Up-wind technique. By Phil MaGain.

Courtesy of Gaastra. www.gaastra.com

Everybody wants to know how to go faster and higher upwind. This month, I asked the boss man for the straight scoop on it all...
The man who knows just about everything there is to know about technique is Phil McGain. Here is what he had to say...

Upwind technique is very personal like almost everything else in
windsurfing. There are however some basics that you want to concentrate on no matter how big or small you are. At the end of the day the most important thing is time on the water (TOW). Be on the gear you race on.

The most important aspects to going fast upwind
• keep the body weight low and forward. This way you can keep control and powerful when you get hit with the gust.

Keep the rig as upright as possible.

Stay sheeted in with the sail on the deck, pushing hard on the back leg driving the board into the wind. If need be move the backhand further back in the gusts.

Keep the board flat.
• With your front foot, you want to concentrate on pulling your toes up to keep the board trimming on the tail.

Keep your speed, because without speed you can't point. Sail trim is important here, back off the outhaul for maximum power. If you get overpowered in the gusts reach back for the outhaul and flatten the sail slightly. Don't forget to let the outhaul back out when the gust passes you. Recently at the World Championships in Brazil, Kev and I used this technique extensively because of the gusty winds. Other places like Maui you need very little adjustment upwind.

You really need to be completely overpowered to go upwind very fast. Don't be afraid to use a big sail and flatten it to go upwind, because you will need the extra power to go deep downwind. You need a board that is comfortable to ride, because when you are comfortable and in control you can push your equipment to the limit.

Goodluck.
PM.

 

Slalom Racing Tips. By Matt Pritchard.

Courtesy of Gaastra. www.gaastra.com

Last month, Phil McGain gave us the straight scoop on going upwind. This month I decided to shed some light on slalom racing technique. I know it may not be as emphasized on the racing circuit, but sometimes you will be out there on you slalom gear wanting to go fast.I've always been really good at slalom racing. There's something about when someone is in front of me that makes me want to pass them. If they're in a car, or on a bike, even walking down the street. But especially on a windsurfer. Here are Matt Pritchard's slalom hints...

The secret to winning Slalom begins behind the start line. It is very critical to get a good start. Finding the proper end of the line to start is step one. You need to find the shortest distance to the first mark. You do this by eyeing the line and also testing it out with your Team members to know where to be. You can make a quick run at the mark from several positions for a solid fix on your best position. It's all angle vs speed.

And by far the most critical aspect of starting is the run-up to the line. You must know exactly where to put the hammer down in those last ten seconds, so you can hit the line at full steam... and not get a black flag. When the entire race almost always hinges on who hits the first mark clear ahead, you don't want to yield a second to the other guy. If you aren't over early one in ten times, you are probably late.

Then it becomes a case of who has the most controlled speed. Some guys
can go fast, but can they keep it together for the entire first leg? Have you been in a pack of eight or ten, just feet from each other, flying at more than thirty knots? Practice sessions just going round and round with a few buddies can ease those jitters.

That first rounding. This is where your homework pays off. Did you spend time on your jibes? Can you drive the turn in a crowd? All comes only from practice, practice, practice. All this you need to have figured out before the race. That's Team work sometimes. That's how we do it. There is no reason you can't do it this way to!

Once you get to the competition, the trick is to be confident. Confidence comes from knowing that you are on the fastest equipment you can possibly have. No excuses to clutter your mind about what to do. Confidence. The other trick is, don't let other competitors intimidate you. Some people try to scare and intimidate. This is usually just a way of saying that they are afraid of you. Keep your mind at ease and 'focus on the flag' as Scott Fenton would say! Follow these general guidelines and you should be set up to give any one a good run for their money!

Most importantly, smile and have fun. It's not the end of the world to not win a race. Chalk it up to a good learning experience, and use it as motivation to find a good testing partner/s and gain a few knots of speed. We'll do more next month on passing on the reaching legs. There are some good tricks Phil has taught us that we can pass on.