Now kiteboarding has been around for a while, we're really starting to see the more experienced kiters looking to try new tricks or moves for fun... 

We're not talking about high end freestyle tricks or wave surfing prowess, but fun, quirky little tricks that really draw attention. The come-back of 'airstyle' or old school kiteboarding is one such deviation in the usual kiteboarding line of progression. Other fun tricks like jesus walks, darkslides and board stalls are popping up all over the internet and in magazines, simply because (to both the punters and kiteboarders) they look cool! 

Here's a list of some really cool kiteboarding tricks that are guaranteed to draw a crowd.

Jesus Walk
Yes, you can walk on water by using a kite. To do this one you'll need to be powered up on a small kite, or something floaty like a flysurfer, and be confident with jump transitions, small kiteloops and basic board off's. 

To do a Jesus Walk, carry lots of speed and move the kite quickly to 12 o'clock. As the kite takes your weight, pop the board off the water and pull it off your feet with your front hand. Manage your height by pulling the bar down to go higher, up to go lower, and remember to run across the water! As you slow down, pull in on your back hand to loop the kite, this will give you a split second to get the board back on and ride away. 

Darkslide
The darkslide is a trick very similar to the Jesus Walk, where you are suspended by the kite as you slide along the surface of the water. Difference is, the board is on your feet, and you lay forwards, dragging the top surface of the board behind you. It looks great and can easily be made into a transition or even combined with other tricks. 

Crank into the move with heaps of speed, send the kite to 12 O'clock and pop over onto your stomach. Make sure you actually pop off the water for a second or face the dreaded toeside trip! Slide along with the board on the water, then pull on your back hand to loop the kite. This loop will pull you up for just a second, so get the board back underneath you and ride away like a pro. 

Board Stall
The board stalls originate from skateboarding or BMX riding, and the first guys to do it in kiteboarding were Andre Phillips and Jake Kelsick from Antigua. You need a solid obstacle like a sandbar, fence, jetty or exposed rock to stall on, and you also need to be totally confident in your riding. 

To get up onto the obstacle, load up and pop hard as you send the kite to 12 o'clock. You'll be coming back the other way once you're done stalling, so leave room to bring the kite back the other way. Timing and placement is everything with a stall, so aim to be on top of the obstacle just as you stop moving forwards, otherwise you'll either A: Smash into it, or B: Smash through it, or C: Go right over the top of it. The crowd does love a good crash though! Once you're done stalling (1-2 seconds), flick the kite back in the opposite direction and use the obstacle to push off. 

Piggybacks
Piggybacks are for the experienced only, but when done properly is one of the most spectacular party trick in kiteboarding. Basically, you can sit (or stand) on the shoulders of another rider and continue riding along. Just make sure you let the other guy know you're about to jump on him... Otherwise, it's safe to say you're not going to be very popular back on the beach. 

Again, this uses the kite to suspend a rider in the air, so ride up behind your mate, just in front of him and upwind about 2 meters. Get out of the footstraps and stand on top of them, or just behind them. Send the kite to 12 o'clock and pop off the water, you won't have straps on so the kiteboard will stay in the water and you'll be floating towards your mate. Land on his shoulders and slowly move your kite forwards again, but keep it high to take your body weight. Ride for as long as you can, then flick your kite backwards hard to launch off his shoulders and into the water. Hopefully you'll be able to find your kiteboard again! 

Now there's no excuses not to impress the ladies on the beach, so grab a mate, put a beer wager on it and be the first one to perform one of these fun (and unique to kiteboarding!) tricks! 

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