“When you’re going through the snake loop, after the first double loop, when you change the kite… the third one is out of ways, so it’s like a contra loop.”
Overview and Basic Structure
The S-Loop and its multiple-rotation derivatives are extreme tricks where the rider inverts bar input in mid-air to reverse the kite’s direction of rotation.
To clarify the mechanics, this guide assumes a Regular-Stance(left foot forward / riding left) with the following bar inputs and rotation directions:
- Standard Loop (Back hand / Pulling right): The kite rotates clockwise.
- Contra Loop (Front hand / Pulling left): The kite rotates counterclockwise, moving forward in the direction of travel.
By combining these “right” and “left” pulls along with double loops in the air, riders create complex, geometric trajectories that differ entirely from simple continuous rotations.
S-Loop and Contra S
These are the foundational combo loops (two rotations) involving a directional reversal.
- S-Loop: [Right ➔ Left]
Initiated with a standard loop, the rider quickly pulls the front hand before the kite climbs back up. The kite traces an “S” shape in the sky. - Contra S-Loop: [Left ➔ Right]
The inverse of the S-Loop. The initial approach begins with a front-hand contra loop, followed by pulling the back hand to reverse it into a standard loop direction.
Triple Derivatives: S-Double, Snake, and Spider
Driven by the fierce progression of top Big Air riders, these triple-rotation maneuvers represent the highest tier of established extreme tricks today.
- S-Double: [Right ➔ Left ➔ Left]
The second half of an S-Loop is extended into a double loop. Variations like the “Contra S-Double” [Left ➔ Right ➔ Right] also exist. - Snake Loop: [Right ➔ Right ➔ Left]
After gaining massive acceleration from an initial double loop, the rider aggressively pulls the front hand (left) for a contra loop. The kite snakes wildly through the air, culminating in a violent third rotation. - Spider Loop: [Right ➔ Left ➔ Right]
A triple loop where the pulling direction is alternated with every rotation. It draws a bizarre, geometric web-like pattern in the sky.
Mechanics and Difficulty
The technical difficulty and sheer terror peak at the exact moment the kite’s direction is reversed.
The intense forward pull of the initial loop accelerates the rider so rapidly that they often catch up to the kite, causing extreme slack in the lines. This forces a terrifying free-fall with zero line tension; if the rapid counter-pull is delayed by even a fraction of a second, the rider will crash violently into the water.
Executing triple reversals requires immense physical strength and flawless gear control to instantly shift body weight against extreme centrifugal force and a zero-gravity free-fall, practically tearing the bar in the opposite direction.
Search Aliases: S-loop