Big Air Kiteboarding Basics, Episode 3: Full Scorpion to Front Roll Waterstart

Crashing is an inevitable part of big air, but the good news is that there's a way to get back up in style after you find yourself floating on your belly in that scorpion position. Sure, you can simply send the kite up, sheet in, and pop up and out of the water, but why do that when you can add some flair and turn it into a trick? David has a tip on how to do exactly that.

Add a Front Roll Rotation to Your Waterstart

1. You're in the water, on your belly, with your board attached to your feet and floating behind you in the scorpion position. Your kite is at 12.

2. Make sure you're ready. The board is on tight and everything feels centered and balanced.

3. When there's enough wind that you'll be pretty powered, bring the kite down so that the lines have tension and it starts to pull you along the water.

4. Send the kite back up. Sending it a bit past 12 will help with the rotation. As you send it, sheet in and tuck your front knee to initiate the rotation.

5. Normally you'd look over your back shoulder for a front roll, but since you're laid out in the water and your lines are in your face, it's much easier to look under your arm. So go ahead and do that, tucking your head under.

6. You'll feel your board catch the water a bit behind you, and that's what's going to give you the line tension you need to pop out of the water.

7. Spot your landing as you come around, making sure you start redirecting the kite as you do this. It should be fairly easy since you'll usually end up with some extra front hand pressure from using your upper body to initiate the rotation. Just be mindful of your bar pressure and how much steering you're doing so you don't dive the kite back down.

It's really just like a regular front roll. The kite movement is the same. You tuck your front knee to initiate the rotation. You will look under your arm instead of over your shoulder, but then you'll spot your landing and ride away with speed like you always would. It's a great way to make recovering from a crash fun and stylish, and you might even make it look almost intentional.

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