What is the big deal about foot position?
During my earliest attempts at windsurfing, I have made several mistakes that slow down my progress. One of it by not considering where I position my feet on the board. I have taken a bad advice that basically says “…your feet will naturally know where to step on with a lot of practice.”
This particular advice, while not 100% incorrect, led me to believe that I should not be bothered about where to step, and focus more on getting good balance wherever my feet are on the board. Things will just sort out themselves intuitively.
Of course, it works, but not without a lot of falling and uphauling and breaking my back.
When I was finally passed that agonizing part, I took some time to watch some videos and look closely what others are doing, then compare them to mine. Bang! They’re doing exactly as I did. It was all so straightforward that I thought, if I would have known this earlier, I won’t be uphauling 80% of my earlier sessions!
By making the right adjustment to your feet position, you will find significant improvement to your balance, and by nature will help you respond to sudden change in power of the rig more positively.
So if you’re just starting windsurfing or having problems to stay on the board, hopefully this will be a significant step to your progress.
1. Uphauling >
Uphauling is the most hated part of windsurfing. But since it is a part of windsurfing, you should also learn to enjoy it more often. Although, to enjoy uphauling, you must learn to do it the right way.
In the picture, the blue circle is the mast, and red color footsteps are where you should position your feet.
Start with the mast leeward of the board, with the wind 90 degrees to the board.
Now imagine there’s a centre line going across the board horizontally. Your heel should be behind this centre line, windward.
Remember, uphaul is 90% body weight & 10% strength. Straighten your back, straigten your arms, and hike your body out windward to lift the sail.
Tips: If you feel the sail is too heavy, try sweeping it on the water gently.
You should first position your feet almost equal distance apart from the mast, and as you are more comfortable, move your back foot further aft of your board. Also, when you are good enough with your balance, try to shift both feet closer to the rail because this will increase the leverage to uphaul the sail.
2. Sailing Stance #1
As soon as the sail is up, LOOK where you want to go, and position your feet as above. Alternatively, this is called the Number 7 stance.
Again, imagine there’s a centreline going across the board horizontally. Your back foot needs to be on this centreline. Your toes will help you to counter-balance when there is too much weight on the windward side of the board.
Do not try to move to the rail. More than often this will cause you to apply too much weight on it. In light wind, when there is not enough power in the sail to counter balance this weight, you will fall on your back.
Your front foot on the other hand should be as close as possible to the mast, pointing forward.
Power up the sail and go.
3. Sailing Stance #2
When you are ready to move further aft of the board, this is how it should looks like. Same Number 7 stance. Only difference is front foot has moved further from the mast, and your back foot closer to the tail.
Only use this stance when there is enough power in the sail! If you try use it too quickly, without proper handling of the sail you will most definitely swerve into the wind and fall on your back.
Later when you’re progressing to get hooked into the harness, you will find this position to be the most stable. If you are further enough from the mast, hooking in is more natural and straightforward.
When you are ready to go faster in higher wind, move you front foot closer to the rail. Leave your back foot where it was until you are confident enough to put both feet close to the rail.
Well, that’s it! I hope you will find this as useful as I did.
And remember, there will be no progress until you pushed yourself to your limits.
Good Wind and Happy Sailing!
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Well we do have an international regatta somewhen in March....
I told you last time . In no time you will be better than all of us because you are so lucky ( not unlucky ) to have the wind with you. More people should take up windsurfing , Balok is such a nice beach.
Pls contribute yr advice to Bluefinz Newbies. At least you can share yr learning experience with them.
PJ
Syamil, this article is really helpful. Thank you so much.
One thing I noticed, during uphaul it is important to position the sail 90 degrees to the board, to make sure the sail goes up instead of flapping to the sides.
I agree, But in order to understand a bit more of windsurfing, you need to know that is like a surfboard but it is powered by the wind. The rig is connected to the board by a free rotating flexible joint or U joint, unlike a sailboat, a windsurfer is steered by the tilting and rotating of the mast and sail as well as tilting and carving the board. Take note that while trying windsurfing the ideal planning conditions for most recreational sailors is 15-25 knots, good luck! But why isn’t hard to go surfing?
Brin @ windsurfinglesson.net