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Load and Pop: Intro to Wakestyle Kiteboarding

Originally Published in the June 2009 Issue of The Kiteboarder Magazine

Learning a few unhooked load and pop tricks adds a whole new realm of possibilities to your riding. Unhooking is not just for young riders and is actually a lot easier than you think. Before you unhook, you want to make sure your kite will be properly trimmed when you unhook. If you usually ride with the bar eased out on the chicken loop, you will probably need to depower your kite a little bit to avoid oversheeting when you unhook.

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Simple Unhooked Load and Pop
1. Hold your kite 45º to 60º above the water. Your kite will not move from this position. Center your hands on the bar so you don’t accidentally move the kite.
2. Unhook by pulling the bar in and down. Once unhooked, keep your elbows in tight to your body and keep your back straight.
3. Flatten out your board and let yourself be pulled downwind to build speed.
4. Progressively load your edge by edging harder and harder. Stand tall and push off the water with your back foot. This step all happens in less than a second.
5. As you leave the water, keep your elbows in tight and pull up your knees.
6. Extend your legs to absorb the landing.
7. Land with your board pointing downwind and hook back in by pulling the bar in and down and then up and out.

Raley
1. Hold your kite 45º to 60º above the water and unhook.
2. Flatten out your board and let yourself be pulled downwind to build speed.
3. Progressively load your edge by edging harder and harder. Stand tall and push off the water with your back foot.
4. As your board leaves the water, throw your board up and away from the kite and extend your arms above your head. The momentum of throwing the board up and away will get your body horizontal. Remember, it’s not a raley unless the board is over your head.
5. As you reach the peak of your jump, start to bring the board back underneath you. Imagine you are trying to break your bar over your front knee.
6. Bend your knees as you land and ride away with speed.

Indy Glide
1. The indy glide is basically a raley with an indy grab. Hold your kite 45º to 60º above the water and unhook.
2. Flatten out your board and let yourself be pulled downwind to build speed.
3. Progressively load your edge by edging harder and harder. Stand tall and push off the water with your back foot.
4. As your board leaves the water, throw your board up and away from the kite.
5. Pull your knees in close and grab indy by grabbing your toeside rail with your back hand. Bone out the grab for style points by extending your legs while holding the grab.
6. With the hand that is still on your bar, maintain control by keeping your elbow close to your body.
7. Bring the board back underneath your body. Again imagine you are trying to break your bar over your front knee.
8. Bend your knees as you land and ride away with speed.

Tips:
Ӣ Keep those hands centered and your elbows in tight to your body to stay in control.
Ӣ When you unhook, let yourself be pulled downwind. This takes pressure off your arms and lets you build speed for your next maneuver.
Ӣ Bend your knees when you land as load and pop trick tend to have harder landings.

Originally Published in the June 2009 Issue of The Kiteboarder Magazine