In our last carving turns blog post we looked at the foot change and one of its key elements. This time we are taking a look at a common mistake that many people run into when learning to gybe – losing speed through the middle of the turn.
We are especially looking at the heelside to toeside gybe – that is where you start riding along normally on your heelside, carve the board around gently and come out on your toeside – you can then swap your feet to ride off heelside, if you want.
Check out this full common mistake section below (one of five from the Heelside to Toeside Gybe video):
As you just saw this problem all stems from bad timing or control of the kite. The three situations to look out for:
- Being too gentle with the kite and the leaving it high at the top of the window. Forgetting to fly it back down in the new direction in the later part of the boards carving turn.
- Carving the board too early before you start turning the kite. This causes your board to lose all its initial board speed because the kite has not had time to come over into the new direction to aid you in the exit.
- Carving the board too late so that the kite has already gone across the top of the powerzone and you’ve lost any power pulling you through the turn.
The Right Way
- As you pull with your back hand, the kite will start turning.
- Flatten the board and then commit with your whole body to the turn as soon as the power kites in.
- Ensure you keep the kite flying smoothly across the powerzone right across to the other side.
There are many other common mistakes, some closely resembling this situation, but with subtly different outcomes and completely different errors on the part of the rider! Maybe you’re making it through the turn fine but stalling as you ride off in the new direction? Or you lose it before the turn even starts and get pulled off? If you are still struggling with your gybes or powered carves then we cover everything in our full Carving Turns Collection.