So you’ve made it through your series of kiteboarding lessons. After countless frustrating sessions of waking up the beach, you’ve mastered the waterstart. After that, you spend some time “mowing the grass” as we call it, or cruising back and forth. And finally, you’re able to make flawless transitions without dunking back into the water. At this point, you’re ready to do the thing that probably inspired you to learn how to kiteboard in the first place: JUMP! In order to get more than just 5 feet off the water’s surface, follow these steps from The Kiteboarder magazine.
1. Pick up some speed by veering slightly downwind.
2. Keep your kite at 10 o clock (if you’re on a port tack).
3. Start to turn the kite in the opposite direction, towards 12 o clock.
4. Edge the board harder and harder.
5. Stand up straight and release the board from the surface of the water as the kite reaches directly overhead at 12 o clock.
6. Once you’re in the air, pull your knees up and use your forward hand to redirect the kite back in the direction you’re traveling, back down to 10 o clock.
7. As you near the water, prepare your legs to absorb the shock of the landing.
8. Point your board slightly downwind and keep it flat as you land so you can ride away with speed.
If you don’t get much air but glide downwind a few feet, try again and edge the board harder next time.
If the board skids out on you when you land, remember to point the board downwind, not upwind as you land.
BONUS TIP: just before you land, pull the bar in towards you to power up the kite, it will create a little extra lift to feather your landing.
For beginners, our favorite kite for easy boostability: the Best Kahoona Kite
For beginners, our favorite board for learning: the Best Spark Kiteboard
You can’t go wrong with that winning combination!
kiteboarding jump
