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Looping practice in footstraps vs out of footstraps
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cherrywood182



Joined: 30 May 2005
Posts: 56
Location: San Mateo

PostPosted: Mon Jun 09, 2008 6:51 pm    Post subject: Looping practice in footstraps vs out of footstraps Reply with quote

I am trying to pluck up the courage to do a forward loop.
One tip that several people gave was to get comfortable throwing yourself over the front without taking the board with you.
I have tried this many times and it is starting to feel more comfortable
and I think I am starting to get better at (i) looking back, (ii) sheeting in
(iii) gauging the rotation.

My question is, for you loopers out there. How valid is this kind of practice? Is it much different from going over with the board?
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madspaniard



Joined: 23 May 2005
Posts: 380

PostPosted: Mon Jun 09, 2008 6:58 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

very good question, I've been doing the same drill too, any answers?
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keycocker



Joined: 10 Jul 2005
Posts: 3598

PostPosted: Mon Jun 09, 2008 7:02 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

I haven't landed one yet, but I have gone over many times. The no board thing helped me get back on track. I wasn't committing to the move and now I am and feel I will nail one soon.
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ethurlow



Joined: 07 Dec 2002
Posts: 119

PostPosted: Mon Jun 09, 2008 7:28 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Hmmm. Interesting. Maybe I should have done this when I was learning/breaking equipment.

Yes, I think it (leaving the board behind) may give you a good feeling for the forward loop.

Ernie
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johnl



Joined: 05 Jun 1994
Posts: 1330
Location: Hood River OR

PostPosted: Mon Jun 09, 2008 8:43 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Okay, I'm having a hard time picturing this. I haven't attempted one yet, but it's been on my dream list till I broke my foot.

So you jump, get out of the footstraps, then sheet in and look back? Or is this something you just do while on a plane?

I'm having all sorts of visions in my head and they aren't pretty.....
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SAS



Joined: 18 Feb 1997
Posts: 177
Location: planet earth

PostPosted: Mon Jun 09, 2008 9:47 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

I tried the out of the strap sheeting in stuff and it just never felt right to me. I found it better to just hit the ramp and go for it. If you have the guts, they're easy to learn. Here's the drill:
1) get your feet firmly in the straps
2) look for your ramp; choose a downwind takeoff (you should hit the ramp on a broad reach)
3) move back hand further back on the boom and unhook
4) hit the ramp; once in the air close your eyes, pull in hard with back hand, push out with front hand, turn head back, and pull up with feet to make yourself into a ball
5) hold on until you land. Whatever you do, don't let go, don't sheet out. Just wait until you land, and open your eyes.

The closed eyes stuff really works, and gets you over the fear factor; later, as you get better, you can open them. You don't need to see to loop; you do the right moves, and do it by feel. If you feel you are underrotating, just pull in harder..........dont let go!

Years ago, Chris Wyman told me to close my eyes, but I didn't have the guts to do this, until Matt Pritchard told me the same thing. At that time I figured that if two guys of their skill level told me the same thing independently, it was true. I started sailing away from them within a week of trying them. The only injury I had learning them was landing so hard on my ass that I got a 6 inch bruise on one cheek (no spanking involved at all..........)

there is a downside to forward loops; as you get better, you go bigger, and flat landings can happen, with broken boards.
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ctuna



Joined: 27 Jun 1995
Posts: 1125
Location: Santa Cruz Ca

PostPosted: Mon Jun 09, 2008 11:30 pm    Post subject: Windsport had a two issue article on working up to this. Reply with quote

It involved doing tumbles , Tumbles on sand dunes with and without sails.
Then doing that jumping off the board catapult without letting go of the sail.
I think I saw another one where you do a twisting tumble into a swimming pool. Peter Hart has a whole two Disk Video devoted to this. You can get it at Sideoff Video, I think its called Showin Off or Serious about waves
three.


Last edited by ctuna on Sat Jun 14, 2008 1:16 pm; edited 1 time in total
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cherrywood182



Joined: 30 May 2005
Posts: 56
Location: San Mateo

PostPosted: Tue Jun 10, 2008 12:05 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Assuming the loop practice without the board is a valid drill, here are the advantages I see to it:
1. You don't need a ramp to try it. I spent all day looking for the perfect ramp in the bay and never quite finding it. I think I was using that as an excuse not to try it.
2. You can go slower, hence less fear.
3. You can use a bigger board, and therefore lighter winds, again less fear, and less vicious rotation.
4. You can break down the problem a little bit and seperate the board jump from the rotation, just working on the rotation first.
I found a really good article on this posted here months ago that had various loopers and professional windsurfers talking about their first loop. It was very motivating and made me think that it is 30% technique and 70% balls. I'll try to dig out the article and post it.
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cherrywood182



Joined: 30 May 2005
Posts: 56
Location: San Mateo

PostPosted: Tue Jun 10, 2008 12:07 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Here are the articles:

http://www.boardseekermag.com/technique/advanced/forward_loop/forward_loop_2.htm

http://www.windgirls.com/tiffany_forwards.html
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madspaniard



Joined: 23 May 2005
Posts: 380

PostPosted: Tue Jun 10, 2008 12:14 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

cherrywood182 wrote:


1. You don't need a ramp to try it. I spent all day looking for the perfect ramp in the bay and never quite finding it. I think I was using that as an excuse not to try it.


I hear ya. That's been my excuse for too long when in reality you just need to clear the fin to go for it (speedloop). However, it is true that in some spots the ramps will be upwind of your trajectory and to go for it you need to jump from ramps cross to downwind.
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