Online Windsurfing Magazine Technique Section


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Basic Fundamentals

These fundamentals represent a significant base from where we can sail in a more efficient and effective manner. An increase in proficiency in these basic skills will greatly enhance your performance and facilitate much faster progress through the sport.

		Clew first sailing: Become the master of this and your carve gybe success rate will increase significantly. The hands are spread wide and down the boom with your head looking forward and the clew pulled in tight, whilst your body resists the sails power. Your sailing line will be downwind from just off a beam reach to a broad reach.

		Flat board: Maintaining this will get you planing earlier, sailing faster, give you more control and raise your consistency in transitions. By not performing the basic fundamentals the drop off in speed and power will be shown by the board not being flat. Flat is fast.

		Front to sail sailing: Front to sail is an exercise in controlling sail power. Your sailing line should be quite close to the wind and your hands will be spread to control the rig. Avoid the tendancy to push against the sail with both hands. Instead, straighten your front arm and control the power of the sail with your back arm.

		Rig away: By having distance from the rig we are more able to control and direct its power. In order to have a flat board we must keep the rig away which will greatly improve our early planing, speed, control and transitions.

		Scissor the board: We steer the board by pushing and pulling through our legs. By doing this scissoring action we can take the board through the wind with more ease and bear away more effectively.

		Look where you want to go: Where your head goes your body will follow. We need to assess our point of sailing and use our head to take the board to where we want it to go. By looking in the right direction we will significantly improve our technique and stance. Concentrate on this first and it will aid in applying the other fundamentals.

Freestyle Fundamentals

It is these specific freestyle fundamentals which will aid us in completing more stunts whilst also applying the more basic fundamentals .. In the meantime try to improve these skills and consider if you are performing them successfully in your own self coaching. These will be referred to and covered in greater depth at a later date.

Popping: Setting up for the move from a crouched position and using the spring from your legs and pulling up on your arms will enable you to pop the board from the water in aerial freestyle. Working on and improving this skill will significantly aid your ability to pop the board off flat water which will assist you to achieve more aerial / sliding moves. EXAMPLE SHOWN: VULCAN INITIATION

Space away from the rig: Just as in the basic fundamentals we are more able to resist the sails power by creating distance from the rig. Giving yourself space away from the rig will create a balance and enable more successful completion of front to sail and many other freestyle moves. EXAMPLE SHOWN: CARVING 360

Look where you want to go: Where your head goes your body will follow. The head is the crux of many freestyle moves, look where you want the board or your body to go. EXAMPLE SHOWN: VULCAN MID TRANSITION

Stay over the board: Most basic aerial freestyle moves require your body to be over the board so that you land with your weight forward and over your toeside. Failure to do this will result in many jettisons from the kit in an array of directions. Accomplish this skill and you will be more able to pivot the board around and get into the sliding positions required. EXAMPLE SHOWN: VULCAN PREPARATION