Forwards March at Napeague

Dateline:  Napeague.   Andy Brandt was about to demonstrate to me how to hit the back of a piece of chop to initiate a forward loop.  

I watched as he beared off and prepared to pop off of…off of what?  There was nothing there!   I kept watching as Andy proceeded to put four feet of air between his rotating self and the water below. 

“Oh man…I’m so not going to get this,” I thought.

I’ve taken a loop lesson before (on the beach due to lack of wind) and I’ve tried looping before (with nobody there to guide me) but this was my first time attempting loops with guidance.   Sharing the water with Andy, Jill Marr and Mike Jamieson, and sailing a 5.3 and my JP Freestyle I proceeded to pummel myself* in pursuit of la forward.   They say that looping is mostly about overcoming fear…I don’t know about that but I'll vouch for the need to overcome fear just to seriously attempting a loop.   And there’s also the stuff about rig position, jumping off your toes, and timing the lifting of the back foot.  

Even though I didn’t get close, I have a much more solid idea of what I’m supposed to do, and Andy seemed to think I was on the path towards rotation.  

So I’m going to be looking for the back of ramps this weekend.   And I’m signed up for next weekend’s ABK windsurfing clinic at Napeague for more aerial coaching.

* I woke up in the middle of the night feeling like I had perhaps broken my neck.   Then I remembered the loop attempts.  In the morning I was able to lift my head without assistance.

(Photo:  Andy also does tricks at sea level.)

Comments

[Andy]

You'll get it!! The first few attempts are the worst wipeouts you'll ever experience. If you can persevere from there, it only gets easier and less painful :)

Yee ha!!

[Bunty]

If you manage to get a smaller version of Windfinder to put into your side bar let me know please.

[Mark Paine]

Hi Michael, I spent a month or so feeling like a moron just going dead downwind and flopping myself on my back before I started to get confident with the rotation. Andy will tell you...I'm the slowest learner in the world. Keep at it and good luck!