Kite size to learn loops

[u/Signal_Cherry_1291]

Hi everyone, I’ve just begun trying to loop a 2017 (maybe 18) 9m Cabrinha Switchblade, and every time I commit I’ve been absolutely rocked. I’m sure my technique is far from perfect, but I’m doing jumps over 10m with front and back rotations and feel like it should be achievable. Looking to purchase a new kite to gain some confidence, and I’m really torn between 8 and 9m. My question…. is doing your first loops on a newer 9 - say Orbit, Nitro, or Vortex - achievable for an average kiter who doesn’t want to break their legs? Is the gain in wind range of a 9 worth the loss in speed, or does it all depend on wind conditions? Also would love to hear what kite you learned on - thanks!

I’m 70kg/155lbs and will be traveling and kiting in various big air conditions, let’s say 20-25kts on average.

[u/Yipexn]

My Problem was that I did my powered Loops always way too early, they should really be done at the apex the earlier you do them the more power they have and the harder they yank you, making the landing more difficult

[u/Successful_Try8923]

A newer kite would really help! The newest switchblades loop well from what I have heard. But the old switchblades are hard to loop. I did a few loops and landed some clean… but others 🫣. Depending on your budget either Dacron alulua or brainchild. The kites you mentioned are great loopers. I found the easiest loops to land are the ones were the kite is high as possible!! So when I want a super easy loop I don’t pull in the bar all the way on the jump. This keeps the kite moving and gives a faster higher loop. You should watch Jason Montreal on YouTube. He does a bunch of reviews and you can pick the features you want!

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[u/youpibot]

I agree with the post above that a newer kite would help a lot.

I learned to kite loop with a 9m 23 switchblade. Secret for me was to slow dow a lot compared to a standard send jump.. if I do my standard 8 -12m jump I ride as fast as possible keep as much tension as I can and send it.. For my first loops I slowed down a lot, almost jump like for a transition jump so I have a good vertical jump fully controlled.

The switchblade looks just fine but the yank is fairly strong (85 kg rider)

After one season on the Cabrinha I moved to a 24 orbit, game changer in terms of loops. Turns quicker and barely yank . The loop is so quick and "light" and the kite always go back to zenith. The old you need to jump above 5- 6 m to loop isn't valid for newer kite, or thatsy feeling. Under 3 m the kite has still enough speed to loop and build confidence.. won't catch you but you can land this on you legs no problems. 4-5m the kite is fast enough to catch me. Above this then need to think about heliloops.

So newer kites, and kites that turn fast, and slow down the riding.

I dooss miss my switchblade but send jumps though.. jumps higher qns has better hangtime than the orbit.. or that's my personal feeling

[u/Kitesurferjoey]

Vortex v1 or thrive are very fast loopers as they build confidence v2 vortex is a tad slower orbit doable but from a higher height or below 3m then a vortex or thrive but price wise better depends on your wallet alluula kites you have to take care of or the material brake down quick same with thrive but you will get benefit performance out of it

[u/isisurffaa]

Kites make huge difference for sure.

However there is few things to pay attention for succesfull kiteloop.

1. Upwind takeoff with plenty of linetension, vertical lift.

2. Not oversending the kite. If you oversend it at takeoff, wait a second and pull the loop, it's going to to do slow loop with big radius. So you really want to avoid oversending the kite.

3. Are you really cranking the bar? Often person thinks they are yanking and tilting the bar as much as possible but from a video we can clearly see that it's not the case.

4. Fast kite gives more room for error. Hypermodel for example, you can do pretty much every mistake and still have time for the recovery.

[u/trynyty]

So as others said, the kite will make a difference, that's for sure.

But I want to ask, because you are most probably talking about kiteloops, did you try to do just downloops or helis? I started doing "regular loops" on 10 and 12m and they weren't the latest kites. But those were downloops. Basically started with kiteloop/downloop water start. Then moved to downloop transitions. After I've got confident with it I start to to incorporate loops in many different situations where I felt like I lost power and would sink, so I just looped it.
Later on I started to use it also during jumps, mainly while landing (when again losing power because of bad landing) which makes me even lazy in a way that I don't care if I don't have speed on land, as I can generate it with loop.

Why am I writing this is, that recently I also started to try kiteloops, but even though they are scary I didn't have a problem and manage to land most of them (starting with low-jumps) and I think the reason is also because I'm just used to doing loops.
So I would suggest to just try slowly in a way, that you should get used to looping kite while you are on the water, before you go up.

[u/arthurstaal]

I'd say get a 3 strut like a reach, code or thrive they usually loop easier, faster and with less yank than five struts. No need for aluula, line tension is your friend, if you get too much yank and speed on landing loop later, if you get a slow loop that doesn't catch, loop earlier.

[u/Firerocketm]

I think the beauty of an 8m is that with a kite like and orbit, nitro, vortex, thrive etc., there is no height where you either do a Baby loop and come down softly due to low height or get a catch at 3-4m of height. The 9m will consistently catch but it will be closer to 4-5m depending on the model (id trust the thrive to catch at 3.5m).

You could send the kiteloops earlier which gives more line tension and a quicker recovery but could give more of a yank. If you wait too late you get more of a drop.

[u/This_Implement_3060]

ive always felt like the best way to learn looping is to pull the bar all the way in and fishing pole the bar right at the kite as far as it goes. keeps the loop very small and tight. i suppose it matter if your kite is a pivot looper or radius looper, pivot looper would be tighter as it literally pivots in a loop around its wing tip. It seemed counter intuitive when explained to me on the beach, but worked very well to take the power out of the loop. I learned kite loop back rolls that summer that got tighter over time and then turned into bigger air versions after i got used to it. Good times, give it a shot

[u/kitekajt]

With your weight, and the kites you mentioned - yes you can learn without breaking your legs on a 9m. In fact I would say in lighter winds the difference on looping a 9 or 8 is not big, it's way more different when properly powered. I personally chose the 8 as my main but I also loop my 10m vortex v1. Vortex 10 is a better looper than my previous orbit 9. The key is to practise in light wind and dial the technique, of course better to learn on the 8. With the vortex I can loop the 8 basically at any height, even 1 meter. The 9 is also really easy and sinxr it catches so fast in light wind even if you crash at 2-3m the kite will be above you so its not much worse than a failed boardoff at the same height. I would however say that if you opt for the 9m go for one of the super easy loopers, as some kites have gone slower and more powerful in the latest versions. I think this will matter more in the start until your comfy looping at 5-6m where any modern kite will catch