SAM ROSS TECHNIQUE
Words Sam Ross // Photos Dan HallamWindSUP doesn’t just offer a light wind alternative, but also
a gateway back into some potentially long-lost longboard
skills, once the target of all windsurfers! So while you’re
eyeing up those summer breezes, let’s look at a few top
tips to make the most out of your WindSUP this summer.TUNE-UP
WindSUPs can be some of the earliest planing boards on the water as their
waterline length helps the transition between displacement and planing. But
to get the most out of light winds, make sure that small rig you’ve popped
on the board is going to perform as best as possible. Whilst reducing down-
haul is good, make sure that the outhaul is loose enough too. In sub-planing
conditions the sail should be able to easily touch the boom a wrist’s length out
from the clew without too much pressure.SHORT OR LONG
How you get upwind will vary depending on the length of your board. If
your WindSUP is short with no centre fin or daggerboard, then upwind is
all about the windward rail. Look upwind, get the feet out and forward and
sink the windward rail in whilst pulling down through the boom, so you are
helping the board to stop slipping sideways as you’re heading upwind. The
harder you sink your weight down through the boom the more you can bury
the windward rail and get yourself upwind.
For longer boards, the style feels a little smoother and the technique is
almost entirely opposite to shorter boards. If you have a daggerboard or long
centreline, bring your feet together, point them across the board and push
down on your toes. Driving off the daggerboard will start to give you the
height that you’re looking for and unlock the voyaging potential of your
WindSUP.THE F WORD
Back in the day, whether you wanted to be an instructor or a highly skilled
windsurfer, the flare gybe was the benchmark move. But as the carve gybe
became more en vogue, the flare gybe became a forgotten move. But if you
want to turn a WindSUP without the area needed for an oil tanker you’ll
need this move in your arsenal, and the good news is you can have fun while
you’re doing it!
This move is mostly about foot placement and rig movement. Get back
on the board, in fact, waaaay back. Lean the rig to the outside of the turn and
banana your body to get your hips to the inside.
If you’re sailing longboard style you can even weight the outside foot to
turn even tighter.
Make sure you step forward before moving into the rig flip. You can
control how much the tail sinks by bending or extending your legs and
also pushing down through the mastfoot. If you bend your knees you can
let the tail sink a little more or even pull the rig over your head to reduce
power. If you extend your legs and pull down through the mastfoot you can
immediately flatten the board off.
So now you’re tuned right, can smash upwind quickly and spin round in
the spot, you’re well set to use your WindSUP to tour, practice wave sailing
or just drill some light wind skills!WINDSUP SKILLS
“USE YOUR WINDSUP TO
TOUR, PRACTICE WAVE
SAILING OR JUST DRILL SOME
LIGHT WIND SKILLS!”
120 AUGUST 2019