THE NOT SO GENTLE ART OF PUMPING

It's arguably the sport's most vital skill. Harty explains the various methods - not all of which are exhausting.

- Peter Hart

Pumping is it the frantic, and mostly unnecessary pursuit of the terminally desperate keen to show off their recently attained cross-fit levels off fitness? Like that young bloke at the lake, who honestly never stops. As soon as he gets on board, he's at it, thrusting and thrashing like a dog on heat. Taking a bigger rig, you suggest, would save him a lot of trouble but he doesn't listen.

Or is it a skill as natural and essential as breathing? To the point where the reluctance to pump will confine you to the lower levels of your chosen discipline? Bad news for the sedentary, it's the latter.

WHAT ACTUALLY IS IT?

Pumping is the act of working the rig to create an artificial gust and direct that pulse into the board. However, the actual technique varies enormously, depending on the wind strength, the situation and what you want to achieve.

You have a circular, 'rowing' pumps to move faster off the plane. You have 'flicky' pumps either in or out of the harness to reconnect with the wind after a transition; or to keep planing in unstable wind. Or, most commonly, there's the full power, body pump to boost yourself onto the plane. The majority of the techniques, you'll be glad to hear, need not be exhausting - although please prepare yourself for a degree of physical output.

WORD LIMITATIONS

Coming up is a is a description of those techniques. But I have to admit that describing pumping is like trying to talk someone through the art of juggling. It's all over before the words can be processed. It's a complex skill with interlinking elements that have to be felt and tweaked rather than discussed. However, a large section of the piece is given up to fault analysis. In truth, most people do pump - but often imperfectly to the point where it actually slows them down. So, if you're late for a train, that's the bit to scroll forward to!