Do kite loops serve a purpose when flying? In other words are there situations when the kite loop is a necessary and vital skill or is this just a trick?

Also, I've never tried to perform a kite loop so maybe they are easy to do, but any tips or techniques on how to do a kite loop would be greatly appreciated.

it helps generate extra power in light winds, it a convienent way to redirect you kite in a buggy

I could have used some extra power today. In that case loops are definitely something I need to learn how to do.

A really basic way of saying how to loop, is to steer the kite really quickly in either direction and keep it steering around until its turned 360 degrees.

Cause loops are almost always done by steering the kite towards the ground, and then back up again (in one movement); it dives into the more powerful zone nearer the floor, and generates a surge of power.

You can then go all the way around again, to make a double kiteloop. And triple for 3 etc.

One thing to note about looping, is that the power generated is very strong lateral pull, rather than a lifty pull - so if you decide to loop in a jump, you're going forwards... fast. haha.

Hope thats a bit of help!

Folks are explaining it correct. Turn very hard one way or the other. Adding just a touch of brake on the inside wing greatly speeds this spinning up because it tucks that wingtip in a bit. Start trying them high in the window. Then start to try them lower and lower as you get more confident. You can get away with 3 turns without your lines binding up so you can still fly the kite with 1,2, or 3 turns then repeat it in the other direction.
I think the KEY is to tell yourself you MUST COMMIT to holding the turn until the kite has looped down, around and is starting to head back up again. That is the right time to stop turning. NOT EARLIER and not too much later.

2 reasons to kiteloop .
To un-spin your lines without having to undo your kite killer.

Kite speed equals power. If you are low on power you can pull a loop or 2 using that temporary boost in power to pick up a bit of traveling speed downwind. Then fly the kite out of the loop fast and use the new speed of both to create power.

Also practice a DOWNLOOP .
If the kite is traveling left, start with the kite at about 11 oclock turn the kite hard toward the ground as if you are doing a kite loop. This time straighten the kite out as it loops around and starts to travel to the right. NOT later or it's a kiteloop. Take advantage of the big long stroke of power you now get as you do a huge swoop LOW across the whole window to the right :wow: Typically you would use that surge to initiate a turn and take off to the right.


Good Question !! Hope that's somewhat clear :duh:


THESE ARE LOW WIND MOVES. Designed to get the maximum possible power out of a situation.

Also,Start high! Different kites and sizes tun at different speeds and distance.You know a 3m will turn alot faster than a 6m. Like snowbird said once you are comited to the loop there will be lots of power and if you not high enough in the window to complete the turn you will slam you kite in the ground. Not good So get fimilar with the distance it takes to turn before you try to loop.

If you started kite flying from a stunt kite background, the loops are familiar. You might have gotten by with 8-10 before having to fly them back out to untwist the lines.

Snowbird mentioned you might get by with up to three loops on a traction kite with handles before you have to fly them out. I've found it really depends on what type of line I'm using - some line gets so much friction after even 2 turns, control is compromised. Some linesets seem fine with 4, even 5 turns. If your flying a on a bar with a spinning leash, you can just spin the bar to unwind - very convenient.

krumly

yea i was going to say bars make it a lot easier. good luck.

A bar? I dont have much experience with a bar. Your saying they are easyier on a bar than handles?

I would suggest it is simpler on a bar IE : turn bar competely and commit but being able to tweak one brake makes for a MUCH tighter turn.

you can twist the bar right back into position without having to do another kite loop. like you would if you have handles. i think their might be setups for handles that would allow you to do that. correct me if im wrong.

Handles are the way forward. always. but thats just my preference.

As for how many loops - ive had 8 in my Extreme Flexifoil lines before unwinding. But there is some serious friction in the lines, so the old forearms take a work out!!!

Yup kiteloops generate a lot of power.
If your on handles practice doing loops in low wind. Then put your hands up over your head and just spin yourself around to untwist your line.
When I'm kitesurfing I'll sometimes do a kiteloop while doing a gybe (spelling??). On the next gybe I will just put my hands over my head and do a little dance on my board to unspin my lines. Most of the time I fall down but when I make it around it's cool.

Once you can loop try stalling the kite and do a four point spin with the kite.

Later-Scott

Very well known pro kite surfer schooled me once giving me very long speech about kite looping. From that moment on I can tell that most of You here are wrong. Kite looping is when You preform a jump and You steer Your kite so it make full 360 in the air before You land. Front kite loop is when You redirect and kite will make back to zenith after full loop. Back loop is when You don't redirect. All looping is made while You are airborne. Some kite surfers will tell You that true kite loop is when You have kite below You- that is very rare and I know only hand full of people that can do it without scoring a wipe out.
What You guys refer to is simply upturn or downturn witch both generate good amount of power if preformed right.
Hope that all of You will take it easy and don't start to kite loop before You get up and down turns under full control.
Cheers

zloty definitely has got the pro application of the kite loop right. i think the term reffers to the kite. the rider position and skill level certainly can be different. i have used loops on ATB for power management with out must thought with redirection in mind as well. done both lei / foils /handles or bar. the height and downwind position change would be huge with air born rider doing a pro kite loop.
peace