Learning Kitesurf Downloops - when to use them in light wind foiling

#kitesurfing #foil

Gear:

Camera - Panasonic GH5, Panasonic 100-300mm, GoPro 9, GoPro Max, DJI Mavic Air
Kites - Core Xlite 12m , Core Nexus 2 9m, Core XR4 15m, 12m, 9m, 7m, Sensor 3 Bar
Kiteboard - Core Fusion 138, Nobile Infinity Foil Splitboard, Slingshot Celero Surfboard
Foil - Slingshot Hoverglide with Space Skate , Infinity 76, Apollo 60 wings
Foi Board - Slingshot Dwarfcraft 110cm
Gear - Ion Booster Vest, NP Helmet, Patagonia 3/2 wetsuit, Solite Boots

[andyrogers]

Finally started doing downloops while transitioning! Another element to keep things interesting.

[OneWheelGuy]

I also avoided downloops for years, partially because I was confused about how to make them work (obvious hint: pull the bar in hard to make sure the kite completes the loop). Another thing that held me back is that one instructor taught me to hold my bar lined up with the kite, basically rotating the bar as the kite crosses the wind window. This can make steering more intuitive by maintaining the mental mapping between bar and kite, but it fails completely when doing a downloop, so I had to reprogram my brain a bit.
Now that I am foiling more I am also using downloops much more. On light wind days I use them for every transition and every water start. If the wind is really light I even initiate them before starting to turn the board, but be careful and be ready to turn the board quickly if you get a strong pull.
I usually don't bother untwisting my lines because I know that I'm just going to be doing another downloop in the other direction, so why bother?
And yeah, Steven's videos are great.

[scottstout]

You are my favorite kiteboarding YouTuber. It makes my day when I see a new video from you!

[vikingh]

The fun starts when you start looping whilst jumping