Hey, what is your number one tip for someone that can rig up proficiently and sail at a good intermediate level? Am accumulating knowledge still and looking for refinements. Good topics would be weight movement, foot positioning, trimming. Just nice simple concepts that you can remember and put to practice on the water.

check your beers are stacked and chilled for after session rehydration recovery!!

more downhaul

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seanhogan said...
more downhaul

...and less outhaul.

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Homestraight said..

Try all possible settings on a sail. You'll be surprised how much power you can get out of a sail. Freeride sails rig differently on different boards. For me: Slalom board: bagged out, boom low, bottom clew hole, centre of effort very low down, Freestylewave boards: flat sail, boom high, centre of effort high. Over time as you move out of intermediate to advanced you will use the sail differently, so don't forget to experiment occasionally when you become advanced.

Only do short runs so you gybe and tack more, they are the hardest things to master.

Never slow down to go into a gybe and lean forward, if your not about to be thrown over the front of your board and into your sail, your not leaning forward enough.

Keep an eye on your mast foot rubber ,,if cracked replace ..
when using fins..big sails... big fins ...small sails... small fins
don't be scared to move your harness lines ..if uncomfortable get balanced .

sail in all conditions ..it will improve your sailing .

Move where it's windy...

Don't get married and have kids

Seriously though, a straight leading arm and leg if slalom or speed sailing will improve board / sail efficiency.

The gybe is a K - it is not reach to reach.

The numbers on your extension are probably not correct as you can't downhaul to zero in most cases - learn how to rig by eye and feel (along with experimenting as above)

Sail on crappy days, it'll make you better on the good days.
Don't let ** give you the **s, next time will be great.
As Zachery said, bring beer and share, oh happy days

Mast Foot Pressure.

Always gybe when you come into the beach, even when you plan to stop. Otherwise you will only become proficient at gybing on the outside.

Many good suggestions above so I won't repeat them. My top 2

1. When you gybe really, really bend your knees and get your weight forward. Too many people have straight legs with bum hanging out over the back - just sinks the tail and stalls the board

2. See how many gybes you can do without falling - start with 5, then go onto 10 then 20, you will get really tired as the number increases, but it will improve your gybing

Race.

Mark I agree, get a ruler out with your extension and measure, think about how far it can physically downhaul, you never get it all the way to the bottom. I didn't have my set correctly last weekend, deep down I knew but went out anyway and it was rubbish, I kept getting pulled over.

forget kiting
windsurfing is the BEST

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sausage said...
Don't get married and have kids

Agree with the above statement. You'll have soooooo much more time to get out and sail with out them. Hence your sailing will improve

Race.

Racing will make you improve way faster than sailing around by yourself. Racing forces you to learn to gybe and go fast in nasty water, in traffic and at uncomfortable angles, so when you get out on your lonesome again, it seems easy!

look where You want to go! not at your feet.

Don't chicken out 100% each sail every sail.

Make the most of the gear you have and HAVE FUN!

When gybing flip the rig much, much earlier than you think you should.

Get professional help. I mean, do a course with any of the really good instructors mentioned on the site from time to time.

Increases your skill exponentially from what ever level you are at.

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Zachery said...
check your beers are stacked and chilled for after session rehydration recovery!!

X2

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PhilSWR said..
Move where it's windy...

You've had a lousy season up there Phil..mind you ours hasn't been brilliant but looks good compared to up there.

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MikeyS said..
Get professional help. I mean, do a course with any of the really good instructors mentioned on the site from time to time.

Increases your skill exponentially from what ever level you are at.

What to get rid of the addiction?????????? Sacriledge!

Wear and approved GPS device

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Zachery said..
check your beers are stacked and chilled for after session rehydration recovery!!

I reckon you'd be trying to stop them from freezing

Long lines

Big foot straps

These are my tips if (like me) you live a bit of a drive from the sea:

(a) Don't forget to pack all the essentials in the car -- e.g. masts (done that), mast base (also done, more than once), boom (yes, done that too)

(b) Do take as much gear with you as you can fit inside whatever vehicle you own and still drive it with reasonable safety, because you cannot trust and therefore should not plan what to bring on the basis of the weather prediction for the locality you are going to.

That said, as long as you did (a), even if you didn't do (b), still go out on the water, because you've driven a long way, its against to rules to arrive at the beach and not get wet, and you will learn something and even maybe still have fun.

PS -- if you didn't do (a), then still go for a swim or a nice walk on the beach

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sboardcrazy said..

MikeyS said..
Get professional help. I mean, do a course with any of the really good instructors mentioned on the site from time to time.

Increases your skill exponentially from what ever level you are at.

What to get rid of the addiction?????????? Sacriledge!

God, no. The professional help will only enhance the addiction, leading to higher highs and more impulsive kit purchasing behavior (as I'm now experiencing after too many years on the improvement plateau)

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sausage said..
Don't get married and have kids

Yeah because it decreases your chances of getting to Maui with Hargs & Greenie & co. lol

With a two piece mast, make sure you gaffa tape the area where the two sections join (minimises risk of mast damage if sections not properly connected / reduces amount of sand entering with "mast stuck" complex).