This size kite is going to help you a lot and also make sure that the 14 meter or 15 meter you are using is very fast.
The KITEWORLD magazine did an article on how to jump on the last issue. I think if you get a chance to read this it will help you a lot. But again the info you got from every body else will make you a better jumper.

Dimitri, Are you jumping over people, kites and boats in those picks?
If so how flagrant!
I love it.

Hello Mr.plummet,
Yes I am, but this is not a safe and smart thing to do. So in few words, I would not recommend people to do this.