Foot straps on freestyle boards

[kmf]

us4846mmoran, maybe before you condem a whole catagory of newer boards, you might try them out.

KMF

[isobars]

I didn't see MoranMan condemning anything; that implies making a moral judgment. IMO, he's just presenting what he -- and Boards magazine, and maybe tens of thousands of sailors -- considers facts. The only thing he said that I don't agree with 100% is that pure wave boards don't make really good B&J boards, and even there our only disagreement may be the definition of pure wave boards. There are some legitimate wave boards that are are damn fast when the terrain gets rough, yet still turn insanely sharply at high speeds. The limits are skill, nerve, and leg press strength, and today's increasing widths make it ever harder to do that while going fast in rough water. Boards Mag says a 2 cm width difference makes a dramatic difference in the 80-liter range. Just yesterday a good sailor & WS equipment dealer commented on the speed with which I blazed past him, and he was especially surprised to learn that I was on an extremely slashy pure wave board sporting a big slotted wave fin.

Mike \m/

[rlemmens]

so back to the actual question... I like the straps on my freestyle board to be one in the back center and all the staps in the position closest to the front. Also make sure the sides of the straps are what keep your foot in and not the top of the strap. That way you can abort whenever. It's important to use the right jumping technique. Make sure you pull your back foot towards you that way you don't lose control of your board. Good luck.

[rlemmens]

also focus more on steering with your front foot.

[jingebritsen]

http://www.exocet-original.com/products/crossIII.asp

http://www.naishsails.com/en/boards/globalfreeride.html

http://www.star-board.com/2010/products/products_myboard.php

http://www.starboardcarve.com/spec.php

http://www.mistralboards.com/?site=main

Some brands may have that look of not having a free ride style board in their offerings. Those above don't have that problem.

Some FSW boards are, indeed, a little slanted more toward FS or W. Those tend to be least friendly to blasting about in SF Bay conditions. Some shops stress the FSW thing a little too much as well, perhaps? Quite often, people want to buy what they see in front of them. If a shop only has stuff that doesn't suit, then the customer may walk away with something that ultimately does not please?

[isobars]

[awong]

Hey Phil-
on the rear strap you might try putting your foot out on the rail when reaching and not tight and then jam it in there when you jump. Tyson Poor mentions this in his video on short fins.

Arnold

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5uFrbLh1968