Duck Tack Tutorial (Strapless & Directional Series)

[kiteswede]

This tutorial explains the duck tack transition in detail. This guide looks at the board control and kite control, as well as mistakes that could easily spoil your duck tack.

[yomotha]

When I do this, I move the board upwind, but instead of completing the rotation with my body in the same direction, I turn my body back in the opposite direction. So kind of a 180 back, and then a 180 forward (the board still rotates around the full 360), instead of a 360 of the body and board like in the video. Is that still a duck tack or is that called something else?

[jonysan]

Excellent Instructions, I had been struggling with Tacks, until a friend told me where I was going wrong, "redirect the Kite early, using just your back hand" it works!

[GregK]

Is that still a duck tack or is that called something else?

Using sailboat turning definitions, your board is tacking ( turning up into the wind ) and your body is gybing ( turning down-wind ). So maybe the name for your transition is a board tack - body gybe ??

[kite_hh]

I like how they make it seem so simple.

And then casually add, oh, you need good foot skills,... and excellent board turning. And yeah, steer the kite just right.

My personal opinion: it needs quite some practice.

The video is good advice, nevertheless. I just feel they could occasionally mention this most likely won't work on the first try.

Though this probably goes for many skills in kiting. Maybe I am just envious of the perfect conditions they seem to have whenever filming.

[kite_hh]

When I do this, I move the board upwind, but instead of completing the rotation with my body in the same direction, I turn my body back in the opposite direction. So kind of a 180 back, and then a 180 forward (the board still rotates around the full 360), instead of a 360 of the body and board like in the video. Is that still a duck tack or is that called something else?

I am confused. If your board is rotating 360° it is pointing in the same direction as before?!

The video above describes the duck tack. A regular tack is well described here:


Maybe that is what you are doing?

[yomotha]

I am confused. If your board is rotating 360° it is pointing in the same direction as before?!

The video above describes the duck tack. A regular tack is well described here:


Maybe that is what you are doing?

Oops, you're right, my angles are off... late night with the kids.

Also, the video of the strapless tack is exactly what I'm doing. So I guess I need to learn the duck tack in it's true form.

[windmaker]

Is that still a duck tack or is that called something else?

Using sailboat turning definitions, your board is tacking ( turning up into the wind ) and your body is gybing ( turning down-wind ). So maybe the name for your transition is a board tack - body gybe ??

I think the term duck tack originated from windsurfing. You have the choice to either walk around the mast (normal tack) or duck under the sail (hence duck tack). in sailing movement of the crew has no influence on the name of the maneuver.

Another excellent example:

[longwhitecloud]

cool.... my hot tip is kite position keep it above but wack it back the other direction ever so slightly ( hardly at all - 2-3m!) - repeat 100 times!