WindsurfingUK Issue 3 May 2017 | Page 80

80 COACHING WINDWISE TECHNIQUE HOW TO TRAIN YOUR WARRIOR No matter what your level or aspirations, here’s how to start to get to grips with your inner warrior. Keep it simple, exaggerate and most importantly enjoy! Windwise Warrior Key Points Obviously you won’t take one hand off during a move, but this shot fully exaggerates the concept. Try this on any board or rig to get the idea first. 1. Look in the direction you want to go + Windwise Touch Points = chin on or very close to shoulder. 2. Lean over a heavily flexed knee. 3. Lever the mast/rig the opposite way. Warrior Skills Training With the warrior concept in your mind, blend it into whatever transition you’re trying to learn. Warrior Uphaul I’ve always suggested we need to change the way beginners are taught to uphaul (all over the world). Standing with your feet across the board, across the wind, with the rig elevated out of the water at 90 degrees to the board, might work on your first few days on the water but it is a disaster in stronger winds, rough water or smaller boards it is NOT a ‘secure position’!!! From now on promise me you’ll use your Warrior stance and, just as importantly turn the board much more into wind (never across the wind), so that the rig comes out of the water from the back to the front of the board. Warrior Tack Exit 2 At the end of your tacks, don’t rush to bring the rig forward, keep the sail towards the tail, and adopt a look, lean and lever Warrior stance/action to get stable first! (We will do a full feature on how to transform your tacks using Warrior shortly) uk WIND SURFING