The art of scudding

[Pinnacle]

Hi Guys,

Can anyone give me some tips on learning to scud.

It looks fairly simple to do, but I just can’t pull it off.

I’m trying this with a 4.9m blade, I get myself leaning all the way back, but then as the pull really starts to kick in, I just end up running forward as I’m pulled off balance.

What’s the secret?. Tips and tricks would be a welcome sight.

[GIBBYDMG]

Wear shoes with no grip on the soles and off you will go if you are wearing ones with a lot of grip then the kite will just try to pull you over alternatively cut down two 2Ltr plastic bottles and attach to soles like mini skis and off you will go again this time at a rate of knots.

[L60N]

Get some grubby pants on, then start sitting down for the first few, then as you get powered you should be able to go from getting dragged sitting to getting up onto your heels, and have fun lol

[Pinnacle]

Thanks guys, should I be leaning back with my toes slightly lifted off the floor to get moving first ?.

 

I think I'll try with my converse rather than my mountain climbing boots lol

[FiendishMcButt]

Get yourself on moist grass or sand and you'll be able to scud as far as you want

[Cyprino]

What you really need is a pair of skate shoes or something, they'll give you more support than Converse's and less grip than climbing boots

 

Moist/wet grass is almost terrifying to scud on, but you do get a massive adrenaline rush from it Sand is brilliant too, but your shoes/trousers/everything will inevitably end up getting filled with sand lol

[sonicseal]

Tip 1 - Keep your figure of eights nice and tight, keeping the power through the turn as smooth (therefore consistant) as poss.

Tip 2 - Sit back into the invisible chair and go!

Tip 3 - When you got that nailed, try working towards almost perfect straight lines downwind or try working just one half of the wind window to scud at an angle.

[crabman]

Wet grass has got to be the best imo As long as you're careful not to bring the kite up too high during the scuds - I've done it and found myself scudding under the kite and overtaking it resulting in the old "luff, drift back, power up, pwnage..."

Like the idea of half plastic bottles

Must try that some day.

[crazyman]

or just stick to ass sliding

 

as has been stated... moist grass is the best imo

 

i personally scudd with my work shoes (high grip steelies) and still goes fine - just need to lean back far enough to combat it pulling you over

a bit of advice it mabe to space your legs out a bit more at first to keep your balance - sure you look like an idiot but hey... your having more fun then the watchers

 

Peace out and happy scudding

[Kush]

I went out on grass when we had frost over winter with the 3m flow, I was only learning at the time but jesus I had to learn quick ! Ice = good for scudding !

[Chinny]

Pretend you are learning to water ski - Feet apart & knees bent. As stated above, shoe tread makes a massive difference.

If the ground is dry, you know you are doing well on the arse-scudding when you have to suddenly jump to your feet due to a friction burnt bum.

[BullDog]

Practice your fig of eights...

 

...but to get started just push the kite across the window. Using a harness makes is easy to sit back against the power, keep your knees bent and weight on your heels and feet not to wide apart - relax!

 

Once moving, bring the kite back across the window, you should begin to accelerate/decelerate in a snaking path.

 

As you've found, running causes you to accelerate very quickly and usually results in ground munching!

 

Match your kite to wind speed - If you progress to a buggy, you'll normally find that if there is no enough power to scud, there's not enough to buggy!

[FiendishMcButt]

Wet grass has got to be the best imo As long as you're careful not to bring the kite up too high during the scuds - I've done it and found myself scudding under the kite and overtaking it resulting in the old "luff, drift back, power up, pwnage..."

 

LMAO loved to have seen a vid of that:D

[tszy]

I would try it out on sand first it's far easier - then you can transfer on to grass.

 

I tend to squat down close to the ground with my right foot directly underneath me and my left foot extend out on front of me for stability.

For some reason I've never been able to switch the leg positions around.

 

As has been stated - flat soled shoes are best [ I use skateboarder Vans ]

[crazyman]

I tend to squat down close to the ground with my right foot directly underneath me and my left foot extend out on front of me for stability.

For some reason I've never been able to switch the leg positions around.

 

thats just what i do too granted its more ass scudding but its good fun - also its fun to roll yourself and fly up side down somtime - looks quite extreme apparnetly... (never seen it but iv been told) - and its good fun - but dont try rolling first time you go out... cos it gets confusing... - and if all goes wrong.. your going head first along the groun... go figure.

 

Peace out

[Kush]

yeah sort of spinning on your back especially in the wet, I got told it looked cool..which is good cos I'd actually just made a mess of things !

[windjammer1599968715]

down turn the kite at the edge of the window and keep it low

[Screaming_Lines]

Just to add my 2p...

 

From the start, you HAVE to wear shoes with little to no / smooth tread.

Boots are great at protecting your ankles while kiting, but make it alot harder to Skud!

 

Directing the Kite through the wind window has to be done correctly, then come back the other way before getting out to the side too much to keep the Kite in the power.

 

Finally, you have to relax, sit yourself back further into a sitting position, so the tension of the lines keeps you from falling backwards. Use your legs as "suspension", soaking up the bumps, while slide forward....

[Shindig]

Its really a common sense approach using basic laws of physics.

If you have a pull force acting upon an object and you want to resist that force, you provide a pulling force in the other direction.

The skidding comes about from the balance between the kite pull force, versus you leaning back far enough to control the speed.

Then the laws of friction come into play with you either zooming off because its slippy underfoot or a slow paced controllable skid.

[Pinnacle]

Well managed to scudd for the first time ever on Friday.

 

Thanks for the advice.

 

My first attempts were little scuds followed by an adhoc run (not as planned).

After a while I got the hang of it a bit and pulled off a good few meters.

[SandMonster]

I would try it out on sand first it's far easier -

What tzy said - doesn't matter what shoes on sand;)

[foofighterfan]

What you need for Scudding is a pair of Crocs..they have no grip at all and there very light i managed a 40 foot scud along a Beach in Norfolk with my 8.5 Blade Last month!!!

[hankster]

a 2l plastic bottle on each foot bottom cut off keep the screw top on or it'll fill wiv sand lean back and enjoy the ride,fook you'll shift.i've even done it with 2 steel trays upturned at the front and some old bindings drilled and bolted on for foot loops.

[SandMonster]

a 2l plastic bottle on each foot .

& if it doesn't work eveyone else will have a good giggle!

[cl100]

 

Just read your thread... all very good advice..... this is me on sand, no shoes on sand is the best way i think