Backroll Revert Downloop Transition | Ride with Blake

4 Printable Steps for the Beach

Step One: Pop Harder

You are going to want to edge a little harder so that you can pop harder.  Fly your kite a bit higher (around 11 - 1 o'clock) for this as well. This will help offer you a little more time in the air to finish that full 180* rotation into a back roll.  Make a tight, arching, smooth, carving turn and pull in on your bar right as you release your edge and pop.

You should feel the energy loading in your lines and in your board. Pull the bar in right as you stomp your back heel down for the pop. 
 

Step Two: Release Late

You will want to release your edge later than a usual pop.  You still stop down really hard with you back leg but you want to release from the water a lot later.  You should almost be halfway through your rotation before you stop down and release that edge.  This will cause you to finish that last bit of rotation naturally with the extra air time from the hard pop.

Tip:

• Avoid pulling down with your back had when performing the back roll.  Keep your hands centered on the bar to avoid sending your kite to the wrong side of the wind window. I recommend taking your back hand off. 

Step Three: Front Knee to Chest

This helps to lower and compact your center of gravity.  It allows you to spin around a smaller center point for a more accurate rotation.  Drop your shoulder and bring them together which will contain your spin.  Attempt to get your shoulder and your front knee as close to each other as possible.  This will help with grabs as well!

Tips:  

• Make sure you don't hold your edge!  
• Point your board downwind towards your kite as it pulls you through.  This will give you a smooth transition from heel-side to toe-side edge.
  
  

Step Four: Land Flat & downwind

As you initiate your downloop point your lead hip and the nose of your board at the kite. After landing flat, your weight should be on your new back leg. The downloop will natualy pull you back onto your heelside edge. Lean back and ride away.. 

Blake's Gear Picks

Many of you have been asking about my 2018 Gear picks so I'm going to include a few links.

Kites

Cabrinha Switchblade |  Cabrinha Contra

Board

Cabrinha Excalibur wood

Harness

Ride Engine Hex Core

Blake Olsen

A Michigan boy through and through (even though he was born in Saudi Arabia), Blake is a youth with a lifetime of experiences and adventures. Not only that, he's passionate about sharing his zest for life with others. He is proficient at many fields, including kiteboarding and acting as concierge to any who simply ask. Looking for an adventure? Well, Blake is your guy. From sailing the Gulf and the Caribbean to backpacking Hawaii and Southeast Asia, he knows his stuff and can make your vacation into an adventure.

Webpage: BlakeTheOlsen.com

Instagram: @BlakeTheOlsenFacebook: BlakeOlsen