Now you leave land and enter kitesurfing's real environment: the water.
This is a big shift, because you no longer have a stable surface under your feet.
Here you start to understand something key:
Before riding with a board, you need to learn to move with the kite in the water.
This is called body dragging.
It's one of the most important skills in kitesurfing because it teaches you to:
- Control the kite in real conditions
- Move without a board
- Recover your board
- Stay in control in the water
1Goal of this module
In this module you'll learn to:
- Get into the water safely
- Keep control of the kite while floating
- Move without a board
- Recover the board in the water
- Understand the wind's real pull in actual conditions
2Before getting in the water
Don't get in the water without checking:
Conditions
- Stable wind
- An area free of obstacles
- Enough room downwind
- Other riders under control
Gear
- Kite correctly set up
- Lines with no crossings
- Harness properly fitted
- Safety system tested
Mindset
- Calm
- Control
- Patience
Water adds difficulty. It's not a place to improvise.
3Getting into the water
Getting in should be a gradual process.
Walk in with the kite in the neutral zone
- At 10 or 2 o'clock.
Keep the kite stable
- While the water rises to your waist.
Keep moving slowly
- Until you're in deep enough water to float.
Never get in with the kite in the power zone or at 12 o'clock.
4Your first sensation in the water
Once you're floating, you'll notice:
- Less stability
- More sensitivity to the wind
- More obvious changes in the kite
- A constant pulling sensation
This is normal.
Water removes the support of solid ground, so everything depends on the kite.
5What is body dragging?
Body dragging is moving through the water using only the kite.
No board.
Your body acts as "drag" while the kite pulls you along.
What is it for?
- Recovering the board
- Moving without a board
- Practicing kite control
- Understanding the wind's real force
6Basic body dragging (direction)
Exercise 1: moving sideways.
Place the kite to the side
- Roughly at 10 or 2 o'clock.
Position
- Stretch your body out in the water.
Movement
- Let the kite drag you gently.
What you'll feel
- Steady speed
- A sideways pull
- Control in your hands
Don't fight the water. Let the kite do the work.
7Power body dragging
This exercise teaches you to generate speed.
Step by step
- Move the kite from 10 to 12 or from 2 to 12 o'clock.
- Feel the increase in power.
- Keep your body aligned.
- Steer with small adjustments.
More power doesn't mean better control.
8Upwind body dragging to recover the board
This is one of the most important exercises.
Typical situation
- You fall
- You lose the board
- You need to get it back
Procedure
Keep the kite stable in the neutral zone
- At 10 or 2 o'clock.
Spot the board floating
Use body dragging to get closer
Reach out and grab the board
Common mistake
Trying to swim to the board without using the kite.
Result
- Wasted energy
- Loss of control
- Drifting further from the board
9Body position in the water
Your body is part of the system.
Ideal position
- Body stretched out
- Legs relaxed
- Head out of the water when possible
- Looking toward where you're headed
Common mistake
- Curling up
- Fighting the water
- Tensing your whole body
10Kite control in the water
The kite is more sensitive in the water.
Small movements create big changes.
In the water, you move the kite less and your body more.
11Typical body dragging mistakes
Mistake 1: moving the kite too much
This causes:
- Loss of stability
- Sudden jerks
- Lack of control
Mistake 2: entering the power zone without control
This can cause:
- Unexpected acceleration
- Loss of direction
Mistake 3: not watching your surroundings
You always need to know:
- Where the shore is
- Where other riders are
- Where the wind is dragging you
Mistake 4: tensing your body
The water already creates drag. You don't need to add more tension.
12Safety in the water
At all times, you need to be ready to:
- Release power if needed
- Return to the neutral zone
- Trigger the safety system if you lose control
13The body dragging mindset
This exercise isn't only technical.
It's mental.
It teaches you to:
- Trust the kite
- Stop fighting the wind
- Accept the natural movement
Module exercise
Answer these:
1. What is body dragging for?
2. Where should the kite be when getting into the water?
3. What do you do if you lose the board?
4. How should your body be positioned in the water?
Module summary
- ✔Body dragging is essential before using the board
- ✔The kite is your movement system in the water
- ✔Control matters more than strength
- ✔Your body should float and follow along
- ✔Recovering the board is a key skill