How to backroll

Toms Kiteboarding Tips

The Backroll is not as difficult as you think. Anyone and I mean anyone who can ride upwind can backroll.
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It is not a jump, it is a turn and your first attempts need only be a few inches off the water which means almost zero risk with huge amounts of fun. Landing and even crashing your first back rolls in a controlled, easy manor will open up a whole new world of possibilities for you in the realisation that rotations are not extreme, will lead on to some many other tricks and are within the reach of virtually all riders.
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So the first thing to understand is that your lines are going to be twisted after a backroll or any rotation. .
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Here’s the thing, it doesn’t matter. As long as red (or whatever colour left is on your kite) then your lines can be twisted many, many times and your kite will still ride perfectly albeit a little less responsive with every rotation.
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The safest and easiest way to practice the back roll and dealing with twisted lines is to go to some shallow water (above knee below waist) without your board and practice walking around your lines as if you were backrolling just without your board.
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Simply put your kite to 12, put your hands together on the bar (this is so important as then there is less chance that your kite does anything unexpected and give you unwanted pull) and walk around your lines.
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You do not have to jump, just turn.
Most of us have a stronger side, if you are Goofy (right foot forward) then practice spinning from left to right and aim your first attempts while riding right foot forward. If you are regular (left foot forward) then practice rotating right to left and aim your first attempts while riding left foot forwards.
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When you have completed your standing turn without the board, calmly, without moving the kite from 12, spin your bar back so your lines are untwisted.