A little wind, a longboard and a traction kite and you are ready to start kite longboarding! The idea is to use a kite (also called powerkite) to move your longboard on the flat or even to go up slopes... The only constraint: find a windy spot and practicable in longskate.
The use of a wing really brings a new dimension in the practice of longboarding. You can then easily take speed or simply maintain a cruising speed while performing slides or different tricks. Your kite then becomes the engine of your board but 100% "eco-responsible".
The practice with a kite can be adapted to each discipline of longboarding, from freeride to cruising through the freestyle. Whether it is to make a cool ride at the edge of the literal pushed sea breeze or to send big slide on a clear parking lot, the traction kite allows you to completely review your way of practicing the longboard but especially to innovate.
To begin, you will have to start by familiarizing yourself with the kite's piloting. After one or two sessions, you should be ready to start moving forward with your longboard. Find out more about howa traction kite workshere .
Here is a small demo of how to use a kite with a cruiser:
CHOOSING A KITE TO START KITE-LONGBOARDING
Preferably choose a traction kite that can be flown with bar. To start with a reasonable budget, you can go for a 3-line traction kite from 2.0 m2 to 4.0m2.
For use in moderate winds:
- People weighing less than 60 kg can go for a size of 2.0
- For people weighing between 60 and 85 kg, a 3.0 size should be preferred
- Above 85 kg, a 4.0 will be necessary to have enough traction.
The wing size / weight correspondences riders are established for moderate wind conditions (about 15 knots of wind / Force 4 Beaufort).
CHOOSING A KITE FOR FREESTYLE KITE-LONGBOARDING
For fast riding, big slides and aerial tricks, you will have to go for a border/shock kite (power management system "Depower"). These kites are technically more advanced than the 3-line kites and give you much more lift to perform radical tricks or powerslides.
Choice of size for a Border / choquer kite :
- Sizes - 60kg : between 5.0 and 7.0 m2
- Sizes from 60kg to 85kg : between 7.0 and 10.0 m2
- Sizes over 85 kg : between 10.0 and 12.0 m2
CHOOSE YOUR LONGBOARD FOR KITE-LONGBOARDING
Overall, it is possible to use any longboard with a traction kite. However, we advise, at least for your beginnings, to opt for a board with a length of 36" to 42" to have a good stability. As for shape, there is no rule and it is best to use the longboard you are already comfortable with and used to rider. Of course, having kicktails will be a real plus for maneuverability and tricks.