Getting Into the Footstraps

Fred MPL · Post by **Fred MPL** » Mon Jun 11, 2007 11:08 am

For all you windsurfers out there:

I have been making quite a bit of progress windsurfing over the course of the last year. I am going faster and faster every time I go out and getting more consistent.

However, I am not getting into the footstraps. #1 because I am somewhat fearful of a major crash #2 my board is turning up wind when I attempt to enter the front strap.

Any hints from you veterans? Do I need to experiment with harness line placement or the mast track?

Any hints would be great.

Fred

Tim S. · Post by **Tim S.** » Mon Jun 11, 2007 12:01 pm

Fred,

The best thing about the foot straps is once you get in to them everything steady's out, and you can hold the board to the water. It is way more in control, and way more comfortable than being out of the straps.

To stop the board from rounding up you first need enough wind to make it back into the straps, need to be comfortable in your harness.

Once you have these two mastered, the trick to stop your board from turning up wind is to keep some downward pressure on your mast, either by sitting heavy in your harness, or by hanging on your boom, putting pressure down on the connection point.

Another trick is to make sure your not putting weight on your windward rail, this will cause the board to round up. Try working one foot in first than the other keeping your weight centered over the board, until you have enough power to have both feet in. Sometimes it helps to be on a little more of a broad reach when doing this, so if you do round up some you have some room to play with.

Good luck, once you get your feet into the straps once, you can completely relax on the board and finally REALLY enjoy the ride. and don't worry when you crash, you will come out of the straps

thewavebb · Post by **thewavebb** » Mon Jun 11, 2007 12:20 pm

I second pretty much with all of what tim said....

another thing to mention is to try having your straps in the most forward position if you have different options on your deck. This can help with getting into them a little easier. Depending on your board, you may want to center your straps more on the rear strap. This will keep the heal off the rail and should help keep you going forward.

What board are you using?

I have bailed really hard on numerious occasions and the straps were the last of my concerns. So I wouldn't be too worried. I feel a heck of a lot safer once i'm in the straps then when i'm out of them thats for sure.

Woody · Post by **Woody** » Mon Jun 11, 2007 12:37 pm

Hey Fred,

I'm assuming you're on your Bic Techno Formula...

All the above is great advice and I would only add to try and remember to sail 'through your toes', not your heals when trying to get into the straps. Heel pressure will round your board upwind, not what we want! By putting pressure through your toes, it not only pushes the board away from you, but keeps the board flat, what we want!

When you get in your straps the catapults will come to an end!

Woodette · Post by **Woodette** » Mon Jun 11, 2007 2:15 pm

Great tip I got from Kevin Gratton:
Get in the straps, lean back and hang loose - just like you would hang in the bar

works every time for me.

Woodette

Fred MPL · Post by **Fred MPL** » Mon Jun 11, 2007 2:22 pm

Thanks everyone for all the advice! I can't wait to get out and keep trying.

This looks like the recipe:

Wind
Downward Pressure on Mast
Broad Reach
Straps Forward
Weight Your Toes, Not Heels
Lean Back
HANG LOOSE

toyletbowl · Post by **toyletbowl** » Mon Jun 11, 2007 5:08 pm

put your front foot in first. back foot should be right in front of the back footstrap and centered on the board.

it's been 6 years since riding one of these things, but that seemed to work best.

one last thing...just do it and commit.

steveb · Post by **steveb** » Mon Jun 11, 2007 8:07 pm

Fred. You may have your harness lines too far forward, as you pick up speed the center of effort moves back a little in the sail, if your harness lines are too far forward as you go back to the straps in effect you lean the mast back, and upwind you go. A good guide is the harness lines should be centered approximateley 36% back from the front of the sail ( luff) to the back ( clew)

As you go back on your board try to keep your arms straight, this keeps the sail nice and upright to maintain your power.Bear away off the wind and as you do, sink your weight low so your head is below the boom with your arms straight and your front foot pointing towards and pushing the nose of the board off the wind. This increases the amount of mastfoot preassure which helps keep the nose of the board down and reduces the chance of heading upwind. As the preassure from the rig increases you'll find you can move further back on the board and feel for the front footstrap. Slide your front foot in the strap but keep your back foot out resting in the middle of the board between the front and year straps. Slowly increase the weight on your heels so the board heads up onto a reach but keep the sail nice and still, you don't want to detach the airflow. Once you have the sailing angle you want flatten the board out and go for speed. Get that sail upright ( more power) with the foot of the sail as close to the top of the deck as you can get it. Push your pelvis up and shoulders back for the optimum speed stance ( called " locked out")
If everythings in control and feels good gently slip your foot into the back strap, if not leave it where it is and keep the board flat.

The best anology I've heard for how to use your feet to drive the fin is...
take your shoes off. Stand with one foot on the top of a basketball, the middle of your foot on the apex of the ball. Now slowly extend the foot that's on the ball until your leg is pointing fairly straight away from you, but keep the same amount of preassure on the two sides of the ball through your heels and toes. Thats how you use the straps to flatten off your board. It's a kind of rolling motion.
Good luck.