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N ever has one move generated somuch hype and caused so muchfrustration for so many people. (OK,

apart from the bloody carve gybe!) I receivemany e-mails from people asking for guidanceon their rotational path through windsurfing life,and for some the loop ranks higher in stressthan relationship and work problems – it’s abreaker. When you see all the activity on theforums, hear it being discussed on beaches, andwitness people practising them on the water,you realise that for many the loop represents theapotheosis of windsurfing progression.

My first piece of advice for wannabeloopers is short, sweet, and simple: if youwanna-do-it – then DO IT! The key word hereis ‘want’. Some people need to do it – forthemselves, for kudos, for ego, forachievement – but you really have to WANT IT.You draw a line in the sand, step over it andjust go for it. Many gybes are attempted until

In the latest instalment of his comprehensive series covering every aspect of wavesailing,Jem Hall introduces the key parts of the forward loop and gives you some drills to improveyour frontside waveriding... Pix by Gregg Dunnett and Andrzej Jozwik.

FRUSTRATION & DESIRELet’s get ready to rotate

PART 7:

Above Ensure therig goes forwardsand across

Right Keep that tailup in your jumps

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it clicks and the forward requires the samerepetition, with the right mental state,conditions and kit.

MechanicsThe forward loop is a controlled catapult inwhich you use the surge of power created bybearing away and then sheeting in to rotateyou and your kit (preferably at the same time).The difficulty is that from day one you’ve triedhard to avoid catapults because you know theycan be painful, but to nail the forward youmust conquer the fear and learn to relish theloss of control. The best rotation in a forwardcomes from getting the rig forwards andacross you, just like you’re bearing away for alight wind gybe, and then you sheet in andlook behind you. If this flaring of the rig isautomatic then you’re on a winner. As you’reeffectively bearing away in the air after take-off, your body will be positioned relatively backso you can push the nose away with a straightfront leg and a bent back leg. Ah-ha! So that’swhy the bald Yoda keeps rattling on about tail-up jumps and doing tail-grabs.

MotivationWe’re all motivated in different ways, and it’sup to you to find the key to unlock yourpotential. Discover your best mental state – doyou need to be foaming at the mouth with allyour mates egging you on? Or do you justmentally rehearse the move and go off quietlyand bang a few out? Peer group pressure canhelp – on my looping weeks I have ‘pull thetrigger happy half-hour’ where you go out andjust do it, whether it be a forward, a very tail-up pop, or if underpowered a wymaroo drill(more on this next month). Some people willask me to sail with them and push them hardto go for it: “Come on Jem, give me abeasting”, as crazy Carl Tomlinson says.Others will need more subtle coercion. Theymight attempt a couple of loops during the

coaching week, but when they get homethey’ll start banging them out. The mostimportant factor is that the process has begun– they’ve started to go for it. So what worksfor you? Get into your peak state. Think StuartPearce or David Beckham...

WHAT WORKS?

Sailing with better sailorsWatching a move on screen and from theshore is great, but seeing it performed up

close right in front of you will really get yourjuices flowing. So many sailors have helpedme with moves by doing them really close tome, and I’m often asked to do the same forothers. I’ll sail along in front of someone andpop a forward, then they’ll come past me andgo for it. Often I’ll lie in the water after the loopand they’ll just do it right where I am.

Just do it!There comes a breakthrough point in the learningprocess when you ‘don’t think just do.’ Will Barratt

totally forgot he wasn’t very good at popping onport tack and on flat water, and proceeded tobang out a very clean totally flat-water forwardalmost on top of me! When people are in thezone they just reel them off, and you have to gofor it, with no excuses about conditions or kit.

Flat water / small chop /wavesIf you practise your loops at low altitude thereare many benefits, which include:• No time to think (on bigger waves you look

forward and sh*t it). • You have to rotate quickly, and this will help

you learn delayed and higher, morecontrolled forwards. I learnt to loop on flatwater, as do many pros – some before theycan carve gybe.

• You have to go downwind! In order to getround you must go downwind for take-off.No ramp = more downwind.

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ADVANCING & ENHANCING

Above Sailing line isOFF the wind for take-off

Below Keep itcompact and together

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TThhee bbeesstt rroottaattiioonn iinn aa ffoorrwwaarrddccoommeess ffrroomm ggeettttiinngg tthhee rriigg

ffoorrwwaarrddss aanndd aaccrroossss yyoouu......

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Being preparedNow for the nitty-gritty. You need to be able topop off small chop, across the wind. Your tailmust be up in the majority of your jumps. Youput the rig forwards and across – like in the nextdrill and when you practise your lighter windwymaroos. I’ve now seen these skills acquiredby many people, and they definitely learn thefastest and go through the least pain. My manEd Texier (late 30s, family man and committedIT dude) did this and he learnt super-quick.Believe me I learnt the hard way, and a black-bruised arse and back was testament to this.Do it the right way and save your pharmacy bill.

Set a goal “I’m going to DO IT!” Say it out loud, tell yourmates, your partner, your dog. Write it downand stick it on the fridge. Back in 1996 I said tomyself: “Right. Do a loop within six weeks orresign your position as windsurfing instructorand go home.” Just last month a client said toa wannabe looper: “Go on – go out and do 10!”So he did, and guess what? They got betterwith each attempt. I’ve even seen Mr Dunnettand Mr Leonard do battle in Brazil to be the firstto do 20 forwards in an hour. This works.

Skye tipsBack in 1996 John and I shared tips as wewere both working on the forward out in Vass.His tips included:

Dress – wear a buoyancy aid, crash hat, cricketbox, whatever gives you comfort and protection.

Peers – learn with a friend (preferably acomplete psycho) and egg each other on.

Simulation – walk through the move, do SAFEforwards into swimming pools or deep water.

No hesitation – both John and top lady pro,Nayra Alonso, are practitioners of the ‘don’tthink, just do’ philosophy.

So get out there, get prepared –and pull that trigger!

Above Tail-grabjumps will buildtowards forwards

Right Gregg sheetingin and looking back toomuch and too early

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2 Bring the rig forward and across you asyour back hand reaches right down theboom. As the rig goes forward you candrop back and start to push the nose offthrough the front foot.

3 Steer to dead downwind by pushingthrough the front foot and pulling with theback foot. Keep those arms extended andlook through the sail.

4 Get ready to change by opening the sail andstart to bring your hips up and forward. Thefront leg starts to pull as the back footbegins to push, thereby reversing theprevious scissoring.

5 All change please! Look upwind over yourshoulder and bring your hands together asthe rig is moving back to turn you upwind.The hips will be moving forward and theback foot will be pushing down and outthrough the heel.

6 Continue looking upwind and bring the rigforward again, ready for your next turn.Now turn round and do it the other way.

This is an awesome drill, and lots of wannabewavesailors love it and say that it really helpsimprove their lazy hands. It also gets youdownwind through legs and rig and thereforeready for looping action!

ADVANCING & ENHANCING

Light wind frontside trainingBy now you’ll have realised that wavesailing is allabout head and hands and counterbalancing – if therig’s forward you’re back, and vice versa. In alongwinded way I call this drill ‘flat-water non-planingwaveriding’, and I do it with all levels from beginnerto winner. It’s best summed up as dynamic steering.

Your goal is to steer the board down-and-upwind using dynamic changes of rig positionand pushing through the legs. This is all aided bylooking where you want to go and getting yourhands apart and then together on the boom.

1 Across the wind, ensure you have space,constant wind and some flat water. You’ll becruising along nicely balanced and stable off theplane with your rig upright and hands together.

Above 7-10 knots, flatwater, a floaty 110 FSWand a 5.8m or smaller

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4 5 6

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Jem Hall is sponsored by RRD boards & Ezzy Sails, Pro Limit, www.2xs.co.ukand his site www.jemhall.com is powered by Herringbone.co.uk.

Jem’s new technique movie Beginner to Winner is out now. If you seriously want to improve andhave a fantastic holiday book one of his coaching clinics – the last few places in Ireland and

Rhodes are still available.

John Skye is sponsored by F2, Naish Sails & Helly HansenJohn has been coached by Jem during their time in Team Fakefish.

Part 8:Next month we’ll be working through a light wind drill to improve your forwards and looking at top technique tips to get them really dialled.

HALL’S HOMEWORKPlease look back on all the homework I’ve already set and ensurethat you’re working on it, as each part feeds into the others.

• Tacking means you can do shorter runs, catch more waves,and do more forwards and jumps both ways.

• Step-gybes and non-planing gybes will improve your waveridingand help you get the rig forwards and across in your loops.

• Fitness – enough said already.

• Tuning – too much to list here, but generous straps (nottourniquets) and a downwind take-off will help in the forwards.

If the wind is light get out there and do your homework! Goodwavesailors are consistent and efficient. Ordinary actions doneconsistently well produce extraordinary results.

Light wind frontside training IIThis has the same dynamics as the previous drill, except there’s a tad more wind and you’re in thestraps. Being in the straps allows even more dynamic direction changes and requires swiftercounterbalancing to keep the board flat. Being able to sail in the straps non- (or barely) planing willimprove your waveriding and early planing after jumps or on gusty days.

1 Get into the front and then back strap slightly off the wind with the rig well forward and lots ofweight on your toes.

2 Bear away with rig forwards and across, with legs scissoring and your back hand way back.

3 After dead downwind, look upwind and bring the hands together and get ready to repositionthe rig and weight your heels.

4Turn hard and bring your body forward to flatten the board and allow you to push through theback foot.

This is also excellent, and should be done three times both ways. It’s a lot faster and easier thancatching six waves, and even in light winds it gives you the opportunity to become a betterwavesailor. Use it! �

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