The downloop transition opens the loop family. This guide explains prerequisites, gear, risks and readiness, deliberately without a how-to to copy.
The honest answer first: in the downloop transition the kite is looped downward through the power zone and pulls you around the turn, a change of direction with a lot of pull. It is the entry into the loop family and in the VDWS system belongs to Level 7 ("rotation or kiteloops") [1]. In the IKO Evolution freeride list "downloop" only comes at position 15, after backroll, backroll transition, downwinder, grabs, inverted jump, pop and dark slide [2].
This guide is deliberately not a how-to to copy. A kiteloop accelerates the kite strongly, you hang on the lines, and mistakes happen in fractions of a second. The data show it: in a measurement on big-air riders landing load was clearly higher in failed kiteloops than in successful ones, because the kite lost its parachute effect [3]. The KITE study reports a ruptured eardrum after an impact while attempting a kiteloop [4].
The pro classification follows from that: it requires transition, body drag under the kite and jump routine. This guide does not replace a coach.
The following steps describe the way there, not the trick itself.
Do transition, jump, landing and body drag work? IKO says: without the simple manoeuvres, the harder ones are a waste of time and energy, and when in doubt you go back [5]. Milestone: you tell the coach which of the prerequisites you master and which not.
Leash at the front of the harness, quick release works, lines without damage, bar clean [5][8]. Milestone: test release before every launch, the leash sits correctly.
Twisted lines are normal after loops. You learn with your system how to untwist them without opening the leash [8]. Milestone: you untwist the lines blind on the beach.
The coach shows you the kite movement first on land or in the water without you standing on the board (practice). That way you see how fast the pull builds. Milestone: you describe the kite path and where the power arises.
Your coach shows you the execution in person, ideally in light wind. I deliberately do not describe it step by step here: copying from text is the situation the statistics warn about. Milestone: one controlled downloop transition, followed by an honest debrief.
When the trick works you repeat it on both sides and in weaker and stronger conditions. IKO: skills apply to the conditions experienced [9]. Milestone: both sides, two different wind strengths.
Kiteloops are the area where mistakes end the worst. The kite accelerates, you are connected through the harness and reaction time is short. Failed kiteloops produced higher loads than successful ones in the measurement [3]. A recent survey names knee ligament injuries as those with the longest time loss, plus lower-leg and rib injuries [10].
When in doubt trigger the quick release and never let go of the bar when you are in the air [11]. This guide is an explanation, not a training manual. It does not replace a coach, a school or the manufacturer's manual.
After the first session with a coach do a three-sentence debrief: what was the plan, what happened, what do I change? The conversation after the attempt is worth more than the next attempt. (practical experience)
A change of direction in which the kite is looped downward through the power zone and pulls you around the turn. It is the entry into the loop family and sits in Level 7 of the VDWS system [1].
I advise against it. IKO points out that the programme does not replace a coach [12]. Mistakes in the loop happen in fractions of a second (practice).
Because a text manual for safety-critical manoeuvres would be dangerous: it can provide hints that are applied wrongly without supervision. Your coach gives you feedback in real time.
There is no risk figure for this transition. 49% of injuries in the KITE study happened during a jump or trick [4].
A working quick release, a safety leash on the harness, undamaged lines and a system on which you can untwist line twist [5][8]. Ask your school or the manufacturer which bar is suitable for loops.
Kitesurfing: The Kitesurfing ABC – All the Key Terms Explained