24 COACHING WINDWISE TECHNIQUE
Upwind flat water wave ride in Warrior: Look (chin on upwind shoulder) and lean upwind over that heavily
flexed knee, bring the hands forward to help rake the rig back to oppose the movement of the body.
Downwind flat water wave ride in Warrior: Chin on downwind shoulder, looking and leaning over a heavily
flexed front knee. Rig is leant over of the turn, pulling the clew hand in and down very close to the head.
“Imagine you’re talking into a microphone, whilst pulling down trying to rip the boom off the mast!” Which
is leant the ‘opposite’ way to counter balance.
Warrior flat water wave riding planing
On single back strap boards, be it flat water, swell or waves
practice really carving hard upwind and downwind, lining the
turns and accentuating your Warrior ethos and Touch Points.
It’s one of the very best exercises you can do planing and
teaches you all about your Vision, Warrior stance and
opposing the rig.
Summary
You may ask why not just do a normal blast across the wind
and then do a tack or gybe? Yes you can do that, but that is
avoiding the exact skills that will change your windsurfing.
uk
WIND
SURFING
Sailing upwind and broad reaching back has a massively
positive effect on your windsurfing. If you just reach back and
forth you don’t actually sail upwind or downwind long enough
develop vital aspects of your technique. Don’t be
disheartened and keep gaining experience, increase the
distance upwind and vary the length, number and style of
runs, to develop your confidence, corners and ability to put
the board where you want it to go.
As ever, any questions or suggestions for Windsurfing
UK features, fire away [email protected], oh and don’t
forget to sheet it! SB