Ever wanted to turn more smoothly? Sick of the stop start as you change directions?
Most people don’t realise how easy it is to move from a stop start turn to a sylish, smooth and free carve turn. Follow some simple basics and you too could be carving like a pro
Required Skills: Confidence riding on heelside and toeside edges.
Safety Note: The first couple of times you are attempting heelside and toeside turns make sure you have plenty of room downwind of you as initially you will lose control.
Heelside Carve: Approach the turn riding on your toeside with the kite at or around 45 degrees (lower will increase power through turn, higher will decrease power through turn). Drop the back hand on the bar steering the kite upwards into the sky as you even the weight from toeside towards heelside on your board.
Continue dropping back hand and turning kite back towards new direction in sky as your weight is now transferred to the inside of the turn and is centred on the back half of the board. Be prepared for the pull as the kite prepares to head back into the power zone through your new riding direction.
As the kite drives back through the power zone in your new direction you are aiming to hold a strong edge and centre your weight into the turn. This is the phase that your speed will hit its maximum. You now have the choice of how fast you want to come through the turn and how tight you want to make it. For more speed and a longer smoother turn centre your weight a little closer to the board, for a sharper turn with less speed lean further back away from the kite.
Ride away smoothly and stylishly in your new direction.
Toeside Carve
Exactly the same principles however this is a slightly tougher carve than heelside due to the extra rotation required from the upper body. Whilst attempting your first toeside carves make sure that you get your weight firmly over the back foot and your upper body can also aid the rotation from the hips into the carve.
Progression:Add a downloop to the carve for more speed out of the turn.
