Hand drag

Let your hand glide through the water in style with the Hand Drag!

This freestyle classic combines a simple hand drag with a half flip where you turn upside down with your legs pointing towards the sky. For style points, hold the position as long as possible while brushing the water with the palm of your hand. Here’s how to execute this move step by step.

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

Requirements:

Excellent kite control: Know how to control power precisely and keep the kite moving to support your weight.
Confidence with jumps: Be comfortable with jumps and simple rotations. If you can master small transitions from one tack to the other, you're ready.
deal conditions: steady wind, flat water, and plenty of leeward space (you never know...).

Steps to execute a Hand Drag Invert:

1. Preparation

Moderate to fast speed: Gain speed by gently edging the bar, but maintain fluid control.
Position the kite at around 80° to 90° on first attempts: Point the kite towards the zenith to benefit from more lift. As you progress, keep the wing lower to gain more speed in the slide.

2. Hand drag and take off

The pop is different from a classic jump. On a jump, you need to sheet in and make a big pop to break the speed (make resistance) to go higher, whereas on the hand drag you need to make less of a pop to allow a long jump rather than a high one (without sheeting in too much). Concretely:

Lighten your weight on the board: Shift your weight onto your back foot to slightly lift the front of the board.
Initiate the hand drag: Bend your knees and lean into the water to extend a hand that will touch the surface. Keep your body tense to remain stable.

Launch the jump:

Slightly pull the bar so that the kite generates a moderate lift.
Give a subtle pop with the legs to lift the board off the water.

Head down: Tilt the hips upwards. Legs should point vertically.

3. Hold position

You need to position your front hand as close as possible to the depower line and progressively tuck it in as you execute the movement (to bring the kite down).

The hand dragging in the water helps stabilize the figure.

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

4. Landing

Let your body follow the tension of the kite to naturally return to a standing position. Gently guide the board beneath you while controlling the landing. Relaunch the kite to accelerate.