KITESURFING HOW TO: STRAPLESS DROP WALLET
NAIL YOUR FIRST DROP WALLET
At home on the Sunshine Coast where the wind is predominantly side-onshore, the old-school Drop Wallet is ideal. I also think it’s one of the most timeless moves you can do, especially if it’s done right.
This move really utilises the kite. I often talk a lot about using the power of the kite or the power of the wave and then combining the two. In this particular move, I’m using the full power of the kite.
So the first thing to recognise here is that you need to turn your kite throughout the turn you make with your board and of course, as usual, you need to start turning your kite before you the board. This is a fundamental principal; whenever you turn your board you must turn your kite first, otherwise you’ll get slack lines your kite won’t be responsive so it may not even turn at all.
The quicker you turn or pivot your kite, the more straight up and down you’ll be able to go with this turn. The more drawn out you turn your kite, the longer and harder you can carve your board across the top of the lip or through the wall of the wave.
STEPS
Your bar should be sheeted all the way in to generate as much speed and power as possible before hitting the lip.
On the way out to hitting the lip, the kite’s going in one direction, and then just before you hit the lip, turn kite in the direction you plan on heading after the turn, swinging it right through the power zone BEFORE mimicking the kite’s turn with your board. This is really important, because if you aren’t working with your kite you’ll get slack lines so keep the lines as tight as possible without the kite overtaking you.
When you get to the lip, throw your weight forward and then, to help counterbalance this, lay back through the turn. I always talk about the importance of lowering your center of gravity, which is essentially what you’re doing here.
As you hit the lip, all you need to do is sheet out and complete the turn with your board. Your kite should already be going in the right direction.
With this particular move, what really excites me is you can go into it with a huge amount of power and just throw yourself at the lip or at the wall, and see how hard you can push it to see how the maneuver turns out. What I like most about the drop wallet is every time it seems to be different. Sometimes your fins will release, other times your whole board will slide, other times you’ll hold a really strong tight carve. Obviously the faster you’re going and the faster you turn your kite the more power you’re going to be able to put in to the move.
A few key points to remember when you’re trying to throw down your first ever drop-wallet:
Speed is everything, like with most turns, but make sure you really use the kite and power your kite through this turn. If you don’t have enough speed, your board will get flung out in front of you and you’ll lag behind it.
If you have too much speed, sheet it out. If you don’t have enough, sheet in as much as possible.
To balance yourself throughout the turn, use your kite to your advantage, lower your center of gravity and lay back on the wave.
Ultimately the move is a big lay back snap so utilise those things and you can have a really fun time doing this move.