Watch as we show you how to do a Dark Slide. This in depth tutorial is packed with loads of tips and tricks, brought to you by the all-new North Kiteboarding Academy.
My latest attempts. I may be getting the actual move right, but I probably needed more power that day. But when I try it with more power, I can't seem to get the board on the water on its top rail. I get lifted too much initially and end up putting the board back on the water right-side up.
Gear: Fone Bandit 2014 12m^2, 2015 9, 2015 7, 2015 14 Best GP 2015 9m Star Sirius V2 12m Nobile Fity/50 138cm Naish Apex bindings. Zeeko Green and White + Shinn El Stubbo
My latest attempts. I may be getting the actual move right, but I probably needed more power that day. But when I try it with more power, I can't seem to get the board on the water on its top rail. I get lifted too much initially and end up putting the board back on the water right-side up.
I used to have the problem of power because i would try to pop to initiate the darkslide, just before the kite reach the right position you release edge and let yourself fall forward, if you pop slightly you will get too much height...
Try do do backroll hand drag with slow loop, same exact technique as far as sending kite and releasing edge, if you can do those you can darkslide. You don't have to worry about board for those so it's a nice trick to learn first, definitely help me with darkslide.
Tried a Nitro recently, was so grunty I kept getting too much air on hand drag took me a few tries to get used to it
Hey, Saul. When I watch your video, it looks like you're almost sliding on the toeside edge of your board instead of the tip. Bend your left knee a lot, straighten your right leg (a lot), lay far forward using the kite as support, and slide on the tip (not side) of your board. (The first slide in your video is good.)
I think the hardest part of learning the darkslide is psychological......we are so accustomed to leaning back that it's mentally difficult for us to lean forward. If you try to hold back and remain upright, it's much harder to slide on the end of the board.
The first real psychological challenge was putting the wrong side of the board on the water.
Yes, I agree. It's a very unnatural and, at first, uncomfortable position. For riders just beginning to learn the darkslide, I think it sometimes helps if they will get accustomed to the slide without making any attempt to finish the trick. So I recommend that they practice the first part of the trick without the second. So build speed, bring kite high, lean forward and slide on the top/end of board. Then just slide until all power is gone and the rider is in the water. Later, once that building block feels more comfortable, the rider can work on finishing the trick by regaining standard riding position, preferably with a kiteloop.
Of course, you, Saul, are way beyond that level on the learning curve. Now you're just fine-tuning the trick and adding style.
saul you are real close to nailing it I think you just have to commit don't worry if you pop off the water a few feet just stay in position and keep going. Remember you want to only get off the water to flip the board with pop no motion of the kite at all. Maybe try getting some air on the low wind day so you get used to the feel? I'm planning on cleveland sometime this summer so I expect us to both be dark sliding all over the place when I get there.
Saul, you need way more speed ! This is too slow...you almost stop.
And why do a kiteloop? Take a bigger kite with more power and practice first the slide, once you have the feeling for it you can add the loop. This way you only need to concentrate on one thing!