Sustained Flight

You’ve had lift off and you’re hooked! The next question is how do you turn this bucking bronco of a ride into that serene image of cruising along above the water without the thought in the back of your mind that the kit is at any minute going to try and kill you! In other words, how do I get sustained flight and start windsurfing in 3D?

- Sam Ross

The two challenges that need to be overcome are trim and adjusting ride height of the foil whilst on the move. Trim is about maintaining a flat board from side to side so that the kit doesn’t roll off downwind into a ‘scorpion crash’ or heel hard to windward and go down like a flying squirrel!

The next is actively changing the height on the foil to take into account, chop, waves, gusts, lulls and speed.

TRIMMING IT FLAT

Keeping the board flat is accomplished by keeping the windward rail locked down and both rider and rig on top of the board. Try adapting your stance by looking at these 4 H’s

Head: Start looking upwind to spot gusts and lulls, this will be crucial as you move on to actively adjusting height.

Hands: Keep the rig still. You may find having the front hand further forward than usual helps keep the height low. Also an underhand front hand often keeps the rig a little stiller in the beginning.

Hips: The most important part for foiling. Kink your hips out to give yourself a flat back and upright stance. The more kinked you are at the hips and more upright your body the more control you’ll have over the foil.