Jump to slow down when over powered.

[plummet]

For a start.

This is a discussion for advanced riders who are comfortable with high winds and jumping.
Don't try this at home if you are still learning to jump and are not comfortable with high winds.

So lets presume that you are so over powered with your bar out fully and still speeding up and you can no longer edge effectively. The cranking hard upwind ship has sailed and you now need to control the situation.

You can butt check, crash, turn down wind and try and shed some power or punch to safety.

The technique that i enjoy the most is to simply throw a jump. You don't jump like normal. IE load and pop bar in for max height. You send the kite just behind you with the bar still out and just skim off the water. It sends you into a low downwind jump. You can then glide along above the water slowing down. Hold the kite back more than normal and redirect for a very slow landing.

Who else uses this technique or a variation off it?

[BWD]

Have done it, it can work.
But usually I stay on the surface if concerned with being overpowered.
I have a board with a decent continuous rocker, maybe 4.5-5cm, that gives me lots of options.
Edge hard and hand drag to get the kite way forward works.
Butt drag can work but can also just turn into skidding to a bouncy stop.
Hand drag you can apply drag more gradually, keeping control.
If the water is flat or flattish, I can more or less ride the board sideways for a few seconds, takes me downwind some and under the kite but not all at once, this is riskier for edge tripping if choppy though.
With a little foresight though, lately my favorite way to bleed off speed (and also distance to leeward) is to spot a chop and slide to toeside on it as if planning a transition, but just let the kite drift up as you ride along a bit more inefficiently than normal. Slowing down too much? Complete the transition. Seeing lots of chop faces? Pretend you're going "down the line" on them, carve a bit. Can be kind of fun. Might suit you depending on your board.
But of course it's for when you are not already about to blow up.
When really on/over the edge of a death run though, it's either jump, like you wrote, grab some water with your hand or "have a seat," I think.

[dyyylan]

i feel like trying to do a low jump like this would take you much farther downwind than just riding straight downwind for half a second. i usually just butt check and skid along the surface for 20 meters or so until i am in control again

[Robsw6]

Jumping can work, but the results can be sketchy (or if you get it right…HUGE ), I usually hand drag and/or do a fast downwind gybe, as with the kite relatively high & sheeted out, I can usually regain control far more quickly - to reiterate, this is definitely not for beginners and if you are not doing it already, don't try after reading this.

On a speed board, I have headed upwind whilst hand dragging and then bum dragging & even then it ended up with bruising !

[balugh]

I do it sometimes...a floaty jump and aim for a soft landing with very little re-direct so that when I touch the water I'm barely moving. In really over powered situations you still get the tea bag effect but at least you're not racing along at a huge speed.

[ShaveTheWhales]

I sometimes do the downwind jump with a 'reverse thrust' loop behind me on the edge of the window.
Definately dont try this if you dont know how to heli loop a kite... or you will get all funked up

[Toby]

I use it...I am always pretty much powered.
Specially after I get a gust or am too fast after a powerful landing....then I just send the kite, and then I can get back under the kite, to slow down, and then at landing be able to edge hard again to get the control back.

[plummet]

Interesting responses. A hand drag is something I haven't thought of before. Not sure I'm keen on a high speed death run.

[bnthere]

had this situation about a month ago for the first time in forever. getting blasted in 45mph south padre north wind, couldn't edge it down, couldn't even keep arm in water to try and help, continuous acceleration probably approaching 40+ on the wakeboard, (ive gps'd at 51 on a speed board so I know what it feels like), thought about burning a massive turn downwind but was a little limited by space, probably would have needed 100meters ,maybe more.

opted to ditch it to the leash. was kind of disappointed not to be able to run it out but was super fun while it lasted. felt like 2003 in hood river all over again, totally no way to slow down whatsoever.

being lit and going faster than you can handle with tons more potential and no way ability to slow down is a way different feeling than being lit and going as fast as possible and trying to go faster like the speed sessions ive done. it was awesome.

[ShaveTheWhales]

The reverse thrust downloop is the fastest way to scrub off speed when you can hold the board down... sending it to the behind you does little in comparison...
Try it but make sure the bottom of the loop is level with you wether in the air or on the water and then dive it at the water on the window edge & after your skid marks ha e washed out your wetties, start the next kamikazee run farq yeah