Sam Ross joins Boards to run through the next move in his technique series, and progressing on from the tack it’s tim ego look at the best entry level freestyle move out there… the heli-tack.

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When it comes to feasible freestyle the heli-tack is right up there. It gives us a great first experience of being back winded, which appears in so many other planing and aerial freestyle moves. It’s not a move without function though, for many it’s the preferred way of tacking a low volume board, eliminating the possibly precarious skip round the front.

Like the tack, it’s a move that can help us make more of our time on the water, storing up upwind ground to cash in on trying moves or riding waves that are going to send us downwind. But more so, it’s a great gybe training tool, with foot changes and rig flips (as well as clew first control) you’re increasing your gybing practice hours, without losing any ground.

Breaking it down and being your own coach

In all these tech pieces where transitions are the focus we’ll look at:

Preparation, Entry, Midpoints and Exits, with the focus being on three things: the head, hands and feet. This way when trying to coach your self you’ll have a platform from which to form your own feedback.