Here we start with light wind stance, as you need to have this perfected before you can look at going faster and getting into those footstraps!
Now there might be alot of things we forget about in life, but getting planing for the first time on a windsurfer is certainly not one of them! I am sure everbody who has already experienced it agrees with me and if you’re about to get planing for the first time in your windsurfing life – get excited! Even if you are out of control, it’s all part of the game!
Getting planing is a feeling that can not really be described, but one thing is for sure, you won’t be able to get enough of it and any doubt about whether or not windsurfing is the right sport for you will disappear.
Get comfy in light winds first.
Sailing in lightwinds gives you the time to get in a comfortable position and getting more confident.
Make sure your head is up and you look into the direction you want to go. As in most things, everything follows the head. By looking far ahead of you, you will automaticly get alot more stable and you will be able to see and react to gusts and lulls!
Your hands should be about shoulder width apart and fairly straight, the front hand should be placed near the front harness line and your ellbows pointing down slightly, so you are building some space between you and the rig to get the right balance!
Make love not war with the sail. A big tip is to have your thumbs up, that will stop you instantly from griping the boom too hard!
Your legs should be a bit more then shoulder width apart and centered over the board, front foot should be straight, toes pointing forwards and your backfoot slighlty bend!
It’s important not to be too stiff on the board, so putting on a nice smile or singing away your favourite song should help you relax and make you a bit more loose!
A lot of the power in the sail gets controlled through the front, not as many think through the back hand!
If you pull in with the front arm you will sheet out the sail and therefor taking power out. If you straighten it you will power up the sail!
Once you are fairly comfortable in light winds, and you are able to steer your board up and downwind there is nothing that should stop you from going out in stronger winds and getting your board on the plane.
