Windwise Core Skills & Actions To help remind you of features gone , here ’ s some core Windwise skills that are in this feature . We will say if and when to break these guidelines !
Opposition
Sailing 7 Stance
Warrior Stance
Here are two very achievable exercises ‘ Switched Stance ’ & ‘ Sail 360 ’. Individually they will develop your skills base and link into other areas of the sport – do them . Bolt them together and you ’ ll learn how to master duck gybes and more ! We teach these to beginners , so any level can do them !
Switched Stance Skills Training
Switched Stance
Touch Points
78COACHING WINDWISE TECHNIQUE
Windwise Core Skills & Actions To help remind you of features gone , here ’ s some core Windwise skills that are in this feature . We will say if and when to break these guidelines !
Vision : Try to look through turns to where you want to go . To assist Vision , we ’ ll indicate which shoulder your chin should be near , on , or touching to ensure you ’ re good at looking !
Opposition
Opposition Blasting : Keep a distance between your upperbody / head and the rig with an extended mast arm .
Opposition In Transitions : If you move the rig one way , the body must move the ‘ opposite ’ way to counterbalance .
Sailing 7 Stance
Majority of the time we look forward over an extended front leg and arm , flexing the rear leg to absorb chop and raise and lower the hips .
In light winds : Straighten the 7 by tightening the torso and extending the body .
In strong winds or dynamic situations : Sink that ‘ 7 ’ down , by heavily flexing the rear leg and dropping the hips low .
Warrior Stance
In the apex of many transitions , the body needs to be dynamic to oppose and counter balance the rig , this requires a very specific action which we call ‘ Warrior ’ which is all about ‘ Looking ( often chin on shoulder ) and leaning ’ over a heavily flexed knee . Our Windwise Warrior is everywhere !
SUMMER SKILLS
TRAINING EXERCISES
Here are two very achievable exercises ‘ Switched Stance ’ & ‘ Sail 360 ’. Individually they will develop your skills base and link into other areas of the sport – do them . Bolt them together and you ’ ll learn how to master duck gybes and more ! We teach these to beginners , so any level can do them !
Switched Stance Skills Training
This one ‘ is ’ how it sounds . The hands remain in a regular sailing position on the boom as both feet ‘ switch round ’, creating virtually a 180 ° twist at the hips . If you can stand on a board , you ’ re ready to switch !
Why you might ask ? Well , it improves general board / rig handling and links into non-planing / planing early gybe foot changes and short board survival gybes . You ’ ll also see it in duck gybe exits , push tacks , duck tacks and , albeit momentarily , helicopter tacks and all Pro freestyle .
Switched Stance
Vision / Sailing Line : Look forward , adopt a wide foot spread and for your initial attempts sail slightly upwind of a beam reach .
Opposition : The mast needs to be upright , with the boom slightly sheeted out .
Hold the mast still and forward as you switch the feet round as quickly as possible . Stepping forward with the back foot first is usually easier . With the feet switched , really twist at the hips , and force the front hip forward , all the time keeping the rig upright and sheeted out . Flex at the knees and ‘ try ’ turning the hips so that the harness hook points into wind .
Most people get ‘ switched ’ within only five attempts , so let ’ s see where it links into skills training and moves . Once you have become comfortable sailing Switch Stance you can use it to enhance your gybes , learn to duck gybe and if you ’ re into really punchy freestyle , do it in the straps !
Touch Points
Clew to hand , talk into that microphone ! You ’ ll see that in many situations , we pull the clew hand in very close to the head to gain control of the rig .
uk
WIND SURFING