Had a great sail today in gusty 15 - 20kts SSE..got most of my gybes ( even if they weren't planing) solved my chop hop problem ..very happy..The old me is starting to come back.
I used to be able to jump well but cactus these days..I knew I had a bad habit of pushing down on my front hand as I went up the ramp rather than lifting with it so I changed my grip to underhand . Now I can't push down.. I also realised I wasn't getting airborne as I wasn't popping the board off the ramp by pushing into the tail as we went on it..I had been relying on trying to pull the board airborne with my feet ( ugh..125ltre..). Wow it works! I get air! Now I just have to refine control etc & get it together..
Pity I was so tired before I got out that I only lasted an hour..Still great fun!Much better not wasting energy waterstarting everytime you gybe..!
Dewy Pt @ Carey Bay opposite Valentine works great in a SSE /SE.. when it's too E to go to Valentine try Dewy! No loos but angle is sideshore to side onshore ..great it blows right into the shore mostly.
I found it good there as the chop isn't as bunched up as Belmont Bay or Coal Pt, more even so you can use a larger board for the lulls but smaller sail for the wind..

sboardcrazy said...

Had a great sail today in gusty 15 - 20kts SSE..got most of my gybes ( even if they weren't planing) solved my chop hop problem ..very happy..The old me is starting to come back.
I used to be able to jump well but cactus these days..I knew I had a bad habit of pushing down on my front hand as I went up the ramp rather than lifting with it so I changed my grip to underhand . Now I can't push down.. I also realised I wasn't getting airborne as I wasn't popping the board off the ramp by pushing into the tail as we went on it..I had been relying on trying to pull the board airborne with my feet ( ugh..125ltre..). Wow it works! I get air! Now I just have to refine control etc & get it together..
Pity I was so tired before I got out that I only lasted an hour..Still great fun!Much better not wasting energy waterstarting everytime you gybe..!
Dewy Pt @ Carey Bay opposite Valentine works great in a SSE /SE.. when it's too E to go to Valentine try Dewy! No loos but angle is sideshore to side onshore ..great it blows right into the shore mostly.
I found it good there as the chop isn't as bunched up as Belmont Bay or Coal Pt, more even so you can use a larger board for the lulls but smaller sail for the wind..

If you are sailing in chop you'll get more air by pulling down on the boom and unloading/pulling it up at the right time, it's the reason freestylers get so much pop on dead flat water, it all comes down to timing. The more you can load up the board, through pulling down on the boom and bending the knees, the more air you'll get. That said, if you've found something that works, sweet, but it may hinder you if one day you decide to start busting out vulcans etc

Getting good pop is just like bunny hopping a bike, it's all about loading the board downward into the water by pulling down hard on the boom and the inertia from crouching. Once you time that crouch/bend legs/pull down on the boom at the same time, then just 'pop' by springing your legs straight and pulling up on the boom. I can't stress it enough it's all about that 'downforce', the more aggressive you are with it the more pop you'll get.

Note you body position is different to a chop hop as when doing most freestyle moves like a vulcan etc you want to jump 'above' the board so stance much more vertical and body weight inboard and central. This enables you to press the board vertically down into the water rather than pushing it down/across; also elbows down as this promotes loading of the boom downward.

CJW said...

sboardcrazy said...

Had a great sail today in gusty 15 - 20kts SSE..got most of my gybes ( even if they weren't planing) solved my chop hop problem ..very happy..The old me is starting to come back.
I used to be able to jump well but cactus these days..I knew I had a bad habit of pushing down on my front hand as I went up the ramp rather than lifting with it so I changed my grip to underhand . Now I can't push down.. I also realised I wasn't getting airborne as I wasn't popping the board off the ramp by pushing into the tail as we went on it..I had been relying on trying to pull the board airborne with my feet ( ugh..125ltre..). Wow it works! I get air! Now I just have to refine control etc & get it together..
Pity I was so tired before I got out that I only lasted an hour..Still great fun!Much better not wasting energy waterstarting everytime you gybe..!
Dewy Pt @ Carey Bay opposite Valentine works great in a SSE /SE.. when it's too E to go to Valentine try Dewy! No loos but angle is sideshore to side onshore ..great it blows right into the shore mostly.
I found it good there as the chop isn't as bunched up as Belmont Bay or Coal Pt, more even so you can use a larger board for the lulls but smaller sail for the wind..

If you are sailing in chop you'll get more air by pulling down on the boom and unloading/pulling it up at the right time, it's the reason freestylers get so much pop on dead flat water, it all comes down to timing. The more you can load up the board, through pulling down on the boom and bending the knees, the more air you'll get. That said, if you've found something that works, sweet, but it may hinder you if one day you decide to start busting out vulcans etc

I wonder if I read that & thats why I started doing it? The problem is when i do thats all I do.I cant get the pull up bit happening in my brain yet.[}:)].

CJW said...

Getting good pop is just like bunny hopping a bike, it's all about loading the board downward into the water by pulling down hard on the boom and the inertia from crouching. Once you time that crouch/bend legs/pull down on the boom at the same time, then just 'pop' by springing your legs straight and pulling up on the boom. I can't stress it enough it's all about that 'downforce', the more aggressive you are with it the more pop you'll get.

Note you body position is different to a chop hop as when doing most freestyle moves like a vulcan etc you want to jump 'above' the board so stance much more vertical and body weight inboard and central. This enables you to press the board vertically down into the water rather than pushing it down/across; also elbows down as this promotes loading of the boom downward.

Thanks CJW, never really thought about pulling down on the boom. But it makes a lot of sense as I would assume you sink more of the board into the water (when timed with loading your feet) and therefore create a more explosive release when you lift your body, especially if your body is also directly over the board.

Cheers