The "Other" Tack

[junebug]

I’m looking for tips on how to do the “other” tack. I don’t know if I have my terminology right, but my understanding that the tack you see the racers do is called the duck tack or the roll tack. I’m not looking for tips on that kind of tack. I’m looking for tips on the other tack.

In the duck tack or roll tack you carve upwind and change feet while facing into the wind.

In the other tack, you carve upwind, use your feet to change the board’s orientation, and change feet with your back into the wind.

I don’t have experience on a directional non-hydrofoil board, so I’m starting from scratch.

Any tips?

[jakemoore]

Ketos has a tutorial on Vimeo.

[Peter_Frank]

Yes, years old but still apply, regarding a normal tack (not a roll/duck tack):






The very best can do the "normal" tack flying, amazing

Look here Stephane a couple of years ago, he shows it splendidly at 1:45



Peter

[junebug]

I found a more detailed Ketos tutorial:

[Peter_Frank]

Great video junebug, awesome.

I wonder HOW difficult it is?

As it would be a so much better way to tack, than the roll tack.

Have never ever seen anyone tack like this though, apart from Stephane.

But as there are so many racers here, they got straps thus never use a normal tack, so never seen it here flying either.

Most freeriders/freestylers/waveriders are strapless I think, so could be interesting to find out how difficult the tack is - I have never tried, only on the surface as the "safe" way to turn when marginal wind, as I thought the flying air tack was almost impossible, compared to the roll tack.

Anybody who can share how they feel about the tack?

Peter

[bragnouff]

Coming from the strapless surfboard world, and from windsurfing way before that, this is the tack that felt the most natural or familiar initially, as opposed to the roll tack. So I stick to that with foiling. Only had 2 of them so far where the board didn't touch down...
A fine exercise in weightlessness!

[junebug]

I’ve never tried this kind of tack, but I’m going to give it a shot next time I’m out. It seems much less intuitive to me than a roll tack, because with a roll rack you just rotate your body the same way you are carving the board. I never windsurfed or rode a directional before starting foiling, so I don’t have any pre-existing familiarity with either kind.

Peter, why do you say this is a better way to tack?

[cglazier]

A tack is done when heading upwind and generally you want to make as much upwind progress as possible when doing your tack. That is why the normal roll tack is preferred.. with this tack you lose board speed and upwind progress.

I actually learned this tack first and then I had to start over to learn the roll tack. Unfortunately the muscle memory is completely different.

I recommend that you learn the roll tack first and you will probably never bother with this one other than just as a fun trick.

CG

[Peter_Frank]

I’ve never tried this kind of tack, but I’m going to give it a shot next time I’m out. It seems much less intuitive to me than a roll tack, because with a roll rack you just rotate your body the same way you are carving the board. I never windsurfed or rode a directional before starting foiling, so I don’t have any pre-existing familiarity with either kind.

Peter, why do you say this is a better way to tack?

Because it is the way we all are used to tack, if coming from windsurfing or kitesurfing.
The roll-tack only became interesting with kiteracing on hydrofoils where you have loads of kite lift and not much drag, and is WAY more difficult in so many ways, and counter intuitive almost not possible when you think about it - but the funny thing is it IS possible, eventhough against all physics and natural intuition of movements.

So as most are used to a "normal" tack, it is pretty easy on all kinds of boards - maybe not foiling I dont know, but otherwise.
And A LOT safer to do, meaning the risk of crashing is a lot less, particularly in low wind or with small kites.

This is why I find it so easy and natural, and a "better way" to tack, if possible to do it foiling (but I dont know, for the average riders...) it would simply be amazing.

When doing a roll-tack very powered on say a waveboard (not a foil), you got loads of pull downwind from the kite, and nothing is less natural than trying to go "under" the lines to leeward

I learned the duck-tack when windsurfing, where it was a relatively difficult trick, and nothing like on kiteboards or foils, eventhough the movement going "under" and head facing the wind when turning is the same.
Later I learned it on waveboards, but for me also mostly a trick and can not make 5 out of 5 - sometimes yes, but other times no, particularly if hitting a wave at the same time or just having a bad day...

As opposed to the normal tack you can do on waveboards with or without straps, does not matter on a waveboard, but on a foil I think strapless is a lot better, and the "safe" tack in my book.

But I know I am old school

On a normal tack you hardly don't rotate your body, always back to the wind leaning on the lines, easy.
On a duck tack you rotate your body almost 360 degree, at least three quarters
And nothing to lean against...

Peter

[flaps1111]

Any tip for the Greng Dexler tacks? for me is contraintuitive, the kite is pushing me against the carving