Carving turn with a twintip

Go for a power turn, throwing buckets of water in the process, with the Heel to Toe Carving Turn!

The Carving Turn is nothing more than a half-turn, but with intensity, speed, and a strong edge grip on the water. When executed perfectly, it’s highlighted by a beautiful, long spray of water. A simple yet incredibly fun maneuver to perform. Play with the kite’s power to carve a perfect half-circle in the water while maintaining the highest and most consistent speed possible. Let’s break it down.

  Kitesurfer: Tristan, GONG staff, with a Steez Wood Flex twintip and Vertigo kite.

• Preparation

To perform this turn on a twintip, speed and precision are your best allies. If you're underpowered and lacking speed, forget about it and switch direction with a simple slide turn. If the wind is strong enough, look for a flat surface with enough space downwind (just in case you get overexited when sending the kite...). Take a crosswind course.

• Switching from toe side to heel side

L’essentiel lors de cette séquence est de ne pas casser la vitesse dont vous aurez besoin pour envoyer une belle courbe. Faites un 180° avec la planche en prenant appui sur la barre. Pas besoin de tirer dessus. On ne veut pas décoller mais seulement libérer la planche de l’eau pour faire passer le pied arrière à l’avant, soit de passer de toeside à heelside. On peut aussi faire décrocher l’arrière de la planche pour qu’il passe devant sans décoller de l’eau. Mais gare aux zipettes et à la perte de vitesse.    

• Pivoting the kite

The main focus during this sequence is to maintain the speed necessary for executing a smooth turn. Do a 180° flip of the board by using the bar for leverage, without pulling excessively. The goal is not to jump but to release the board from the water and shift your back foot to the front, transitioning from toeside to heelside. Alternatively, you can make the back of the board slide and bring it to the front without lifting off the water, but watch out for any speed loss or stalling.

• Pivoting the kite

While heelside, maintain your course for a moment before sending the kite in its new direction. If you start to bear off too early with the board, you risk slackening the lines and losing the power you need to complete the turn at full speed. Stick to your edge, keeping the kite in the middle of the window (around 45°), or a bit higher if you're well-powered, to maintain that crucial power through the maneuver.

• Control of the carve

A ce stade il n’y a plus qu’à tenir la courbe et sortir de la manœuvre dans votre nouvelle direction où vous retrouvez la position toeside. Dosez la puissance de l’aile à l’aide du border-choquer pour maintenir une vitesse continue tout au long de la courbe. Pensez à faire remonter l’aile pour relancer si besoin.