WindsurfingUK issue 10 March 2019 | Page 27

27 point that the old front foot has to twist out of the strap to come across the board then loosen them up a bit and see what happens! The stages of connecting all the parts of the footstraps If you’re lucky your footstraps will have strap-size indicators printed on the inside. If so, then once you have set one footstrap up perfectly (ideally with a fin-less board flat on a mat on the ground to avoid damaging the board/fin) then remember which number you lined up when connecting the first parts of the Velcro. Then repeat that on the other straps and there will be no need to use your foot again to measure them. After setting the size of all of them, quickly pop your foot in each one as a final check to make sure they are ok before you head out. Footstrap position A taller person will need a wider spread between the front and back footstraps to provide a stable base for their height whereas a smaller person requires a narrower spread. Measurements are typically taken from the rear screw on the front strap to the front screw on the rear strap (on the same side of the board of course). The measurement will be taken using the centre of the screw heads and, for general freeride kit, is likely to be between 38cm for a smaller person and 44cm for a taller person. I am 5’8” (173cm) and use a measurement of 40.5cm, with 0.5cm to 1.0cm less on smaller freewave boards. Measure the spread between the back screw of the front strap and the front screw of the back strap on the same side The range should be 38-44cm. For me it’s 40.5cm on a freemove board uk WIND SURFING