The Board Off is probably one of the simplest first tricks to learn when doing Big Air but before starting out in the Big Air tricks world, you need to make sure that you are comfortable with high jumps before trying the next step.
Djebbe Hiscock Board Off captured by Mitchell Doylle Markgraaff
What is a Board Off?
A Board-Off is great. It is exactly what the name suggests it is.
You take your board off during the height of your jump and need to get it back under your feet for the landing. You can take your board off your feet by using the handle as a grip or by grabbing the board close to the fins.
For this example, we are going to explain how to grab the board using the handle because it is the easiest way to do it in the beginning.
Victor Hays Board Off captured by Ramiro Gallart
The Recipe:
Step 1: The first thing you need to do is to look at the conditions. When first trying a board off, you should try it in medium wind conditions using a bigger-sized kite for your body weight. Where you normally use an 8m/9m you can use a 10/12m because it will give you more hang time.
Step 2: Next step is to do get good pop and do a straight jump, pulling in on the bar with your kite at 12.
Djebbe Hiscock captured by Mitchell Doylle Markgraaff
Step 3: When you feel that you are close to the height of your jump, you can use your back hand to grab the handle of your board and to take your board off of your feet. Try to stretch your legs as much as you can to help keep you centered. The reason for using your back hand instead of your front hand is because your front hand will need to do some steering when you prepare for your landing.
Djebbe Hiscock Board Off captured by Mitchell Doylle Markgraaff
Step 4: Next step is getting the board back under your feet and sticking the landing. For this, you can place your board in front of you to make it easier to put your feet back in the straps.
Sometimes, this part is a little harder than it seems so this would need some practice!
Djebbe Hiscock captured by Mitchell Doylle Markgraaff
Step 5: Then, one of the most important things to remember for all big jumps, is the kite position when you prepare for your landing (refer to Big Air Mistakes You Need To Avoid: Mistake 8). If you keep your kite at 12, you will most probably have a crash landing. Since your kite is at 12, you will sort of “swing” further underneath it and it eventually ends up slightly behind you, therefore out of the window where it can catch you.
To avoid a crash landing, you need to pull on your front hand to keep the kite moving forward so that it can catch you as you come down.
Djebbe Hiscock Board Off captured by Mitchell Doylle Markgraaff
To summarize:
- Get a good amount of edge for a good pop.
- Get your kite to 12 and pull in on the bar using the power of your pop as well as the lift of the kite to get up.
- Grab your board by the handle and take your feet out of the straps.
- Stretch those legs.
- Board in front of you, feet back in straps.
- Pull the front hand to make sure the kite gets moving again to prepare for the landing.
Important: Always land with bent legs!
Rider: Djebbe Hiscock
Photographer: Mitchell Doylle Markgraaff
Next article: 10 Big Air Mistakes To Avoid
HOW TO AVOID THESE TOP 10 BIG AIR BEGINNER MISTAKES
We were all beginners once and mistakes are a natural part of the process when starting something new, but the principle that takes a beginner to the point of becoming a professional is the ability to identify mistakes and correct them continuously.
To try to make things a little bit easier for us all, saving some frustration and confusion over the long run, we’ve put together a short guide on how to avoid or correct the mistakes you might find yourself making as a progressing Big Air rider.
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