Pop transitions This is a combination of the slide turn we talked about last month and the edge and release technique mentioned above. This is a good one to learn because it teaches you the basics of a transition. This is the skill used in any one transition, whether it is a pop transition, a back loop transition or a gay board-off transition! Basically you’ll come into a slide turn with a little more speed than usual. As the kite drifts up to the neutral zone edge hard and release. When done properly, you’ll pop into the air with no forward momentum ready to go in the new direction. Pause the kite in or just past the neutral zone and look in the new direction to see where you’re going to land. As you drop back down, dive the kite into the new direction, hard, giving you the momentum to land

planning. Come in with more speed As the kite drifts up and through the neutral zone, edge hard and release Pause and wait for the kite to lower you down Dive the kite in the new direction, hard. If you're wondering how hard to dive the kite, check out the next animation:

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You don’t get off the water – Try coming in with a bit more speed, just as the kite gets to the neutral zone, edge and pop as in the edge and release mentioned in jumping, but edge until you almost stall, then release. If the kite is directly above you, you should get lifted upwards.

You land still going in the same direction – You’re getting enough edge to pop, but you’re not stopping your forward momentum, try edging a little harder each time you do the trick. Once you get the right amount of edge and release, you’ll go straight up. Just remember to dive the kite hard in the new direction as you come down.

You get height but get dumped by the kite – This happens when you swinging out like a pendulum, coming in with too much speed. Try either coming in with less speed or edging harder just before you leave the water. Remember the aim is to go straight up, but not too high at first.

You land but stall before heading in the new direction – If you’re here, you’ve almost got the trick dialled. You’re getting the right amount of pop and stopping your forward momentum, but aren’t diving the kite hard enough. If you look at the close shot in the pop transition grab sequence, you’ll see the kite diving straight down towards the ground as I come into land. Remember dive it super hard and then pull it out of the dive before it hits the water.

	©2006 The Waterboard Ltd Inc. All Rights Reserved ©2005 Fluid Edge ©2005 Mike Smith Many Thanks to Mike Smith for providing this article.