i have been kiting for probably 4 or 5 years
now i jump high, now i get sore knees and a pain in the lower back
WHAT'S NEEDED TO FIX THIS: LESS TWISTING OF THE KNEES WITH LESS IMPACT ON LANDING. when you hit the ground after a big jump you need to land softer, and as you kite upwind you need less knee twist.
SOLUTION: get a board thats made to displace water for those heavy landings, and for upwind possibly change the overall feet stance to less duck-like and a straighter stance and/or feet a bit wider than shoulder width apart. if the feet are set straight it may hurt the knees less, i have tried it and i have less pain.
ALSO>>>>>> i just bought a new board: AXIS LIMITED 136 X 42, it's wider and is made for supersoft landings, after demo of many boards this one is made for soft landings and lighter and floatier on the water so therefore less knee pressure.
CHECK OUT MY REVIEW OF THE AXIS LIMITED 136 X 42 where i wrote a review under the gear review section on why i think this board helps, but...
WANT SOFTER LANDINGS AND LESS SORE KNEES GET A BOARD SET-UP THAT DOES ALL THIS, THERE IS ONE OUT THERE FOR YOU.
TOP 5 POINT CHECKLIST (PLEASE ADD TO THE CHECKLIST FOR IDEAS):
1. a board that displaces the water. Some channels under the board (4 channels is great) that displace the water outward ON landing and slicing through the upwind bumps and ripples that we always seem to get will lesson the hardness of smashing on the water and therefore the knees.
2. possibly a wider board i now use the 42 width
3. softer bindings probably or some fancy impact foam
4. perhaps the binding width setup, maybe make a little wider than shoulder width
5. carbon board, lighter on the knees, also acts like suspension
It's possibly not your board causing sore knees and back.
How much flex does the Axis have? I have riden around 10 different types of boards. My personal preference for fast landings after a kite loop is a board with flex and single concave.
The best thing to give you a soft landing is a good technique and a floaty kite. The board is not the answer. Its a bandaid on an axe wound. your not fixing the problem.
I think Plummet is right. I'm not an advanced rider by any means but I feel like I'm getting my jumps nailed down pretty good. The type of kite makes a huge difference.
I can boost my Switch Nitro II as high as I can send it and if I time it correctly I come down as soft as butter.
That being said I've just come back from broken ribs because I lost my edge starting a jump and redirected too early.
All true but I reckon if ya unhooking and doing powered moves...especially in boots, the board makes a big diff. Or even hooked in powered moves the flex properties, width and length make a diff on ya knees etc. for basic free riding, yeh the kite and technique play a big part.
Select to expand quotePlummet said...
The best thing to give you a soft landing is a good technique and a floaty kite. The board is not the answer. Its a bandaid on an axe wound. your not fixing the problem.
So what you're saying is we need to be spending more time on precision kite flying practice?
Eppo is right if you talking wake style. my advice is moot. its all about the board. If your talking slamming down from a monster boost then the board though it will help is not the answer.
Boards that give a soft landing are boards with more rocker that has flex at the tips. ..... stiff board = harsh landing.
Wow! Such a shameless plug. Also is English a second language for you adambooma? I have some ideas on why your knees and back are sore, but it ain't from kiting
Sales pitch or whatever some sound advice would be you prob not as fit as you think you are, even just kiting 3 times a week is not enough exercise you need to build fitness and you get better strength and fitness from running, swimming weights etc..... on top of Kiting?
I'm no pro either, but i agree with the others... don't blame your tools, it's all about the technique, well mostly! move your kite around on the way down from a boost and get the feel of where it holds you longer. keep your bar pulled in and direct yourself down wind on a landing. other thing i try to do to soften the landing is put the back tip of the board down first so that its not just the bottom of your board landing flat on the water... its more like landing a plane (back wheels touch first then pivot on that axis to put the front wheels down) so to speak ;)
