17
How to tell if your board is
not helping you!
You want to make sure you’re on the right size and style of
board for you! Progress isn’t about moving down to the
smallest board! You need to be on the right size and ‘style’ of
board to suit your stature, level and the conditions. It doesn’t
matter if you’re male or female, light or of superior stature,
you don’t want to be up to your knees off the plane or being
pinged around on a giant cork.
Too big?
Here’s the common scenarios where
board size, style and or shape could be
the root of problems on the water.
Your board is too large, wide, fast, hard railed or too flat
rockered if…
1. The board flips over all the time when beach or
waterstarting in strong winds.
2. The nose continually leaps out of the water blasting or turning.
3. Feels like the board is taking you where ‘it’ wants to go.
4. The windward rail lifts and you feel your ankles are
straining a lot of the time when blasting.
5. You constantly want to sail upwind, despite having a
relatively small fin.
6. It’s terrifying to bear away at speed over chop.
7. Sailors of similar weight, level and sail size are in far
greater control than you in high winds.
Answer: time to drop a few litres, narrower the board’s
waistline and go for more forgiving rails and rocker line.
If you do find yourself on a board that feels too big, it’s just
like being with a sail that’s too large. So here’s Jonny
Clothier emphasising that ‘Sunken 7 Drop & Dig’ stance.
Sink in the harness harder, flex that back leg, dig the heels
and curl the toes up on the front foot when in the straps.
Also, if it is your only board, use outboard straps and try
putting in a slightly smaller fin (10-20%), to reduce lift and
regain control.
* If all that fails, time to try a smaller board!
uk
WIND
SURFING