Front roll kitesurf trick in 11 steps. Are you in?

front roll

After the 'roll back' this time we explain the 'front roll' to you. The front roll is a forward rotation. You don't have to jump high either. Of course the basis before you start the front roll is that you can jump. We explain the front roll in light wind and calm water. As soon as the front roll succeeds, you can expand it. For example with a grab as shown in the video, but also higher in the air in stronger winds. Also, once you've mastered the trick, a wave as a ramp is a great start to a high front roll.

Also ambitious? Join.

Of course you don't have to participate. Kitesurfing is a super diverse sport with something for everyone. Anyway, you know that we are still ambitious and practice kitesurfing tricks. Focus does work to master new kitesurfing tricks fellow kiters. Feel free to spend an entire session practicing a specific trick that you want to master. Or do this together with your kitesurfing buddies. Even nicer.

The front roll is a wonderful kitesurf trick to master. View and read how you can do this too.

'Front roll' in 11 steps

Time required: 1 minute

'Front roll' kitesurf trick learning principles
As stated; to get started on a front roll you need to master the basics of making and landing jumps. So you must be able to jump. Start practicing the front roll in a suitable and stable wind. So not in strong winds with strong gusts. Calm water also helps. Of course a wave helps for the take-off, but practicing a front roll is very good in flat water. So choose a nice spot.

  1. Timing the front roll

    Timing your take off is crucial. In the beginning, a flat piece of water is fine so that you have full control over the timing. Timing front roll

  2. Sales for a 'front roll'

    Of course you need some time in the air ('hang time'). But not much. Certainly not as much as with the one footer or for board off. A front roll can make you quite low and then continue your course at speed. We also explain a low front roll in this how-to-do.

    The front roll starts with a good take-off. For this you have to tilt the kiteboard while you are steering the kite. Stay on edge as long as possible until the kite is almost directly above you. Then pull the bar firmly so that you are pulled into the air. You send the kite at the take-off until about 11 o'clock or 1 o'clock as we call these positions in the wind window. Don't send the kite over there because that is not necessary. Moreover, you run the risk that you can no longer get the kite out of this position, resulting in a crash.

  3. Front foot behind the kite

    When taking off, make sure that the back foot remains low or that the back of the kiteboard keeps contact with the water for as long as possible. On the other hand, you let the proposed foot go behind the kite. This has started the rotation.Front foot behind kite

  4. Hands not too far apart

    Just before your take-off, make sure your hands aren't too far apart at the bar. This ensures that your kite stays as good as possible at 12 o'clock or just over the middle of the wind. So on the opposite side of your sailing direction. If you don't do this, you will quickly be pulled into your direction in the air with the risk of losing your balance and resulting in a crash. This is also important because the rotation will probably disorient you for a while.Hands close together

  5. Degree of depowering

    Because I explain a low front roll, you sometimes see me quickly depowering after the take-off, even before I hang backwards. I try to dose the depower so that I rotate at a constant height. You see me in the video at the moments that I do not depower immediately jump a bit higher. When learning it is nice to depower so that you do not jump too high and thus maintain confidence. depower

  6. Your viewing direction determines success

    With rotations, your viewing direction actually determines the success of the trick. By actually looking over your shoulder during a front roll, you ensure the rotation. You look where you want to go. It may sound strange but it really is. This process stops the moment you have the location of the landing in view. From that moment on you keep looking at the place where you want to land.Viewing direction

  7. Time Landing

    You are now if it has turned out well and you are going down considerably. Timing the landing of the front roll is just as exciting. Straightening your knees and lengthening will slow the rotation if you run the risk of turning too far. By bending your knees further, you can provide some extra time when landing. This is useful if you're already sinking hard but aren't quite ready to land yet.Time Landing

  8. Submit a kite

    When descending and timing the landing you also steer your kite in the direction of travel. You start with this just before the moment you are turned off. If you do this too early, you will quickly be pulled sideways. If you do this too late, you may dangle under your kite and a clean landing will be jeopardized.Submit a kite

  9. Kiteboard landing before the wind

    Wrap up your landing by landing your kiteboard slightly into the wind instead of immediately wanting to land completely on course. This helps for a soft landing and reduces the risk of being pulled past your kiteboard. In the beginning you land a little more with the wind. If you have the front roll under control, you can also land it at speed and kitesurf on course again almost immediately.

  10. Rewind bar

    Since you did a rotation, your lines crossed on landing. Rotating your bar in the opposite direction to your rotation will ensure that your lines are no longer crossed.

  11. Follow the course and reminisce

    You can now go extra sides to walk high and do what you want. Making and performing this jump feels great. Enjoy it.Follow course

Additional explanation kiteboard 'front roll'

My video and explanation was filmed from me as a kite surfer. Another useful video is that of kitesurf college. This was recorded from a distance and may help you too.

Conclusion 'front roll'

Of course you have to master the basics of jumping before you make a front roll and continue kitesurfing properly. But with focus and a little perseverance, the front roll is achievable as far as I'm concerned. It is also a basic kitesurfing trick that is very satisfying. You can also expand it. For example with a grab, with a transition with kiteloop, high in the air etc.

Which kitesurf trick do you want to learn? Let us help…

Do you have a kitesurfing trick that you would like to learn and want some explanation about? Let us know. We are really not the best kite surfers, but we like to guide kite surfers and kite surfers in the making. In addition, we are in contact with the best kite surfers who might want to give us, and therefore you, a helping hand.

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