There's a crucial hiatus in your (excellent) vid. I think you should've emphasized the importance of the front foot in the vid comment. By lifting the heel of the front foot once it's hooked in the front strap, you avoid overloading the back foot, thus keeping enough momentum to slide the back foot easily in the back strap. It's also important not to overstretch the front leg (knee). These two crucial points will enable you to commit your weight into the harness without turning into the wind.
@wisecoonie Good point, it can be hard to identify and articulate all the key points when of tacit knowledge is involved. I tend to think of what you are describing as sitting down into the harness, so you bend your knees, but yes, you really need to commit to the harness to get the weight off your feet, so the board doesn't point up. Although pointing up a bit does help take a bit of speed off, which can make the transition easier.
@riggeek In addition to that, lifting the heel of your front foot will keep the board level over the water. I used to be rather heavy-footed when engaging the straps, so now : 1/ I commit more weight to the harness, 2/ I wait for the board to speed up till I feel it's on the planing threshold BEFORE engaging the front strap, 3/ whilst engaging, I try to be as light-footed as possible (so don't overweight your heels at that stage!)
@riggeek Another very important point is VISION. Most beginners tend to look too much to the positioning of their feet on the board. It's a very natural thing to do when you are unsure of your technique, but really force yourself to look in front of you instead of gazing at your feet and train yourself at finding the straps blindly with your feet and not with your eyes. It will help your equilibrium and it will avoid swerving the board into the wind.
Its a 2003 Starboard Go 165. This is my all-rounder, great for flat water in the protected river mouth - regardless of wind speed, great for learning new techniques, and great for light wind. Dialled-in, it can be surprisingly fast. I have 8.5, 9.3 and 11m sails, and it handles them all comfortably.
Do you use it as your main light wind board? I am thinking of getting one for my partner to learn on but also for before my other boards will plane with a 9-10m sail for me. Is this asking to much out of one of them?
quickscopezNL it sounds like you are putting your weight onto your back foot when you put your front foot into the strap, try and pretend to lift your back foot off the board while you are moving your front foot. By moving your weight off your front foot and onto the back you are loading up the fin causing the board to point up. Also try to "hang" off your boom, by doing this then you increase mast foot pressure which will keep the board flatter.
Being heavy footed can cause problem with the pointing into the wind and stalling. You steer the board by tilting the sail forward and back, but you also steer it with your feet by carving the board. So when you step back into the straps you have to commit your weight to the harness. Excess weight on the outside rail will turn the board up wind. Try moving the footsteps further forward and to the centre, also try to foot steer back down wind by pointing toes and lifting your front foot.
hey very nice video. i got some problems getting in the straps. as soon as i reach planing i shuffle my foot to front strap like u do but then my board changes direction out of the wind so then i just stop planing. do you have some tips?
Henry, your videos are inspirational! I'm just starting again after a 15 yrs break. Can't afford the latest gear, so I'm making do with an old Mistral Competition longboard. Were having a very mild autumn here in the UK, so I'll be out there as many weekends as I can manage before hell freezes over. :¬D
You should expect to feel some drag which will spike as you approach planing - this is a good indicator that its time to step back into the front strap, with long harness lines you should literally sit down into your harness, so your knees are bent. This will transfer your weight through the boom, down to the mast base and level out the board. Also make sure that you have plenty of downhaul, so your leach is floppy. A sail that is too rigid up top, will also strain your arms on the plane.
Drag and release has a lot to do with the style of board you are riding as well as how stable and powerful the wind is. My Starboard Go 165 (circa 2004) is a bit of a barge in marginal conditions, it creates a lot of drag, but once it on the plane, I experience a dramatic release in pressure. When fully lit on flat water with stable winds it is almost effortless. In gusty conditions and heavy chop it is a handful.
Great video - once you are planing, do you find yourself pushing very hard on your legs to keep the board flat or is it pretty much effortless? in other words, how much exertion does one feel from just planing?
There's a crucial hiatus in your (excellent) vid. I think you should've emphasized the importance of the front foot in the vid comment. By lifting the heel of the front foot once it's hooked in the front strap, you avoid overloading the back foot, thus keeping enough momentum to slide the back foot easily in the back strap. It's also important not to overstretch the front leg (knee). These two crucial points will enable you to commit your weight into the harness without turning into the wind.
wisecoonie 2 weeks ago
@wisecoonie Good point, it can be hard to identify and articulate all the key points when of tacit knowledge is involved. I tend to think of what you are describing as sitting down into the harness, so you bend your knees, but yes, you really need to commit to the harness to get the weight off your feet, so the board doesn't point up. Although pointing up a bit does help take a bit of speed off, which can make the transition easier.
riggeek 2 weeks ago
@riggeek In addition to that, lifting the heel of your front foot will keep the board level over the water. I used to be rather heavy-footed when engaging the straps, so now : 1/ I commit more weight to the harness, 2/ I wait for the board to speed up till I feel it's on the planing threshold BEFORE engaging the front strap, 3/ whilst engaging, I try to be as light-footed as possible (so don't overweight your heels at that stage!)
wisecoonie 2 weeks ago
@riggeek Another very important point is VISION. Most beginners tend to look too much to the positioning of their feet on the board. It's a very natural thing to do when you are unsure of your technique, but really force yourself to look in front of you instead of gazing at your feet and train yourself at finding the straps blindly with your feet and not with your eyes. It will help your equilibrium and it will avoid swerving the board into the wind.
wisecoonie 2 weeks ago
Its a 2003 Starboard Go 165. This is my all-rounder, great for flat water in the protected river mouth - regardless of wind speed, great for learning new techniques, and great for light wind. Dialled-in, it can be surprisingly fast. I have 8.5, 9.3 and 11m sails, and it handles them all comfortably.
riggeek 1 month ago
@riggeek
Is that a starboard start?
Do you use it as your main light wind board? I am thinking of getting one for my partner to learn on but also for before my other boards will plane with a 9-10m sail for me. Is this asking to much out of one of them?
dynamitevideos1 1 month ago
quickscopezNL it sounds like you are putting your weight onto your back foot when you put your front foot into the strap, try and pretend to lift your back foot off the board while you are moving your front foot. By moving your weight off your front foot and onto the back you are loading up the fin causing the board to point up. Also try to "hang" off your boom, by doing this then you increase mast foot pressure which will keep the board flatter.
dynamitevideos1 1 month ago
Being heavy footed can cause problem with the pointing into the wind and stalling. You steer the board by tilting the sail forward and back, but you also steer it with your feet by carving the board. So when you step back into the straps you have to commit your weight to the harness. Excess weight on the outside rail will turn the board up wind. Try moving the footsteps further forward and to the centre, also try to foot steer back down wind by pointing toes and lifting your front foot.
riggeek 4 months ago
hey very nice video. i got some problems getting in the straps. as soon as i reach planing i shuffle my foot to front strap like u do but then my board changes direction out of the wind so then i just stop planing. do you have some tips?
quickscopezNL 4 months ago
Henry, your videos are inspirational! I'm just starting again after a 15 yrs break. Can't afford the latest gear, so I'm making do with an old Mistral Competition longboard. Were having a very mild autumn here in the UK, so I'll be out there as many weekends as I can manage before hell freezes over. :¬D
wordreet 4 months ago
You should expect to feel some drag which will spike as you approach planing - this is a good indicator that its time to step back into the front strap, with long harness lines you should literally sit down into your harness, so your knees are bent. This will transfer your weight through the boom, down to the mast base and level out the board. Also make sure that you have plenty of downhaul, so your leach is floppy. A sail that is too rigid up top, will also strain your arms on the plane.
riggeek 4 months ago
Drag and release has a lot to do with the style of board you are riding as well as how stable and powerful the wind is. My Starboard Go 165 (circa 2004) is a bit of a barge in marginal conditions, it creates a lot of drag, but once it on the plane, I experience a dramatic release in pressure. When fully lit on flat water with stable winds it is almost effortless. In gusty conditions and heavy chop it is a handful.
riggeek 4 months ago
My pleasure ;) glad you found it useful.
riggeek 4 months ago
@riggeek
Great video - once you are planing, do you find yourself pushing very hard on your legs to keep the board flat or is it pretty much effortless? in other words, how much exertion does one feel from just planing?
rpf68 4 months ago
very good vid! thanks
Shizzle876 4 months ago
Great vid, thanks!
corese75 5 months ago