Hi Guys,
Seems there is a lot of misunderstanding about tacking and race board stuff in general. The transitions in the video are standard gybe (first one), then normal tacking in the remainder.
A normal tack is where the nose of the board passes from one tack to the other through the "eye of the wind" or directly into the wind. The rider remains upwind of the bar the whole time.
A duck tack is a bit different. The board still follows the upwind turn through the eye of the wind, but the bar goes upwind of the rider. This is most easily achieved by riding toeside into the transition and toeside carving into the wind, whilst bringing the bar upwind of the body and you "push" the bar all the way around until the bar goes through the eye of the wind and round onto a normal heelside riding position.
I'll see how I go filming this on the next vid. I can do it on a twin tip so I guess I can do it on a race board (never tried).
There is no real advantage to "duck tacking" a race board unless you are throwing in a very short tack to make an upwind marker and you want to stay in the straps. I doubt it would be useful with the modern race boards, having wide spaced straps which would make toesiding a race board all but impossible. It's hard enough on the Sector!
@eppoThe normal tack is easy.
1. Starting a tack from Starboard to Port, just bring the kite slowly up to 1pm as you slow a little (not too much) into the transition. Prepare by taking your back foot out of the strap and placing it in front of the back footstrap. Ease your front foot in the strap or loosen it in preparation of a quick exit from the strap.
2. crank the carving turn upwind with your feet and at the same time crank your back hand on the kite towards the new direction.
3. As you go through the eye of the wind with the nose of the board, shift your bodyweight into the harness to become light on your feet whilst keeping the kite sheeted in for full power and lift. Flick the board around with your front foot, by pulling it around under your now weightless body by bending the knee forcefully. This should flick the board the last 45 degrees and will leave it under you. Lift your back foot at the same time so you hang in the harness momentarily and land back on the board with the new tack and feet in position.
Probably easier to explain with a slow mo video.
Just takes a bit of info and then some practice.
Cheers,
DM