Learn to Heliloop / Downloop | 2 Easy Steps // Kiteboarding SA Masterclass

Higher jump are harder to land, but that can be solved with the heli loop, downloop or rescue loop. This tutorial teaches you how to learn a heli loop in 2 easy steps.

00:24 Smooth Helil oops
01:13 Keypoints
01:51 Heli or Downloop
02:56 Exercise: Downloop Gybe
04:08 Exercise: Jump with Downloop
05:34 What's next?

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Filming / cover picture: José Denis-Robichaud

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[BenjaminLovelady]

I only use downloops to refer to front hand surface loops where the kite loops down first and across the window. I like to differentiate between helliloops (in the air with vertical pull) and landing loops (to maintain line tension when landing with speed). I start my students with landing loops during a jump transition just like you showed, and then slowly have them pull the loop a little sooner. One thing that helps with smaller jumps to get a vertical pull is to sheet out a bit before pulling the loop to help the kite climb overhead.

[Sharpiesailor]

All your content is excellent. I check in frequently to refresh what I’m working on in my progression. Good examples as well.

[BerlinMauer]

I have always referred to these loops simply as landing loops as they assist in my landing from higher 8m+ jumps where the kite tends to fly behind me or I swing under my kite.

I never actually learned them. They came naturally out of necessity to catch myself on landing or to avoid hot landings. If someone asked me to do one on demand I probably couldn't. They would simply have to wait until the jump where I needed one. And that is dependent on kite size, wind, jump height etc.

My hand actually depends on what side I jump. More or less dependent on habits I have developed. To the left I pull with the front and land as a transition where on my right side I land with the backhand and ride out in the same direction.

I've never been caught up on the name because I consider these loops a landing technique rather than a kite trick. I am really glad to see this video addressing them because they are important for anyone wanting to land safely from higher jumps.

[Anority]

Hey Steven! Great video, been waiting for this video. Wanted to know a bit more about the difference between a downloop/heliloop, and how to do them effectively! I just landed my first kiteloop a couple days ago after I had watched your road to kiteloop series! The adrenaline from it was amazing, even though it wasn't too high, just having the tug forwards and landing was so exciting! Keep it up man!!

-Keanu

[Vincent]

Again the most clearly explained tutorial. I love the way that you make your videos. Thanks and please keep making these videos.

[colthenrie]

A first for me: landing something new without a single crash before sticking it! Hard to believe, but this video was key in my preparation! Crashed plenty of times since then since I am still working on my timing (pull too early before being under and I am launched!), but landing it more consistently as time goes by.

[lucasbergman]

Always so calm and relaxt when you clearly explain what to do. Dank je wel :)

Now to remind myself on the way down to keep steering instead of chickening out :')

[bbreezy]

Perfect timing for this upload. Actually was looking up heli loops on the duotone app and this notification came through 😂

[apckiteboard]

One of the best and most usefull kite tutorial!

[johnrossmacneill]

A downloop is a loop that can be done with either hand in my opinion. A late kiteloop in a jump transition for example. A downloop is used to keep the kite in the power window and avoid loss of momentum. A downloop likely increases or maintains line tension and downwind traveling speed. This is still more desirable than falling gently but without directional speed and so a downloop is often used on small jumps or at the end of larger jumps.

A heli loop is a loop pulled with either hand also. The difference between the two is most likely height at which the kite is looping through the window. A heli loop will have the kiters momentum carrying down and down wind while the kite travels to the edge of the window above the kiter. The wind window is higher above us than usual because we are falling and creating apparent wind in doing so. in other words Pulling a loop while the kite is seeming traveling behind you is in my opinion a heli loop.

[lilafrench]

I call it a "heli loop" if the loop is mostly overhead like a helicopter blade. I always thought that was where the name came from, but I'm not sure. Thanks for these vids!

[xzucomatable]

Very interesting, I love your videos. Thanks

[fifty-sqrd]

Awesome video! I'm still confused about down vs heli, but since I have to hold my foil while landing there's only one hand and one way the kite could go.
What I'm happy about is that I could land a kiteloop off a wave in Dahab onto the same wave with a foil strapless, and ride off. Only once or twice but I'm stoked!
But what I find now is that I can comfortably ride my 7m Section in 13 m/s, but in such wind seven isn't the size folks use for jumps. So I'm puzzled: I want more pull up and power in the loop when landing, but once I'm up its not there. Only a few times I could time it right and ride off in Baby Bay without getting my board in the water, but most of time I slam down with a late loop and crash or save. Getting something like a Nexus should be my next step.
And a trip to a spot with a break...

[nilsemmahendrickx-iskandar]

Because my son is learning to windsurf atm, the kiting got to the background. You make me wanne go again. 😂 Still just doing downloop transitions.. 💩

[Ocean_Kite_Engine]

Great graphics man, I'm working on a kiteboat project and the graphics you used to describe the heli-loops are perfect, You mention to not untwist the lines until you are comfortable, which makes sense, however, if you could maintain control, could you produce another heli-loop?

[nevochen]

Downloop = a loop with the front hand
Heliloop = a loop with the back hand

simple as that :)
that's how i describe those two types of loops that assist you in the landing phase of the jump.

[Zarrell]

Question: Can you overstall your kite during the decent by pulling your bar too far in? Or are the dynamics slightly different when hanging from it with your whole weight compared to riding on the water?

I’ve been trying to figure this out since some of my kites have different sweet spots and if I suddenly stop feeling power/lift with bar pulled in I need to make a split second decision in the air whether to keep it in and hope for a gust or try to adjust out a bit. Of course redirecting the kite helps, but that’s sort of besides the point 😅

[and]

😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍 super video as alwais

[Basstronaut]

So, the kite flies behind you just from the descent of a high jump alone? Because I thought it needs to be a little to the side, then depowered a little, before you sheet in while looping.

[wigxinn]

90% of the time it's front hand as the kite normally sits to the back, easy way to learn it is just take your backhand off the bar and crank your front hand 1m off the water when landing kite will go round even if it's parked at 12 it can also finish the loop if on water if you pull to late, then do it higher but keep both hands on bar and crank bar only when you swing underneath kite, common mistake is just steering the kite instead of cranking or pulling too late