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The Chop Hop
If you’ve been perusing some of the jumping articles and video clips you might be thinking it’s about time I clocked up some aerial action. You may even aspire to become a freestyler or want to get out in the waves. It all depends on you. Jumping is often left till after blasting and gybing but there is no better time than the present to get into it. My local spot of Southsea was quite bumpy and so we all got right into jumping early on, way before our gybes became accomplished.
So here we will be covering how to get the board out of the water off a small piece of chop. This action is taken into waves and should you be a wannabe pilot and intend getting up very high then this popping action will be your ticket. The ability to pop off flat water will vastly improve your chances of getting into all the aerial sliding trickery around and is a real boon for your looping. Only by constantly trying these hops will your timing and technique improve, so keep at it.
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Planning For Take-Off
A good sailor analyses the water for gusts, lulls, bumps and is therefore always ahead of the game. So whilst sailing along scan ahead and upwind for troughs, and as your calculation of time and distance improves you’ll arrive at your chosen spot as a lovely little ramp presents itself. READ THE WATER for it has patterns, and as bits of chop double up sweet ramps will appear. If you add a shift in the wind to coming more from behind you then you’ll have the perfect ramp. You will take off slightly into the wind, which will bring the nose up and feed air under the board.
Fundamentals
- Popping - Getting the board out of the water from setting up in a coiled position.
- Look where we want to go - We are aiming to spot our landing and maintain shape in the air and will therefore be looking forward.
- Scissoring the board – Pull up on your back leg and extend the front leg to bear the board away in the air after your upwind take off.
Kit and Set-Up
- Smaller boards and sails under 6.0 are more lively and easier to pop. Although some of my very excitable intermediate clients try it on 150 litre boards and 8.0s.
- Ensure your boom is high enough as low booms stick the board to the water.
- Generous sized inboard straps allow you to point your toes in the air and trim the board to get the wind under it. Tight straps equal shit jumps and bad aerial trim.
Ok airtime – this sequence does not quite break the rules of gravity but gives you a picture of how you get off virtually flat water.
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Set-Up |
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From an upwind course unhook and hang down off the boom on extended arms. You’ve spotted the trough and are getting ready. Your body is moving inboards and your back leg is very bent. |
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Popping |
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Being back towards the tail and facing up the board will weight the tail and bring the nose up. Push down aggressively through the toes of the back foot as you bring the rig back towards you.
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The nose continues upwards by pulling the front leg up and forward as you simultaneously pull up and forward on the boom. |
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Air Time |
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The body is dropping down and out to windward now. Pull the tail up with your back leg to flatten the board off and actually get some air. Check how pointing the toes exposes the bottom of the board to give you float.
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Aim to pull the tail into your bottom so you can extend the front leg, which bears the board away in the air giving you a smoother landing. The arms are bending to direct the rigs power upwards. Hold this tucked position in the air and spot your landing. |
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Landing |
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On the way down now so open the sail to drop the tail and extend the back leg. You will be landing across the wind due to your aerial steering from scissoring the legs. |
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Get the rig upright and land with both legs flexed. Aim for a tail first landing to protect you and the board. |
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View video of this move:
 Low
bandwidth [MPEG, 115KB]
High
bandwidth [MPEG, 350KB]
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You’ve slowed down so throw the rig forward and open to flatten the board and catch the wind. Feet scissor the board off the wind and toes point to accelerate on exit.
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- Getting good height is all about timing and good technique not strength.
- When learning, make sure that you are reasonably powered up as it makes it easier to get the board out of the water.
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Summary
- Get down low ready to pop
- Push through your back foot and toes HARD
- Pull the front leg and boom up and forward
- Pull the tail up and drop your body down
- Bend the arms and keep tucked
- Extend the back leg for a tail first landing
- Throw the rig forwards and open whilst flattening the board
Progression
Try a couple on BOTH tacks, on every run and you’ll soon have it. Develop your board trim and style by going for one handed (hooked in) jumps. Use your chop hop skills off of waves and you will really fly as most people just sail off the wave, popping the board off the top of the wave will double your height.
 Discuss the chop hop...
Check out some more advanced jumps in the Moves & Movies section.
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Jamie Lever GBR-5
"Once in the air, try to pull the rig over your head and hang as much of your weight from the boom as possible. This will make your jumps look 'floaty' and maximise airtime."
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Lucy Horwood GBR-95
"Chop hopping becomes easier the more powered up you are. If you are underpowered, it can be very difficult to get any height or even leave the water."
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Ben Proffitt K-800
"Try always to land pointing off the wind slightly. This ensures a smooth landing and keeps your speed up." |
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