RE: Getting into the straps...

From: David Veach (veach@LANQuest.COM-DeleteThis)
Date: Tue Aug 12 1997 - 10:07:23 PDT 

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From: David Veach <veach@LANQuest.COM-DeleteThis>
To: "'wind_talk@opus.hpl.hp.com-DeleteThis'" <wind_talk@opus.hpl.hp.com-DeleteThis>
Subject: RE: Getting into the straps...
Date: Tue, 12 Aug 1997 10:07:23 -0700
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Have you tried back foot first? About 3 years ago I was in the same place you
are, getting frustrated because I could get the front foot in but as soon as I
lifted the back foot to put it in the strap, I'd loose control. I don't know
what the _proper_ method is but I found that with the back foot in first I could
control the board and take my time with the front foot. You can sail with just
the back foot in waiting for the proper moment to put in the front foot with good
control and your much less likely to get launched. Others may have a different
opinion but this seems to work best for me.

I've also found that sometimes you can use the swell to your advantage,
particularly when the wind is light and you loose your plane while getting in the
straps. I'll get one foot in then point the board down the face of a nice swell
using it to maintain board speed while I stick the other foot in and plane away.
Of course this usually only works in one direction and of course not much help at
candlestick. :)

I also found that if I make sure I've got as much of my weight on the sail it helps
a lot. This will help keep the board on plane and also help keep the board from
rounding up with either foot first. If your getting frustrated, try a different
approach and keep experimenting.

hope this helps -dv

------------------------------------------------
David L. Veach LANQuest
EMail: veach@lanquest.com-DeleteThis
Voice: (510)354-0940 x25
Fax: (510)354-0950

I Jibe Therefore I Am
------------------------------------------------

-----Original Message-----
From: jgw@pacbell.net-DeleteThis [SMTP:jgw@pacbell.net-DeleteThis]
Sent: Tuesday, August 12, 1997 8:13 AM
To: Multiple recipients of list
Subject: Getting into the straps...

Greetings...

I've been windsurfing for 2.5 years now and have seem to hit a plateau.
I cannot seem to get into the straps without encountering several of the
"typical" problems. For backgrounders, I currently sail on a borrowed
9'/120 liter Hi Tech. Btw, board seems a bit heavier than other 9'/120
liter boards. Sails are 4.7 to 5.7. I feel very comfortable water
starting, and currently spend most of my time at Candlestick or the
Delta.

I can get moving pretty good; but, I do tend to slog a bit more than I
should. There are occasions where I am moving about as fast as those in
the straps, planning. So the symptoms are these:

1. Try to get in the front strap, and I go head to wind.
2. Get going downwind to avoid problem #1, and I end up sometimes
getting the front foot in for a few seconds, but get out of control and
wipe out when attempting to get back foot in. I also end up very far
down wind.
3. Get frustrated and just sail, finally get moving onto a plane, and
feel like I'm moving too fast to get the feet in without the board
shaking like crazy... which has happened.

I've attending ABK twice and got a lot out of the first camp a year ago
[focused on water starting and learning to sail on a short board].
Second time, this last Spring, I focused on speed on the reach. I could
have used a lot more one-on-one w/more wind. Had this happened, I
believe, I may have made the break through. Is getting into the straps
usually this much of a challenge?

Any help is appreciated! 

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