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heli loop not providing lift

Posted: Wed Oct 07, 2020 7:46 pm
by blackswan
I have been practicing my heli loops recently but consistently have a problem where I pull the loop, but it does not provide much/any lift. When I land a jump without a heli loop, I get much softer landings (by the normal method of redirecting kite across 12 as I land).

Any ideas what I might be doing wrong? I think I am doing what all the tutorials say, basically send a (forward hand) loop as you are coming in to land and ride downwind. Usually when I jump I keep the kite on the opposite side of the window slightly so I can loop it through 12 while landing. The loops generally pull me slightly downwind and in the other direction, so I end up riding away the opposite direction that I started.

I am wondering if it might be my kite stalling, or bad technique? I have definitely felt some stall/loss of power when pulling loops before. I was also not jumping that high, maybe 5-8m, but I was jumping high enough that the kite ended up behind me during the descent.

Re: heli loop not providing lift

Posted: Wed Oct 07, 2020 8:14 pm
by SWO_kite
Loop position and timing will dictate the amount of lift and vector.

For me at least, I only really use a heli-loop for certain situations. Ideally they are great for fast falls from big jumps. But I've done big jumps without needing to perform a heli-loop. I also find them useful for big air transitions.

Just keep practicing, it's all muscle memory stuff. You'll start to notice when they're useful and when they're not needed.

Re: heli loop not providing lift

Posted: Wed Oct 07, 2020 8:19 pm
by andylc
Isn’t a ‘standard’ heliloop a forward loop??

Re: heli loop not providing lift

Posted: Wed Oct 07, 2020 8:34 pm
by blackswan
andylc wrote:
Wed Oct 07, 2020 8:19 pm
Isn’t a ‘standard’ heliloop a forward loop??
I think you're right. I am using the front hand to loop but I didn't think of it as a downloop/forward loop because the kite starts on the other side.

Re: heli loop not providing lift

Posted: Wed Oct 07, 2020 8:37 pm
by Toby
andylc wrote:
Wed Oct 07, 2020 8:19 pm
Isn’t a ‘standard’ heliloop a forward loop??
not sure if there is a standard for it.

You can do a heliloop either when the kite is too much forward or backward to save it from stalling.

Re: heli loop not providing lift

Posted: Wed Oct 07, 2020 8:40 pm
by andylc
True - I guess I’m thinking usually you do a heliloop because with a bigger jump usually you’re going under the kite and therefore loop it forwards.

Re: heli loop not providing lift

Posted: Wed Oct 07, 2020 8:59 pm
by Peter_Frank
Can not say specifically what you do wrong.

But heliloops does not increase overall hangtime, not possible.

You can change the descent though, meaning you go faster down when you loop, and then slower at the very touchdown - which is the whole idea.

Meaning the timing has to be spot on, otherwise you descent just as fast, or even faster :wink:

8) Peter

Re: heli loop not providing lift

Posted: Wed Oct 07, 2020 9:06 pm
by nothing2seehere
Peter_Frank wrote:
Wed Oct 07, 2020 8:59 pm
Can not say specifically what you do wrong.

But heliloops does not increase overall hangtime, not possible.


8) Peter
I have a video here that 'might' change your mind on that :D



My understanding was a heliloop starts when the kite is behind you. Otherwise its a downloop or landing loop?

Re: heli loop not providing lift

Posted: Wed Oct 07, 2020 9:13 pm
by blackswan
nothing2seehere wrote:
Wed Oct 07, 2020 9:06 pm
Peter_Frank wrote:
Wed Oct 07, 2020 8:59 pm
Can not say specifically what you do wrong.

But heliloops does not increase overall hangtime, not possible.


8) Peter
I have a video here that 'might' change your mind on that :D



My understanding was a heliloop starts when the kite is behind you. Otherwise its a downloop or landing loop?
Holy shit! :o :o :o

Re: heli loop not providing lift

Posted: Wed Oct 07, 2020 9:36 pm
by Toby
That video is a lift loop