Power Kite Forum

I have toeside down but not heelside. also jumping toeside

shortlineflyer - 1-6-2012 at 09:25 AM

I've been landboarding for about a year now, whenever there is enough wind. I can ride toeside without a problem but for some reason I just cant get heelside down. It may just be that I dont have the kite at the right position in the wind window but I'm not sure.

I would also like to know if anyone knows how to jump when riding toeside.

erratic winds - 2-6-2012 at 08:59 AM

I've never seen anyone have a problem with heelside but succeed at toeside. You are an anomaly!

Ok, let's talk kite position. Let's say we're on a starboard tack (headed to our right), we would want the kite anywhere from 1pm-4pm (if we are thinking of the wind-window as a clock-face). Working it in that space is providing plenty of power to keep us moving. knees bent slightly, you should be leaning against the pull of the kite, trying to turn the energy that is trying to pull you straight off the board and towards the kite into movement!

When people are starting many worry too much about trying to be up-wind on every tack. Don't worry about that. Give in to the fact that you might be walking upwind. Just worry about getting some rides in while leaning against the kite. Give it a bit more time and try not to get frustrated!

As for how to jump when toeside riding, it's the same as any riding. get speed, edge upwind to ensure line tension, kite at approx 10-11am or 1-2 pm in window, send the kite to the opposite part of the wind-window, you will get lift, return the kite to above you to have float. more air is possible if you compress the board and pop your jump.

If you can ride toeside solid, then you're more skilled than you realize and you should just keep trying and you'll defeat heelside as well!

shortlineflyer - 2-6-2012 at 10:01 AM

I know I'm wierd, but it always just seemed that toeside was easier for me. I can do it with handles or a bar.
I think Ive ridden heel side a couple times but I feel like toe side just comes naturally to me

flyguy0101 - 2-6-2012 at 12:46 PM

Just curious - define toe side. I think you have it backwards. I don't think I could even start toe side
Scott

flyguy0101 - 2-6-2012 at 12:46 PM

Double post

erratic winds - 2-6-2012 at 01:08 PM


this guy is heelside, he is facing the kite and his back is to the ground


this guy is toeside, he is facing the ground and his back is to the kite.

Everybody clear on definition? We all talking about the same thing?

indigo_wolf - 2-6-2012 at 01:46 PM

I think this is basically an extension of some people riding regular and some people preferring "Goofy" stance.

ATB,
Sam

flyguy0101 - 2-6-2012 at 02:44 PM

Errattic I know what it is wanted to hear short lines definition. I think he has them mixed up or it is as Sam said okay one direction but not the other
Scott

WELDNGOD - 3-6-2012 at 06:32 AM

I was wonderin the same, Scott

shortlineflyer - 4-6-2012 at 07:19 PM

same deffinition of toe side as previously posted by erratic winds.

ikemiester - 4-6-2012 at 09:03 PM

You sir, are an anomaly. PS.... gabe, riding toeside below, would call it "rockstarring":roll::roll::roll::roll:
Quote:
Originally posted by erratic winds

this guy is heelside, he is facing the kite and his back is to the ground


this guy is toeside, he is facing the ground and his back is to the kite.

Everybody clear on definition? We all talking about the same thing?

PHREERIDER - 5-6-2012 at 06:11 AM

unusual but , the bidirectional thing gets most. toeside to toeside air don;t thing i have done it. the "unwind" tendency is so strong as soon as i go up i'm instantly rotated. toeside to blind is actually gonna be easier for YOU. thats harness in the front to harness facing backwards. low altitude handle pass is big unhooked blind riding tool helps get you use to riding blind and for landings.

toeside and jumping . the problems is your knees aren't over the board enough to deliver downward grip and pressure to effective air unless your going 20 and send it.

so you have to choose when on toeisde to jump or more accurate roll out of it with a little boost.

or you sit back while at toeside, to get your ass over the board and jump straight up as you load and redirect for air. theres an avatar of Greg(ATL) kitedog. he's demos a decent jump ready position tucked in over the board, in ready to POP position.

the tedious part is getting kite hi enough and keeping things all hooked up.

my suggestion , practice flying static and balanced while heelside til you find your balance . getting your head back is most likely the hindrance. a small kite unhooked will mask the head balance going back with alot shoulder support feel to give a higher balance point. practice this til you hook in, take to slow transitions so you get use to the change in balance AND direction. small and slow, then add speed and power.

shortlineflyer - 5-6-2012 at 07:40 AM

wow, thank you for all of the advise, I wasn't expecting many to answer. Don't stop.
I plan on trying blind next time i go out.
Now that i think about it, I can fly heel-side, its just that toe-side is easier and just comes naturally to me. Plus it looks and feels really cool.

I have a feeling i am going to get a lot of use out of my knee pads next time i go out.

Also, I use a sliding bar attachment with a 6 inch bar so i dont have to twist my harness.

propylene22 - 13-7-2014 at 11:33 PM

Do people ride heel and toeside all the time? Really the only time I make truns into toeside is when im trying to go downwind. I usually just ride back and forth facing the kite i.e. going switch in reverse. I've made turns into toeside, but its really uncomfortable to have the kite behind you. Is this unusual? I don't really ever get ride with other landboarders most of the time.

PHREERIDER - 14-7-2014 at 09:31 AM

heel side is dominate

and so going regular in one direction and then goofy on the other direction is normal

nothing changes in the stance just the direction of travel

180 switch changes heelside to toeside and vice versa for travel in the same direction

you are "switching" your forward foot. a jibe or tack contains a switch

propylene22 - 15-7-2014 at 03:03 AM

I'm not sure that I agree with your definition of goofy vs switch. At least in terms of skateboarding and snowboarding goofy refers to riding with your right foot forward dominant. Riding switch is riding backwards regardless of which foot is dominant. So for me riding goofy is riding switch. Its a more accurate term for describing your orientation relative to your preferred stance.

cheezycheese - 15-7-2014 at 04:01 AM

I have watched him ride at WW. Definitely toeside... looks cool as hell too....

soliver - 15-7-2014 at 05:54 AM

I have goofy toes... Does that count for anything?... 4 daughters means that sometimes they might even be painted.

My heels are good, unless I switch up my shoes.... Then it's just uncomfortable.

Something tells me I'm getting my terminology wrong.

PHREERIDER - 15-7-2014 at 06:45 AM

its solely a reference to the direction of travel as a verb

only talking about direction of travel and the "changing of the forward foot" while in same direction.

traveling with toes pointed at kite you are riding on your heels --->thats heel side and dominate

traveling with toes pointed away from kite riding on your toes----> toeside

in a same direction of travel on fixed footing board goofy/regular really doesn't apply since the board is bidirectional and the point of reference is "the kite " (like the wave , the up hillside etc) ...hence riding toeside in either direction has a different foot forward. so switch in this incident is a reference to kite and direction of travel describing footing presentaion.

in skate terms where the stance is a reference point going the opposite direction is "fakey"or backwards direction without changing stance only direction...so in kite reference one could say we ride regular in one direction and goofy( fakey) in the other
direction, which would be rider specific to begin with, and is using the BOARD as a reference ONLY. since kite boarding has both and it is a combined wind dependent dynamic system and the consistent reference point is kite (or wind)

things really get twisted as applied as "wave" reference point is added in and an INDIVIDUAL may have conflicting stance terms as wind /wave would oppose reference points. BUT since the wind element would be dominate the reference point returns to kite.

with the point of reference being the kite the rider defaults to symmetrical riding WITHOUT dominate footing though it is present in the perception of the rider... if not symmetrical then rider is forcing a TT board to ride only in one direction where one direction is heelside and the return direction is toeside solely to maintain a single foot forward orientation.



abkayak - 16-7-2014 at 06:52 AM

very hard to imagine someone boosting from toeside...i think about how awkward it is just riding like that which i dont/cant do much of..im sure its done guess i just dont see myself pulling that off...i fly foils and am starting to think that maybe arcs allow you more access to things im not privy to...or i still have a lot to learn which i do