re-hooked

surfalex · Joined: 08 Aug 2008 Posts: 73

I have recently developed a new unpleasant skill. I keep on getting re-hooked into my harness lines. After the rig flip in a gybe, not so bad , just annoying. But lately also. while trying freestyle such as vulcans or willy skippers. Unpleasant to throw your board 180 degrees in a willy skipper only to find out that you somehow get reattached into your harness lines. Not cool, I need some advice on how to break this newly developed habit. I use a waist harness and 22" harness lines

coachg · Joined: 10 Sep 2000 Posts: 3550

Common causes are lines too long, boom too low or standing too tall. Your line length is on the short side so I'd check boom height or exit stance.

Coachg

nw30 · Posted: Tue May 24, 2016 12:26 pm Post subject:

And/or your harness is riding up on you, making the harness lines (which are already on the short side) not the real problem.

boardsurfr · Joined: 23 Aug 2001 Posts: 1266

Make sure that you are using stiff (fixed) harness lines, and turn them so that they go towards the sail, instead of pointing outwards, just before doing your trick. That will make hooking in a bit harder, but if you're trying Vulcans, you'll still get in. It will reduce unintentional hook-ins that can cause rather unpleasant crashes. You'll have to re-adjust them from time to time.

wsurfn1426 · Joined: 20 Mar 2004 Posts: 223

Well, I sympathize. I got hooked in on a few vulcan attempts, and I got flipped on top of my boom. I broke two carbon booms landing on top of them. Bruised ribs, no big deal. That was bad, but then I fractured my face. It was essentially an aerial catapult where the side of my face got slammed against my mast. The worst injury I have had windsurfing.

I was using stiff, 32-34" lines. It was a technique problem. I was facing my boom instead of facing forward on initiating my pop and I was not popping forward of my lines.

British freestyler and coach Phil Richards has a harness line modification he uses to avoid this problem. Getwindsurfing.com. I use a large o-ring typically used for a garden hose to squeeze my lines together. That said, it is a technique issue, and it is best to figure this out ASAP.

You are not alone...

surfalex · Joined: 08 Aug 2008 Posts: 73

Thx for the advice. It happened again, this time while blasting full speed and rotating in a vulcan. Mid air I realized i was hooked in, somehow I was able to turn my body and land butt first onto my mast. I hurt but I am ok. Decided to buy the clip type harness ( cliphatnessonline )
We'll have to see if they help.
Here is a picture, you can see how close the hook is to my lines.

dllee · Joined: 03 Jul 2009 Posts: 5329 Location: East Bay

Boom way too low, like a freerider.
Freestyle needs high booms, to hang hard from, to weight the rail, to allow the tiny fin to not hurt too badly when going upwind.
And bend ze knees on all moves.

NOVAAN · Joined: 28 Sep 1994 Posts: 1549

Rotate lines inward toward the sail...

NOVAAN · Joined: 28 Sep 1994 Posts: 1549

I use a seat harness. That said, it looks like your hook has a much more upward cant than most. More like a kite harness....

swchandler · Joined: 08 Nov 1993 Posts: 10588

I have to agree with NOVAAN, the hook on your spreader bar is nothing like my DaKine spreader bar. It points up way too high, and it's so invitingly open to catching something. Sure looks like a kite-type set-up.