What separates a megaloop from a normal kiteloop? Why timing before the jump's peak decides height — and demands full commitment once you start.
Welcome to the megaloop — this is where Big Air splits off from the rest of kitesurfing. A megaloop isn't just a bigger kiteloop, it's a different sequence altogether: a radical loop flown exclusively in jumps above 10 m height, at wind strengths from around 30 knots. That exact combination of height and power makes it the most demanding move in the discipline.
The decisive difference is timing: a controlled loop is initiated after you've reached the peak of your jump — safer, but limited in effect. A true megaloop is initiated before you reach the peak. The result: you get shot forward instead of gently continuing to rise — and the kite only catches you once it reaches 12 o'clock, provided you stay fully committed.
That exact point — initiation before rather than after the peak — is also why "extremity" (the horizontal distance you cover during the loop) counts as its own scoring factor in competition: whoever pulls earlier while holding a clean kite angle generates more extremity and therefore more points. At this level, milliseconds decide meters — and score.
Welcome to the elite. There's no such thing as "a little committed" here.
Before you even think about a megaloop, initiate the loop routinely after the peak of your normal jump. This controlled version is your safety net and your technical foundation.
Use hard edge loading and a powerful send to reach the maximum height of your jump before a loop even enters the picture. The higher the base jump, the more room you have for the loop.
Initiate the loop a little earlier each time — first just after the peak, then almost at the peak, then before it. Every step feels stronger; don't jump straight from "after the peak" to "well before it".
Initiate before the peak and the kite noticeably shoots you forward — a sensation that surprises many riders the first time. Hold the movement through consistently and the kite catches you again at 12 o'clock, delivering a surprisingly soft landing.
If you want to score competition-ready, pull the loop as early as you can cleanly manage while holding a good kite angle — that combination generates the horizontal distance scored separately as "extremity", on top of raw height.
The megaloop is the highest-injury-risk move in this entire series — the combination of height, rotation and strong-wind forces forgives little. Build it exclusively on top of already solid, automated kiteloop technique.
Wear an impact vest and helmet without exception, and keep generous distance from other riders — a megaloop's flight path is less predictable than any other jump. Details on the specific safety-system behavior during a loop are covered in this series' dedicated safety guide.
Film every session and mark exactly which kite clock position you actually initiated the loop at — not where you think you initiated it. The gap between felt and actual timing at this level is often bigger than even experienced riders estimate.
A normal, controlled loop is initiated after the jump's peak — safer, but limited. A megaloop is initiated before it, in jumps above 10 m height at roughly 30 knots or more, and shoots you noticeably forward before the kite catches you again at 12 o'clock.
Because the kite's position at the moment of initiation directly determines how much power and "extremity" — the horizontal distance during the loop — is generated. Initiating earlier with a clean kite angle generates more extremity and therefore more score.
Realistically from around 30 knots. Below that, the kite lacks enough power to catch you in time at 12 o'clock, which noticeably raises the risk of an uncontrolled landing.
Barely, in a controlled way — once you initiate below the peak, half-commitment is riskier than full commitment. That's exactly why you build the move up in small timing steps instead of jumping straight to the extreme version.
Big Air: Kiteloop Safety — Managing the Residual Risk