Re: First Landed FWD Loop Yesterday!

On May 17, 8:47 pm, pacspeed <a...@xxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
I too am itching to try it. I have a different question, though, had
you ever worked up the nerve to do an inverted aerial in any other
sport first?
I've never had the gumption to go upside down on a snowboard,
wakeboard, BMX bike, or anything but a diving board or a trampoline.
I know I can jump high enough, I know all the tips, and what makes
you rotate, so it really is just a question of having the nerve to
pull the trigger. Any thoughts?

Well in high school I was a pole vaulter and cleared 12' 6"!?! In the
past few years, I have been kiteboarding and doing front and back
spins. The front spin is "kind of" like the windsurfing FWD, but only
in the tuck and head positioning, though you get no feel of the fast,
wind-driven rotation.

Bottom line with windsurfing forward loops, is like Alan said.
Practice the "rotation" on land when ever you can. Actually do a spin
on one leg while positioning your arms like you are holding the booms
and look back.
Once on the water, I found that another important tip is to jump and
while in the air, pull the clew in slightly while looking back. Just
slightly..., and look back to simulate the start of the rotation. Do
this a number of times to get a feel for the rig "starting" to
rotate. Once you do this a number of times, then just go for it!
Move the back hand back on the boom, look for a steep knee to waist
high ramp (the steeper the better), unhook from the harness, jump
slightly off the wind, extend front arm while pulling in with back arm
to shift the rig forward (like a powered jibe or wave bottom turn),
and go for a spin! After about 20 initial loops, you will start to
get the feel for bringing the board around and landing them. But once
you go around on the first one, you will say "Damn, why did I not try
this before!!"

PS: Do not let go of the booms, and never look forward... always look
down or back (practice this on those test jumps)

Some other tips:
Wear a thick wetsuit. Expect some back slaps on your upper shoulder
and side of head during the first couple of loops. The first day, my
shoulders were sore from the slaps; however, by day two, I was usually
landing with the board under my feet. It then took a few more
sessions to get the sail in proper position for landing to sail out of
it. Also, the smaller the sail the better. When I was trying them on
my 4.2m, it seemed easiest. Could have been the more consistent steep
waist high ramps, and windier conditions to speed the rotation. Steep
ramps are key. If you have gradual bumps, they just do not "feel"
right, at least for me. Steep waist high are best, but knee will work
too.

All in all, how many rec.dotters will be photographed doing new
forward loops this year?!

.

Relevant Pages

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