Main category: kitesurfing holidays
Subcategory: kitesurfing holidays portugal
Board handles:
Should you have this on your board while teaching kitesurfing?
In this how-to we will elaborate about the question: is a board handle of good use when you’re trying to learn Kitesurfing.
This post starts with our conclusion if this is the case. After that we will explain why a board handle is on the board: when did we start using it and why do we still use it?
We end this topic by telling how Tiago explains some tips about other ways to put a board on your feet without the use of a handle.
Read on, and enjoy!
So this is our conclusion:
The board handle was not intended for beginners to use and has been commonly misused by schools and beginners as a way to help put your feet in the board.
Kite students come in all sizes and shapes, but the process should remain the same in pedagogical terms independently of that. However, most students are not flexible enough to reach their feet while seating down. That is made even more complicated by putting a kite in their hands, equipping them with a life vest, and worst of all, a seat harness that restricts their movements.
“I believe that with simple steps a safer experience with Kitesurfing is easily achievable. Safety first.”
– Tiago Rocha, Owner & Founder of Kookproof
Have you ever seen a board handle on a surfboard?
So why then?
When did we start using it and why do we still use it?
Well, when I started to kitesurf the few movies at the time showed big pickle fork boards, often with boots and the riders performing big air jumps. One of the first amazing movies I saw was with leeshai miller doing a board off routine like a basketball player passing the board under his legs during a big jump with fantastic airtime. For this, the handle was necessary as well as much of the board off tricks that were more comfortable to perform with a grip or a handle on the board. I started by making them using PVC pipes that we heated to mold them, and we attached them to the foot strap screw as there were no screws for the handle as there is now.
After a few months, the new trend was to have grip, and most riders took the handle out of the board. After a few months nobody was using the handle any more in competition; however, they remained in the schools.
Also if you look at surfboards, wakeboards or foil boards, none of them has a handle, and everybody can put their feet in them or carry them.
So the use of the handle in the board is not helping the student. A lot of times its just frustrating the student. Many students aren’t flexible or physically fit and trying to reach the board handle is just frustrating.
How should we put the board on our feet without the use of the handle?
First of all, we should not keep the kite at 12 o’clock. 12 o’clock or zenith should be only a passage point to go from one side of the wind window to the other or its used for jumping. The kite should mainly stay between 10 and 11 or 1 and 2 depending on the side you want to go to, It’s what I call the riding area.
So while keeping the kite steady with one hand on the riding area the student or rider should grab the closest foot-strap with is front hand and use his elbow to press down on the heel side tip of the board where the fin is, placing the board perpendicular to the lines and parallel to the kite. This way the kite is pulling you slowly and the board is pushed against your arm keeping it all secure, controlled and in place. After this, you should first lean away from the board and place the foot on the most distant foot strap. After you can press with your hand on the foot-strap, you are holding and put the remaining foot on the closest foot strap. During all of this, the kite should remain stable in the flying area between 10 and 11 or 1and 2.
This way you can have a controlled kite and board when learning to kitesurf, making it easy to get the board on your feet. This step comes after you already have learned to body drag with one hand and also with the board. So your kite control skills should be enough to allow you to not move the kite unintentionally.
That way keeping the kite stable with one had should be something that is already possible for you to do.
Learning to kitesurf is a sequence of steps, and this one is one of the ones I notice that more people struggle and get frustrated. Learn how to put the board on your feet correctly will make a significant impact on your learning progress. This method is not dependent on your physical ability, it instead relies on your kite control skills and helps you improve on them.
A decent way to hold your board, even for pros..
Rider: Tiago Rocha
Pleased to meet you!
PORTUGAL
Portugal is a destination that has deserved the attention of a fast growing number of travellers, which can be explained by the enthusiastic discovery of some of the most well kept Portuguese secrets. We are about to disclose one of those secrets, located in the northern littoral of this small south-western European country, with its 850km of Atlantic coastline, warm weather, and kind people. Set your adventure mode on, pack your summer clothes and jump on to the next plane to Portugal.
ESPOSENDE, A PRIME BEACHFRONT LOCATION
This well kept secret is called Esposende, a small fishing town located 45 kilometres north from the city of Porto. The natural features of Esposende gives this spot a uniqueness in all Europe for the practice of a great range of both on-land and nautical sports.
If you have a strong drive for intense moments and are open to building up some lifelong friendships outside your everyday life, you have all the good reasons to try this destination.
From the endless beach days, improving your kitesurf skills or learning new ones, to having dinner in the best local restaurants discovering the amazing Portuguese flavours. Toping that up with a night in the local renowned night clubs around, such as Pacha and Bib’Ofir, you have all the ingredients for some awesome vacations.
See you on the water!
Hello, we are Kook Proof! We offer a range of camps, activities and accommodation for all levels, all ages, and all genders!
Join us in Esposende, Portugal and progress while enjoying amazing surf lifestyle and the local culture together with riders from all over the world. No matter your style or level, here is something for you. We take great pride in our professional staff and we will do our outmost to make you feel like home during your vacation.
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