Need help crossing critical section of the impact zone

[outcast]

Speed, Speed, Speed,

No Chicken Jibe.....that means you have to start all over, and further downwind!

And a properly executed Chicken Jibe still doesn't make the Peanut Gallery happy....Better to get demolished

[jingebritsen]

agreed. speed is best. but, there are those times when one is screwed, typically with a lack of power coinciding with a following current and some pretty jagged waves with only one exit, back to the starting line.

one of my more memorable days was quite some time ago. long story short: pending gale, 100 liter board 5.5 sail. 3 chickens in a row. 1 mile lost down wind. suddenly the gale kicked. got out like being shot by a canon. made it back upwind in 3 corners. saved a kiter. rigged a 4.5 and an 80 liter board. waves went from 8 foot to mast high about 10 minutes before the gale arrived.

turned out the other kiter smashed his knee to bits when he was boosted trying out his "new" 5 meter. 2 kitemares in one day. i was the sole wave sailor, as usual, some 10 years ago. speed is everything in short board wave sailing.

[manuel]

It also depends on budget for a new sail, new mast or both.
I saw Victor Fernandez do a chicken jibe at La Torche in difficult side-on conditions, made me feel better!

EDIT: After riding the spot many more times, I thought I'd share few findings.
1. Stay away from the critical section, by crossing downwind or upwind.
2. Sync in with the series, surf when they come, cross when it calms down.
3. If upwind of the section, stick with staying upwind of the peaks, if downwind then it shouldn't an issue.
4. Prefer the waves farther out for jumps.
5. Hit the first waves and try to land nose-first to keep the speed up.
6. It happens, it's part of playing. So if it does...
7. Make it worth while and hit the peak!
8. If too late, go for the most mature breaking section, it'll have the least power to hop over.
9. If it smells fishy, there's traffic, the board lacks speed, then the chicken jibe is always a good option.
10. With experience one will know where they are in the spot and what type of waves form where.