light wind freestyle moves transitioning into higher wind

wsmtbskate · Joined: 09 Jun 2010 Posts: 34

i've gotten fairly comfortable with helitacks, just started completing upwind 360's, going to work on down wind 360's next.

just wondering if I realistically should be able to complete helitacks or upwind 360's in higher wind situations, ie planing on 5.0 or 6.0 ?
I'd be trying downwind carve 360's not the light wind down wind 360.
also just started duck jibing end of last season.

thanks
Jeff

formerly Greyghost

rigitrite · Joined: 19 Sep 2007 Posts: 158 Location: Kansas City

I assume you're on a big floaty board for these light wind manuvers, right? If so, I hope you like a challenge, because high wind free-style is a lot more difficult. When I started sailing (in the 80's) I was making light wind heli-tacks after like....three tries. I still miss most of heli-tacks on my little board (77 litres). The principles in all these tricks are the same, but the technique and conditions are more difficult with more wind. The only exceptions are forwards and backies, which are much much easier with more wind and bigger waves.
Get the "Tricktionary" DVD if you're serious. It's expensive, but it's been worth every penny to me. Good luck!

wsmtbskate · Joined: 09 Jun 2010 Posts: 34

i've been using my 110 Skate almost exclusively since last year except when wind permits me to use my 85 liter RRD FSW. I weight 160#.
I have a 145 liter Carve but haven't used it since last spring.

Funny i just down loaded tricktionary to my iphone, but just the free version.

I'd like LWFS when the wind is light, mostly because it's nice to be on the water and learn new skills...plus it's pretty cool. It'd be nice to be able to do a few high wind tricks, but nothing like loops.

human_catapult · Joined: 20 Nov 2007 Posts: 370

Everything is possible, as long as you aren't too overpowered. Also, things become much more technical on a smaller board when the wind is up. Your timing has to be much better. If you flip too early on when doing helitacks in higher wind, you're not going to have great amounts of success.

Upwind 360s are easier in the straps in windy conditions, imo.

obxaddict · Joined: 15 Jan 2009 Posts: 57

Jeff-
I'm also working on taking my LWFS to the next level. Of course I get very little wind above 13mph so I do LOTS of LWFS. Are you in or out of the straps in the situations you mention?

I've gotten pretty solid with heli tacks all the way down to my 85L. To your original question I think the trick to high wind heli tacks is practice sailing back winded until it is 2nd nature to modulate the power. Like catapult said you have to be patient- rake the sail back and get your weight over the center of the board. Too early on the flip and you'll get over powered. You can even stop your rotation with the clew into the wind when you have your balance.

Now I'm working on LWFS in the straps and hoping to get on to sliding. Maybe geckos & vulcans this year. I don't know if I'll be able to think fast enough while sliding but may as well give it a go.

chadperkins · Joined: 10 Dec 2001 Posts: 36

i love light wind freestyle. It is so much more fun than sitting on the beach. I cant tell you how much this has helped my sail handling skills. I mostly do freestyle on my 108L freestyle board. I also have a big beginner board that I cut the fin for freestyle which works great too. Once you get better try that Ankle biter thing (that is fairly easy once you get comfortable having a loaded sail swinging at your legs). Then try the Gecko. I get about 1 out of ten of these they are pretty hard. Another version of the Gecko is the non-planing loop. all super fun and the time just goes by. Have fun
Chad

wsurfn1426 · Joined: 20 Mar 2004 Posts: 158

I do a lot of LWF. I mainly sail a FS board with enough volume so that it floats me as long as there is wind in my sail. It is easier on smaller rigs, but now I can do it with bigger early planing rigs too.

It helps balance and sail handing. It keeps non-planing conditions from being too boring. I can helitack in strong wind and sinky boards as a direct result of time spent LWF. I prefer it, since I stay powered through the move. LWF helps small board fast tacks too due to backwind skills. Backwind sailing is the key to your DW360s as well. UW360s, yes, LWF helps this too.

Vulcan? Not working for me yet as I hoped when I started doing LWF. Maybe later when I conquer this and move on to Spocks.

wsmtbskate · Joined: 09 Jun 2010 Posts: 34

thanks for all the replies.

I downloaded the non-jumping section of Tricktionary Iphone app. Some pretty cool info on it. I'll probably do the same for the Wave and Jumping sections too, esp the wave

Funny, the helitack feels good and the UW360, non planing, felt pretty natural once I got the motion. Being backwinded for prolonged periods still feels awkward.

I have to work on that more as well as trying to do these in the straps.

everything looks sSO easy on the tricktionary app videos...LOL.

amarie · Joined: 25 Aug 2003 Posts: 140

My answer to your question is heck yeah. Practice this stuff until it's second nature. I've gotten two benefits from this. One, plain old turns are boring to me and this spices things up. Two, it takes your sailing to a whole new (fun) level. I sail in all sorts of conditions like waves, canals, fun slaloms, tropical storms, boat parades, etc and it's amazing how these balance and sail handling skills from LWF kick in in difficult, crunch situations. Sometimes a heli tack is actually the easier way to turn when you want to stabilize yourself on the sail through shore break. I don't care if I'm on my 65L wave board in 30 mph--rarely does a session go by when I don't do at least one heli tack.

Upwind 360s are fun in high winds...you just stay in the straps. But my favorite move to translate to high wind is the good old sail body 360. It is SO much fun to plane into one, and on a wave or big enough swell you can actually plane all the way through. It's really not that hard and the falls aren't bad, so just go for it. The trick is to angle just a little downwind before starting. Ok I'm on a roll here....another fun one is the backwind jibe, which also translates well to waves. It's fun to step around the mast while still planing, and you can pull this off in a lot of wind. Oh and the cowboy...fun and a lot of spray. And the push tack. All are possible in planing winds and I do all on my 78L and 65L boards. Just practice practice practice.

PeconicPuffin · Joined: 07 Jun 2004 Posts: 939

Here are some simple next steps for you when it's light:

While doing a backwinded pivot jibe, duck the sail and come out clew first (this is actually easier than a regular backwinded pj in extra light wind.)

Then do a CF helitack (when the sail begins to backwind, hop around the front).

Do the tricks you already know fin first.