With a world of teaching and competitive experience behind him there is no one better in the business to ask than Andy 'Bubble' Chambers (JP / NeilPryde) about the integral parts of freestyle. On this weeks agenda is the issue of learning to go switch and what moves to aim for first. We teamed up with the man himself to give the aspiring freestylers the best tips in the world for progressing to the next level:
Over to Bubble to explain how it's all done - Going Switch:
2) Bear away a bit to get some more speed but then head upwind before changing your feet, if you lose too much speed you can bear away again once switch.
3) When changing your feet make sure you keep the sail sheeted in by pulling your back hand into your armpit, one of the most common mistakes is to open the sail as you change your feet
head upwind in switch to keep more power in the sail, you need the power to pop the board.
4) Don't just bear away for ages downwind otherwise you will lose all power and speed.
After learning how to go switch:
When learning any of the switch moves like e-slider, puneta, switch chachoo or funnel, make sure your body is over the board and don't go downwind too much.
Introductory Switch Moves:
Best move to learn first is clew first puneta because you don't have to change your feet, just sail out of a gybe without flipping the sail or changing your feet. It will teach you to stay over the board when you initiate the move.
Best top tip is don't go downwind too much, the more upwind you are the more power and 'whip' you get.
PWA: Thanks Bubble and we hope those top tips help you get to the next level!
Maatsuyker Island, TAS
Windsurfing - Sails
