MOVE ON UP AERIAL TIME

This month we look at the frontside aerial as a way to boost your wave riding and your ability to work with the wave. I will outline its place in wave sailing and give you tips to learn and improve this move but some great advice is to just try some. As they say in Punta San Carlos, Baja, ‘You just won’t know until you go!’ I have few regrets in my windsurfing journey and the right moves came to me at the right times, yet personally I really do wish I had worked on aerials at least a decade or more ago, I was too focussed on regular top to bottom riding. With this in mind I really push my wave rippers to attack aerials when the opportunity presents.

- Jem Hall

BREAKDOWN

Let’s breakdown the move’s essentials.

WHO If you are already making some nice turns up and down the wave and can read how a wave is shaping up and also have access to some side / side-offshore waves then this move should be an aspiration.

WHAT This is a jump on the way in, off the breaking section of a wave and it is more about timing and finding the right part of the wave than just the action of jumping, as it is mainly the wave doing the work.

WHY It is fun, adds to your repertoire and will give you a new challenge, but mainly there are some parts of a wave where making a turn is either hard, or not worthwhile, so an aerial becomes the best option.

WHERE You need to be on a wave that has a bit of power, but not too much, and to be coming from upwind to hit a section that is throwing. When learning to aerial it is best to have some distance from this section to give you the time and speed to make it.

WHEN This is where good old judgment and experience comes in. Go too early off the section and the wave won’t throw you, too late and you will be wearing the lip of the wave-like a hat.

1) Mid face bottom turn to keep speed. Be more upright and over the board, ready to pop.

2) After spotting the section to take off from begin to transfer weight from toes to heels.

3) With the wave’s energy now going into the board it will start to project you up so assist this process by straightening the back leg and lift up on the boom.

4) Look forward as you do the pop, and almost before you do it, and way more than I am here. You are now looking to lift and fly.

5) Aim to land in front of the wave so think again look forward, lift the rail by getting your toes down and your heel right up your arse.