Oct 27, 2008
Author: Andy Brandt
1. Foot position to rail upwind
The art to out-pointing your competition upwind has to do with increasing the leeward waterline. Like a sailboat, tilting the leeward rail (10 to 45 degrees) increases the waterline, helping the board climb a few degrees higher into the wind and slice through the chop instead of plowing. Place your back foot on the board’s leeward side to apply pressure. Keep both feet forward so the board rides flat (lengthwise) for a clean water release off the tail for maximum speed.
2. Oversheeting on a tack
To achieve a smooth tack with no loss of momentum, the longboard must be turned all the way past the eye of the wind before transitioning around the rig. Oversheeting the sail will do this. Push out on your front arm (on the mast) while pulling in on the back arm (on the boom behind the balance point) as you approach the wind. Keep all your weight over your back foot on the leeward rail. It’s possible to get 15 degrees past the eye before making your move.
3. Tighten your pivot jibe
The secret to a tight jibe with your daggerboard down involves a combination of three actions: apply foot pressure on the opposite rail to the direction of the turn, lean the sail as far to the outside of the turn by moving your hands to the boom’s clew, and shorten your waterline by standing as far back on the board as possible while leaning your upper body back towards the tail. Practise giant S-turns while heading downwind to get the feel of combining all these elements.
Catch Andy Brandt at an ABK Boardsports clinic. He rides for Neil Pryde, JP-Austrailia, Dakine and Ozone Online.
Foot position for upwind
|
Foot...
|
Oversheet on...
|
Tighten your...
|
|
| |
|
