Power Kite Forum

How did you learn to jump with a kite?

Cheddarhead - 25-11-2016 at 08:03 PM

Just curious how most of you learned how to jump with a kite? Self taught? From a friend? Just winged it and crossed your fingers?

This will be my 8th year kiting and I'm almost ashamed to say I still don't know how to do a controlled jump. All my kiting to date has been over frozen water or land so taking the plunge evokes fear of being body slammed on the ice. This is the whole reason I think I've never learned. Once I get going on the open water, then the consequences won't seem so bad.

Windstruck - 25-11-2016 at 09:05 PM

Well.... I think it's pretty well established that I don't know how to either... :(

djsiryn - 25-11-2016 at 11:46 PM

I kinda learned by trial and error.... It took a bit... LOL!

pongnut - 26-11-2016 at 12:35 AM

Jumping was the main motivator for me getting into this "sport". Scrutinized lots of videos and then pelted forum member Drewculous with lots of fixed bridle technique questions. Then went out and practiced in for months and months in slightly increasing wind speeds. When I got some depower kites, and got rolling, same basic principles, just had to adjust timing. I consider myself to be a "baby" jumper - I just don't trust our janky winds enough to commit big. So, I'm with you, and can't wait to get on water.

skimtwashington - 26-11-2016 at 02:31 AM


Yup...jumping on land is riskier than jumping on the water.


I just kind of figured it out and luckily live near beach that has steady wind days. I am cautious to not go too high( though i would like to go higher).... and because I use smaller sized Fixed Bridals compared to the bigger floaty depowers.


Besides height, it's nice to try and sustain jump and get distance.

Jumping is a riskier part of the power kiting skills, which is why many avoid it all together.

There's a timing to the jump... but also a calculated amount of 'input'.

I might compare it to a golfer putting on the green. Once you hit the ball with the estimated power of your stroke, there is no stopping the ball. It either stops short, gets to the hole, or goes way past.

You put the 'stroke' maneuver of power to lift your kite(calculated first in your head?) and you either go hardly off the ground, comfortably high, or way too high. There's no stopping the result once the force starts.

What is important is not how you go up(and how far) but how you come down. Float...and not plunge back to earth!


I think, actually, I'm still learning the art of jumping. I am such a lightweight to the impressive jumps of others on here.


I have sometimes jumped on gusty days. It is much riskier and adds a hard to control variable to the 'stoke' calculation.

This was likely a steady day if I recall:





If jumping on a gusty day(often I will just pass and be safe), I find it might be better to jump during highest wind gust with the calculation for that wind speed than jump at the lower speed and then get hit with a gust you weren't set up for and get too much lift.

Some think it foolish to jump with FB and not depower. It is riskier.

abkayak - 26-11-2016 at 05:29 AM

I only started this to boost as well...but being oldish have approached it w/ caution
I started by teasing and unweightting w/ my fb kites but had never gone up till I was on a landboard w/ clean wind (dp)...I think the forward motion makes me feel comfy I don't even try static...my jumps are all the same..send the kite back overhead and redirect to the direction I was heading..I'm waiting to be on water to see what happens w/out the redirect
And kiting has nothing to do w/ golf...ever

Feyd - 26-11-2016 at 05:42 AM

Jumping is something ive only managed to semi-figure out. We have so few opportunities to practice it here and when things go wrong on the ice, they go really wrong. We dont get deep snow and our winds are constantly Gusty. One or the other, you can make a good go at it but both conditions increase the risk considerably.

When in steady winds, I feel pretty confident and adapt quickly. But its so rare to be in those conditions i dont have consistent learning opportunity.

Knowing how to jump is important to me as knowing what to do with the kite, once in the air, is a handy thing. Not just because it's fun as hell but also gives you a good chance of saving yourself if you get lofted.

The few people here that are good jumpers, got that way riding steady winds on water. They have the muscle memory and the experience to handle the kite in the air regardless of what the wind does once theyre airborne. Molly is a much betterju per than I am. Yet jumping over hard ice in Gusty winds almost killed her.

Really, I need to either take a trip where the winds are steady or learn to ride water and get it dialed there. Both take time that I don't really have these days. :(

gemini6kl - 26-11-2016 at 07:13 AM

Having the right kite and clean wind makes all the difference for jumping .First thing u will need is a high aspect ratio kite and some decent wind ex 15mph+ . Then For a very basic jump all u have to do is take a few Quick steps backwards and pull in the bar and up u go. There are other varitions of this where u run to one side and send the kite up hard to the opposite side but the most simple is the first technique I described . Riding and jumping is another story that will take some work and scratches to get right. I see u have a few kites tht should do the job like the flysurfer speed 3, ozone frenzy and phantom, so u should have no problem learning to jump. its all about practice and practice.

nate76 - 26-11-2016 at 07:40 AM

Cheddarhead - we're kind of in the same boat: this will be my 10th year kiting but I only really started jumping in any meaningful way in the last two. A lot of it had to do with much of what you said: crappy winds in all the places I was trying to ride and marginal snow cover.

Once I started getting on some nicer snow and water, I felt a more comfortable being a little more aggressive and then slowly worked my way into it. I'm still just a baby jumper - not much height but a fair amount of hangtime given the right kite. Having smooth winds and the right conditions will make all the difference. I still avoid jumping on ice - I've been hurt one too many times on that stuff.

One other thing I will mention that made all the difference for me for learning was Big Kites in Light Winds. Everything slows down with a big kite and you don't have to be quite as precise on your timing. Also, light winds tend to be less gusty and less nerve-racking in general: getting dragged down wind in an 8kt wind even on a big kite feels fairly manageable - unlike a small kite in teens-20's which quickly can feel like a death wish (and very well might be).

Like gemini said - I would take your 15m Speed to a park with clean winds in the 8-10mph range - somewhere not-icy, and practice on land by foot 1st. That's how I started. Practice running with the kite,slightly upwind, bar all the way forward, the kite parked at either 10/2, and then send it to noon. As you send it up, start trying to run even more upwind to build tension in the lines. Then when you start to lose traction, pull the bar in. It is definitely a timing thing and will take a few tries but with a little bit of practice, you should find yourself swinging thru with some big grins on your face.

This video might give a little idea of what I'm talking about :

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wDzaXe2H8PM

Bladerunner - 26-11-2016 at 12:51 PM

For me it was a Goldilocks thing.

I watched videos and folks actually jumping to get my head around loading, directing and then re-directing the kite. I struggled with all 3 using my original FB kites. I needed too strong of winds with my 5m Ace and would send the kite too far usually ending with a drop to the ground and a kite that lost all it's air. Or not enough. I felt much more comfortable under my 9m Blade but was getting overpowered shortly after wind was strong enough to assist with my float + the slow turning and my timing never matched.

When I got my 15m Synergy and gave it a go it was " just right " !!!!!!! Big enough that it would do the job in the lighter winds that I felt safe enough to jump in but fast / safe enough that I could go for it in the mid to upper teens that the kite needed to shine. My timing and that kite just seemed to gel. Even now my timing on my Syn is so much better than my 18m Phanny or Speed?

Jumping is the cherry on the sunday! It is rare that it all comes together but without a doubt it is those days that still set me on smile for a day after. I push it less and less these days but even little waist high jumps are golden!

Cheddarhead - 26-11-2016 at 02:48 PM

Really good feedback guys!:bigok:

I see lots of guys jumping on the ice at gatherings, but I suspect they are mostly experienced water riders since it's LEI's that they jump with. I definitely have the right kites and fly time to start experimenting. Just have to start small and choose my conditions wisely. At 46, I don't have the bounce I used to :bouncy:

Memopad - 28-11-2016 at 07:28 AM

Quote: Originally posted by Cheddarhead  
Really good feedback guys!:bigok:

I see lots of guys jumping on the ice at gatherings, but I suspect they are mostly experienced water riders since it's LEI's that they jump with. I definitely have the right kites and fly time to start experimenting. Just have to start small and choose my conditions wisely. At 46, I don't have the bounce I used to :bouncy:


We should meet up this winter for some flying. I'm on Indian Lake in Manistique MI, a fairly perfect kite playground. It usually has about a foot of snow on it during the winter, but can get kind of icy especially in the spring when things start to melt.

Do you stick to lakes or find any big fields to fly in? My lake is great, but I'd love to find some land based terrain with even a little hill to go up and down. Lack of fields here in the UP, all woods :/

B-Roc - 28-11-2016 at 10:34 AM

I first learned how to pendulum jump while static flying and then put it together on a landboard. I learned to jump as I came to a natural stop and redirected back in the former direction of travel. When I first started out I would park the kite overhead and slow to a stop and then switch directions. Then I learned to powerslide to a stop. Then l learned if I send the kite back just as I'm coming to a stop I get a bit of air and off in the new direction. Then I just started adding more speed/less stop to the end of my run until I was comfortable throwing the kite back in the middle of a run. Seemed like a safe and natural progression on a board.

Cheddarhead - 28-11-2016 at 01:50 PM

Quote: Originally posted by Memopad  
Quote: Originally posted by Cheddarhead  
Really good feedback guys!:bigok:

I see lots of guys jumping on the ice at gatherings, but I suspect they are mostly experienced water riders since it's LEI's that they jump with. I definitely have the right kites and fly time to start experimenting. Just have to start small and choose my conditions wisely. At 46, I don't have the bounce I used to :bouncy:


We should meet up this winter for some flying. I'm on Indian Lake in Manistique MI, a fairly perfect kite playground. It usually has about a foot of snow on it during the winter, but can get kind of icy especially in the spring when things start to melt.

Do you stick to lakes or find any big fields to fly in? My lake is great, but I'd love to find some land based terrain with even a little hill to go up and down. Lack of fields here in the UP, all woods :/


We def should meet up this winter:thumbup: Relatively speaking, we're not that far from each other. Like you, land based areas around here are slim pickings. I'm usually confined to athletic fields of some sort. hardly enjoyable when I'm spoiled with thousands of acres of frozen lakes in the winter. Getting permission from a farmer would be the only large land based option here. I have yet to explore that route. A few people that I know in the area like to frequent Copper Harbor/ Mt Bohemia where there is "real" snow. I have yet to visit the penninsula. 6 hr drive from GB. Not your typical day trip. Very doable on a weekend though:D

Cheddarhead - 28-11-2016 at 01:54 PM

Quote: Originally posted by B-Roc  
I first learned how to pendulum jump while static flying and then put it together on a landboard. I learned to jump as I came to a natural stop and redirected back in the former direction of travel. When I first started out I would park the kite overhead and slow to a stop and then switch directions. Then I learned to powerslide to a stop. Then l learned if I send the kite back just as I'm coming to a stop I get a bit of air and off in the new direction. Then I just started adding more speed/less stop to the end of my run until I was comfortable throwing the kite back in the middle of a run. Seemed like a safe and natural progression on a board.


Sounds like a good way to learn and progress without having to go all in at once. Perhaps bunny hopping is a good way to get an introduction:cool:

Memopad - 28-11-2016 at 08:15 PM

Quote: Originally posted by Cheddarhead  
Quote: Originally posted by Memopad  
Quote: Originally posted by Cheddarhead  
Really good feedback guys!:bigok:

I see lots of guys jumping on the ice at gatherings, but I suspect they are mostly experienced water riders since it's LEI's that they jump with. I definitely have the right kites and fly time to start experimenting. Just have to start small and choose my conditions wisely. At 46, I don't have the bounce I used to :bouncy:


We should meet up this winter for some flying. I'm on Indian Lake in Manistique MI, a fairly perfect kite playground. It usually has about a foot of snow on it during the winter, but can get kind of icy especially in the spring when things start to melt.

Do you stick to lakes or find any big fields to fly in? My lake is great, but I'd love to find some land based terrain with even a little hill to go up and down. Lack of fields here in the UP, all woods :/


We def should meet up this winter:thumbup: Relatively speaking, we're not that far from each other. Like you, land based areas around here are slim pickings. I'm usually confined to athletic fields of some sort. hardly enjoyable when I'm spoiled with thousands of acres of frozen lakes in the winter. Getting permission from a farmer would be the only large land based option here. I have yet to explore that route. A few people that I know in the area like to frequent Copper Harbor/ Mt Bohemia where there is "real" snow. I have yet to visit the penninsula. 6 hr drive from GB. Not your typical day trip. Very doable on a weekend though:D


I picked up some new powder skis for the kites, but they'll also be a blast at Bohemia. I was getting the bindings mounted at a local gear shop in Marquette and the owner said he actually used to stock some kites at the shop (Downwind Sports), but never got enough interest to keep it going I guess. He was telling stories of skiing at Bohemia, and then kiting on Lac La Belle near the base of the mountain. Sounds like a good day to me!

Wind_dog - 28-11-2016 at 08:56 PM

Oh.
I think I can visualize the whole jumping thing.

Now, how to land . . . . .:puzzled:

WackyWindsurfer - 29-11-2016 at 06:54 AM

Hi Cheddar!

You have some nice PL TwinSkins in your quiver which (imho) are the best kites for learning to jump.

I have learned it with my PL Venom II 13m. But any gentle giant will do.
Wait for that perfect 15-20kn steady winds day and just start trying. I use a pendulum-kinda way to setup my jumps.

At first do not let the kite to far down before sending it. After a couple of successful attempts you can try getting more lift by doing that and take some steps back to gain more boost and lift.

Ok, I am lucky that I live at the beach and have soft sand and far more steady winds perhaps. But fun is garanteed!

See the motion of my kite when jumping in the Youtube clip below, it is not that hard, really! :D




Feyd - 29-11-2016 at 07:37 AM

The primary issue here is less about the kite and more about the conditions. For example the video above, smooth steady, predictable winds. Allows the luxury of just focusing on flying the kite and getting it to do what you want while getting a feel for what works or doesn't.

If you're kite can auto zenith in your conditions, you aren't in the same environment as Cheddar or others where the wind's inconsistency is a huge barrier to learning to jump.

Coastal Beaches are an easy place to learn. But the learning is in some ways limited. When you have smooth steady power, life is pretty simple in some ways.

Think of it this way. The wind is like a throttle. Steady on shore or side shore smooth wind is lends to smooth, steady and consistent power delivery. Like a normal throttle. Those of us rockin the dirty inland winds are dealing with surges and cut offs. Like trying to jump with a an engine that is at times misfiring and other times, racing with a stuck throttle. :P

It doesn't instill confidence over hard ice.

WackyWindsurfer - 29-11-2016 at 07:57 AM

I totally agree with you Chris, my surroundings make it a lot more friendly to the aging body.
On the locations you describe, you all must have big balls to even try and start learning to jump at all.
:D

But then I am kinda jealous on you guys having ice to ride on, love watching the movies on Youtube you guys post!

Looking at the area Cheddar resides in on a map, I hoped he also has some beaches or places whith steady winds.

flyguy0101 - 29-11-2016 at 08:21 AM


[youtube]v=winOVTU3Ua0[/youtube]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=winOVTU3Ua0

PS- turn up the volume to hear the tips and obvious stoke :D
here is the first time I learned still makes me smile and yes there is nothing more fun then boosting big but since my accident 2 yrs ago (gusty mtn winds 40ft lofting and a broken back- t-11 was split in two) I limit jumping to clean winds and BIG kites. Proceed slowly but damn is it fun
S

Cheddarhead - 29-11-2016 at 06:58 PM

Quote: Originally posted by WackyWindsurfer  
I totally agree with you Chris, my surroundings make it a lot more friendly to the aging body.
On the locations you describe, you all must have big balls to even try and start learning to jump at all.
:D

But then I am kinda jealous on you guys having ice to ride on, love watching the movies on Youtube you guys post!

Looking at the area Cheddar resides in on a map, I hoped he also has some beaches or places whith steady winds.


Chris explains it really well. It's all part of normal inland flying. I suspect that I have better winds than what Chris has to deal with since WI is relatively flat in comparison. Living next to the Great Lakes has it's advantages with certain wind directions. There are beaches on the Lake Michigan shoreline but they are much smaller than a typical ocean beach. It would actually be a better place to practice jumps where there is sand to cushion things.

Houston AirHead - 6-12-2016 at 01:26 PM

hot launched a 5m Pansh Ace in 20+ ... thats how i learned lmao

Kober - 6-12-2016 at 09:10 PM

We meet up and exchange all knowledge and try to jump together ....


IFlyKites - 7-12-2016 at 11:16 AM

I self-taught myself. Learn your kites' characteristics before attempting it. I've had probably around a dozen flights before I tried getting air. With landboarding, (I guess this goes with anything else, buggy, skis, snowboard, etc..). Find a nice, open space. When you gain enough speed, redirect the kite to 12 and you'll feel the upward pull. That's the signal to pull the bar in. Usually happens while the kite is in the middle of being redirected to 12 o'clock direction. So it is kind of trial and error. There is usually a sweet spot for redirection that I found, (to get that perfect jump). The rest usually comes naturally, (redirect back to the direction of travel and before landing pull the bar slightly in for a smooth landing). Also have the back of the board/buggy touch the ground first.

I see you have a Peak 6m. You should learn jumping on it! My Peak 9 is what taught me to get air. You won't get massive jumps with it but they sure will be floaty! Getting slammed into the ground will happen but it seems to be part of every sport. I've gashed my elbow too many times to count. Starting on handles may be best, technique wise.

Watching videos on YouTube also helps wonders. Carl and SKD make some great, "how to" jumping videos.

I'm no expert; just sharing advice from how I learned. Still lots to learn! Good luck and fly safe!

ssayre - 7-12-2016 at 01:45 PM

Quote: Originally posted by IFlyKites  
I self-taught myself. Learn your kites' characteristics before attempting it. I've had probably around a dozen flights before I tried getting air. With landboarding, (I guess this goes with anything else, buggy, skis, snowboard, etc..). Find a nice, open space. When you gain enough speed, redirect the kite to 12 and you'll feel the upward pull. That's the signal to pull the bar in. Usually happens while the kite is in the middle of being redirected to 12 o'clock direction. So it is kind of trial and error. There is usually a sweet spot for redirection that I found, (to get that perfect jump). The rest usually comes naturally, (redirect back to the direction of travel and before landing pull the bar slightly in for a smooth landing). Also have the back of the board/buggy touch the ground first.

I see you have a Peak 6m. You should learn jumping on it! My Peak 9 is what taught me to get air. You won't get massive jumps with it but they sure will be floaty! Getting slammed into the ground will happen but it seems to be part of every sport. I've gashed my elbow too many times to count. Starting on handles may be best, technique wise.

Watching videos on YouTube also helps wonders. Carl and SKD make some great, "how to" jumping videos.

I'm no expert; just sharing advice from how I learned. Still lots to learn! Good luck and fly safe!


Not sure I agree there. You would need decent wind with the peak 6. I'd rather learn in lighter more predictable wind and a larger kite. Also, I wouldn't call my 6 or 9 peak floaty. This is based on a handful of times I've static jumped. I haven't jumped while in motion.

IFlyKites - 7-12-2016 at 05:40 PM

Quote: Originally posted by ssayre  
Quote: Originally posted by IFlyKites  
I self-taught myself. Learn your kites' characteristics before attempting it. I've had probably around a dozen flights before I tried getting air. With landboarding, (I guess this goes with anything else, buggy, skis, snowboard, etc..). Find a nice, open space. When you gain enough speed, redirect the kite to 12 and you'll feel the upward pull. That's the signal to pull the bar in. Usually happens while the kite is in the middle of being redirected to 12 o'clock direction. So it is kind of trial and error. There is usually a sweet spot for redirection that I found, (to get that perfect jump). The rest usually comes naturally, (redirect back to the direction of travel and before landing pull the bar slightly in for a smooth landing). Also have the back of the board/buggy touch the ground first.

I see you have a Peak 6m. You should learn jumping on it! My Peak 9 is what taught me to get air. You won't get massive jumps with it but they sure will be floaty! Getting slammed into the ground will happen but it seems to be part of every sport. I've gashed my elbow too many times to count. Starting on handles may be best, technique wise.

Watching videos on YouTube also helps wonders. Carl and SKD make some great, "how to" jumping videos.

I'm no expert; just sharing advice from how I learned. Still lots to learn! Good luck and fly safe!


Not sure I agree there. You would need decent wind with the peak 6. I'd rather learn in lighter more predictable wind and a larger kite. Also, I wouldn't call my 6 or 9 peak floaty. This is based on a handful of times I've static jumped. I haven't jumped while in motion.


It would be a start though! With my Peak 9m, I was able to get small airs in 10mph winds. 6m would probably require more wind but still 1 ft jumps might be possible. Found this video on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O7ls92zXmCU Makes me miss my Peak 2 9m :(

Only reason I suggested the Peak is because he has one already. And can use it to, "train" to later jump with larger kites.

ikemiester - 15-12-2016 at 12:48 PM

By being a spoiled brat who grew up a mile from Sunset :lol:
But honestly I think Gabe Shortman, Sunset Jim, and a guy named AJ gave me a crash course (pun intended) long ago. A big dp (preferably a foil of some variety) kite with smooth slow winds is the best way to learn. Sand was great for learning pendulums, but I'll only ever kiteloop on water with an lei. :evil: Best of luck, and wear but pads and a helmet!