Kitesurfing
Depower
Reducing the angle of attack on a kite to dump power — done via the chicken loop or trim strap.
Also known as: de-power
A modern kite isn’t pull-or-nothing. Pushing the bar away from you (or letting out the trim strap) tilts the kite’s leading edge into the wind, reducing the angle of attack and dumping power. Pulling the bar in does the opposite.
Depower is what makes today’s kites safe and rideable across a wide wind range:
- Pre-launch: full depower means a kite at the edge of the window won’t drag you
- Overpowered moments: ease the bar to lose 30% of power instantly
- Gust management: dynamic depower beats running for shore
Every modern kite has a full-depower safety: release the chicken loop and the kite flags out on a single line with effectively zero pull. Practice it on land before you need it on water.
Related reading: Kite Size from Forecast.