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just cant nail that damn tack... any tips?

Posted: Sat Apr 06, 2013 2:57 am
by adamharr
So im down to about my 30th session on the race board so i got all the jibes down but that roll tack i just cant get it from starboard to port i cant even get the board front to the wind and from port to starboard i kind of rotate but fall so i do a 360 rotation but always fall so any tips?
Another thing is i got right tune of fins but sometimes its not even 20 knots and im eating shit on the raceboard with my 9 or my 11 meter full depower so i cant even imagine these guys at egypt 35+ with 9m one day.
Also going upwind normally i go in choppy water but i start for a few seconds on a good angle and with a point of reference and i start going downwind as a reach more and more and explode and crash so any tips?
Thanks, cheers ohh and i got an RRD krapida and a cabrinha 12 i got as gift last year both on tectonicsT43k

Re: just cant nail that damn tack... any tips?

Posted: Sat Apr 06, 2013 8:18 am
by haiku
Hi. Learn first the old tack, then switch to the roll. In both try to see your feet and power the kite when you are over the board changing the body position. Having the foot straps quite loose is also important.
Cheers
Carlo

Re: just cant nail that damn tack... any tips?

Posted: Sat Apr 06, 2013 9:18 pm
by gmb13
adamharr wrote:So im down to about my 30th session on the race board so i got all the jibes down but that roll tack i just cant get it from starboard to port i cant even get the board front to the wind and from port to starboard i kind of rotate but fall so i do a 360 rotation but always fall so any tips?
Another thing is i got right tune of fins but sometimes its not even 20 knots and im eating shit on the raceboard with my 9 or my 11 meter full depower so i cant even imagine these guys at egypt 35+ with 9m one day.
Also going upwind normally i go in choppy water but i start for a few seconds on a good angle and with a point of reference and i start going downwind as a reach more and more and explode and crash so any tips?
Thanks, cheers ohh and i got an RRD krapida and a cabrinha 12 i got as gift last year both on tectonicsT43k
Hi Adam,

You should check out the thread about handling choppy water:

viewtopic.php?f=159&t=2379807

There is some good info there.

Using the same Size fins you are comfortable with in Light winds when it's howling is very difficult.

We use smaller fins when the wind is strong.

Roll Tacking and straight tacking are pretty much de same difficulty. In my opinion the straight tack is more risky as you can get lifted away from the board especially when it's windy. The Roll tack is safer as you keep at least one foot on the board at a time.

There are a bunch of how too videos on the Web so have a look at those.

All I can offer you is this one that shows a straight tack in slo mo. : https://vimeo.com/24867381



On a roll tack there are a few key things that might help:

1) The faster you are going when you go into the tack, the easier it will be to plane out of the tack.

2) You need to push the board hard around into the wind before you even take your foot out of the back strap. Lean back as far as you can as you initiate the carve into the wind. The pressure should be on your back foot.

2) Try doing it one handed. Keep your back hand on the bar as close to the middle as possible, especially with small kites.

3) When the board it pointing directly into the wind you want to step forward out of the back strap and step forward into the new front strap. Do this with some momentum as this will help to push the nose of the board around the rest of the way by pressuring the front strap.

4) DO NOT POWER UP THE KITE WHEN ITS AT 12!!! Keep it depowered though the tack until the board is pointing in the new direction. If you are dropping in the water during the tack, you have not been going fast enough.

--
Gunnar

Re: just cant nail that damn tack... any tips?

Posted: Sat Apr 06, 2013 11:20 pm
by gmb13
Hi Adam,

I'm not sure if this will help you but here is a Go Pro Video of a a near perfect Roll Tack, strap to strap planing though.

First is normal speed the second is slowed down quite a bit so you can see what the feet are doing and how far the board needs to be pushed around.

http://www.vimeo.com/63483237



Hope it helps.

--
Gunnar

Re: just cant nail that damn tack... any tips?

Posted: Sun Apr 07, 2013 3:44 am
by adamharr
gmb13 wrote:Hi Adam,

I'm not sure if this will help you but here is a Go Pro Video of a a near perfect Roll Tack, strap to strap planing though.

First is normal speed the second is slowed down quite a bit so you can see what the feet are doing and how far the board needs to be pushed around.



Hope it helps.

--
Gunnar
Thank you really much i actually got them a few both sides haha i got my first roll tacks fluidly! I guess i just needed that speed going into the tack and carve harder, great great improvement.
Another thing, normally in chop and windy the thing i said when going upwind i start sailing downwind more and more until im reeching and start going fast until i crash this happens not only in windy
Is this leg strenght? Sometimes this happens and i cant even beat guys in twin tips
Thanks, cheers

Re: just cant nail that damn tack... any tips?

Posted: Sun Apr 07, 2013 9:01 am
by FrederikS
Thanks Gunnar! Superb shots of the roll tack I am sure this will help a lot of people!

As a rookie here please do more of the same type just for gybes, mark roundings and so on. The transitions there are also a bit tricky :P

Cheers,
Fred

Re: just cant nail that damn tack... any tips?

Posted: Sun Apr 07, 2013 9:14 am
by haiku
Hi. Gunnar...you're the man :thumb: !
Cheers

Re: just cant nail that damn tack... any tips?

Posted: Sun Apr 07, 2013 12:44 pm
by gmb13
adamharr wrote:
Thank you really much i actually got them a few both sides haha i got my first roll tacks fluidly! I guess i just needed that speed going into the tack and carve harder, great great improvement.
Another thing, normally in chop and windy the thing i said when going upwind i start sailing downwind more and more until im reeching and start going fast until i crash this happens not only in windy
Is this leg strenght? Sometimes this happens and i cant even beat guys in twin tips
Thanks, cheers
Hi,

That sounds like a combination of too big fins and to big kite for the conditions.

If you can use a kite size smaller. If not, you need to slow down and point as high as possible.

Are you using a race bar with a 4-1 Adjuster? If not, you should be. This will allow you to depower the kite in gusts without having to lean towards the kite.

Another way to get the board pointing higher and to slow down a bit is to move your heel of your back foot even more forward. You toes stay in the strap, but your heel is about 5-10cm up the rail. Your foot will be almost sideways.

What size fins are you on and how much do you weigh?

--
Gunnar

Re: just cant nail that damn tack... any tips?

Posted: Sun Apr 07, 2013 12:46 pm
by gmb13
FrederikS wrote:Thanks Gunnar! Superb shots of the roll tack I am sure this will help a lot of people!

As a rookie here please do more of the same type just for gybes, mark roundings and so on. The transitions there are also a bit tricky :P

Cheers,
Fred
Hey Fred,

I can do that. We got a lot of footage for the Flysurfer Race Team Vid I am working on now, so I can use some of the waste footage for How To's.

So you would like Gybes and Mark Roundings. What else?

--
Gunnar

Re: just cant nail that damn tack... any tips?

Posted: Sun Apr 07, 2013 3:25 pm
by adamharr
gmb13 wrote:
adamharr wrote:
Thank you really much i actually got them a few both sides haha i got my first roll tacks fluidly! I guess i just needed that speed going into the tack and carve harder, great great improvement.
Another thing, normally in chop and windy the thing i said when going upwind i start sailing downwind more and more until im reeching and start going fast until i crash this happens not only in windy
Is this leg strenght? Sometimes this happens and i cant even beat guys in twin tips
Thanks, cheers
Hi,

That sounds like a combination of too big fins and to big kite for the conditions.

If you can use a kite size smaller. If not, you need to slow down and point as high as possible.

Are you using a race bar with a 4-1 Adjuster? If not, you should be. This will allow you to depower the kite in gusts without having to lean towards the kite.

Another way to get the board pointing higher and to slow down a bit is to move your heel of your back foot even more forward. You toes stay in the strap, but your heel is about 5-10cm up the rail. Your foot will be almost sideways.

What size fins are you on and how much do you weigh?

--
Gunnar
Thank you very much again gunnar, i will defentely use this advise in todays session i normally train in windy with my 9m i weight about 65 kilos and use 42cm and 38 rear trctonics.

Those videos are great! Maybe also some penaltie turns, a top mark turn with loop, a race start, how to avoid tangles, how to get out of a tangle just ideas...
Cheers, Adam