WindsurfingUK issue 4 July 2017 | Page 78

78 COACHING WINDWISE TECHNIQUE THE WARRIOR TACK Principles, core skills and touch points Land Warrior entry and set up Vision: Very briefly look upwind, then as early as possible plant that chin on the REAR shoulder. Keep it there no matter what happens. Opposition: Rig drops towards the tail, body steps well forward and as upright as possible. Set Up: Head up, tight torso, front foot wrapped around mast base. Rear foot next to or just in front of rear straps, all toes pointing down the board. Entry touch points check and say, “Hand, head, foot and ‘feel’ them.” 1. Front hand touching boom clamp. 2. Front foot wraps right round and feels the mast base. 3. Head-Chin on rear shoulder. WISEWORDS Only use the Warrior stance for the exit, be as upright as possible going into the tack, it makes it easier to move the feet. Over weighting and anchoring on the rear foot going in makes it really hard to move your feet and leads to pushing hard off the back foot too much, which sends you running off the front with your rig. Land Warrior mid tack shift & switch of feet Vision: Turn your head FAST with chin planted on rear shoulder. It quickly becomes the front shoulder. Opposition: Rig is forced across the board and, crucially, low and BACK towards the tail as the body moves across the board. Shift and switch footwork: Head high, chin on the shoulder. As the head turns, the feet and hands move together. Switch your feet exactly, and create a new front hand on the boom close to the mast clamp. Push the mast the opposite way to the body with an extended front arm. If you look at, hug or pull the rig towards you at this point (very common), you’ll be in! uk WIND SURFING Entry touch points check and say, “Hand, head, foot and ‘feel’ them.” 1. Front hand transfers to new side touching the boom clamp. 2. New front foot replaces the old front foot wrapped around the mast base. Feel the new front foot pointing forward, ideally touching the mast base. The new back foot takes a massive step back down the board. 3. Head-chin has become the new front shoulder – look forward!