How to do a Heli Loop in kitesurfing? Explanation and Video

In this post we're going to teach you how to do repeated Heli Loops. Mastering this kitesurf technique will take your kitesurfing a step further.

Many kitesurfers first learned to jump and fly. After all, it's the "coolest” part. But we mustn't forget that the landing is as important as the jump, or more so, since one bad move on landing can leave us without many future jumps for a long time.

We're going to show you the key points for doing a Heli Loop with a safe, trouble-free landing on the water.

What is a Heli Loop or helicopter loop?

The Heli Loop, or jumps with helicopter loops, is an addition to any trick because it maximises the wind window.

They're used as a tool for soft landings after a big jump (ideally from 8 metres high).
The Heli loop can lift you back up into the air (if done correctly), hence its name "Heli".

It lets you hang on to the bar as you descend for a softer landing. At the same time, it lets you stay in the air longer. Let's see how to do it in the "How to do a Front Heli Loop" section below.

What's the difference between a Kiteloop and a Heli Loop?

Bear in mind that a kiteloop gives you a strong pull, while a heli loop gives you no pull at all; the latter's movement is smoother, throwing a kiteloop before reaching the top of the jump. For this reason, we'll teach you all about this kitesurf technique below.

Benefits

Do you do jumps of more than 8 metres?

The Heli Loop is only beneficial if you do a jump higher than 8 metres. This is the height at which your kite normally starts to rise as a result of the wind window.

How to do a Front Hand Heli Loop?

There are three key points when doing a Front Hand Heli Loop.

Bear in mind that the slower you do all these movements, the longer you'll stay airborne. So do it smoothly!

If there isn't much wind, it's better to practise Heli Loops with a bigger kite. We recommend a kite between 10 and 12.

Start by landing without a Heli Loop. If someone watches you, you'll be able to correct mistakes you make without realising.

Common mistakes to avoid in Heli Loops

Three of the most common mistakes are the following:

How to do a Back Hand Heli Loop

The "back hand" method is much more difficult because you gain more speed in flight. And obviously, the more speed, the more difficulty.

We'll explain the Back Hand Heli Loop with the same approach we used for the Front Hand Heli Loop.

1. Steer the kite: It's the same as the front hand heli loop but with one nuance. We start by sending the kite forward in front of us. Then you need to park the swing underneath and steer the kite around. Only this time, with your back hand. You can see it from minute 5:55 to 6:02.
2. Stop the kite: When you reach the highest point of the jump, steer the kite forward (it may give you an extra boost, but the kite will push you as it descends in front of you as a result of the wind window). Watch it from minute 6:03 to 6:07.
3. Swing: Let the bar out slightly so the kite stays still and you swing underneath it. Learn more by watching the video above (minute 6:08 to 6:11).
4. The turn: Under the kite, pull the bar in again to pull the kite while gently turning your back to one side. The full explanation is in the video (minute 6:12 to 6:16).

Make sure you steer the kite smoothly and land downwind. It's best to start little by little!

Repeated Heli Loops

It's worth repeating this technique several times in the same jump, as long as we're doing jumps of over 20 metres or riding in very windy conditions.

In this case, repeated Heli Loops really can be useful!

Repeating loops isn't just about holding the bar longer: it's about parking the kite again and repeating the swing and steering of each loop.