Can you kickflip with a kite?
It's possible... But it sure 'aint easy!
A great sequence showed up on Facebook this week of Kyron Rathbone busting out a huge kickflip with a surfboard and a kite. It clearly shows the essence of the 'kickflip' which involves flipping a board 360 degrees along it's longitudinal axis (nose to tail). (Check out the picture if you don't get it).
But is it the first in kiteboarding?
Chances are, probably not considering the skateboarding trick was invented in the 1980's. Wakeskaters (behind winches and boats) caught the trick on film a few years ago, and it's now become quite commonplace to see them, as well as the more technical variations. So technically it should be possible, and it's probably been done by a handful of kiterboarders on either a wakeskate or a surfboard. But why aren't they common? Especially in a sport where height and hangtime far exceed that of any other watersport?
It has to do with the wind! You try flipping a surfboard directly underneath you in 20 knots and see where it ends up. You sure aren't going to get your feet back on it! That oh-so-awesome thing called the wind that drives us around is the very same thing that renders such a trick near on impossible. So when you get to see such a clean capture of a guy ALMOST making one (we don't reckon he made it)... It can't help but spark your imagination a little...
Check out the sequence above, and if you've got footage of a better one, then let us know in the forums!
Southport, QLD
