I saw a post recently about gybing and I just want to list a couple of things that help me and hopefully help newer riders. This is not an in-depth discussion just a broad brush list of things that could help someone starting out. In other words, the checklist that I use out on the water to make sure I have the best chance of staying dry. There are only 4 of them so not so hard to remember.
1. Speed in equals speed out. Pretty obvious really. Try and get as much speed going into the gybe as you can.
2. Get low. Bend the knees, you hear this all the time. If you think you are low enough going for the gybe, get a bit lower. This especially applies in rougher water and let's face it, that is where most of us have to do it. We all can't have a nice sandbar to turn behind.
3. Keep distance from the sail. Don't choke it, give yourself some room Just makes it all come together better.
4. Look where you want to go. Sounds simple and it is. What it does is get your body in better positions.
OK, That is it. I use this checklist every time I turn the corner and even though I don't always plane out, I have given myself the best chance to do so. Finally, have fun. This is a great sport and a good day on the water is priceless.
Good list of important points. Regarding point 1, speed out is about 40% in a decent jibe and 50% in a very good jibe. Planing threshold is about 8-10 knots, maybe a bit lower on big gear. So you got to go into the turn with at least 20 knots to have a chance to plane out at 8 knots. In chop on freeride gear, it's pretty common to go less than 20 knots, so planing through a jibe gets harder, unless you pick up some extra speed going into the jibe.
If it's windy enough, or you can use swell to re-accelerate after the jibe, speed can briefly drop down to 6 knots without the board fully coming of the plane.
Flat water rules for jibing since it's easy to pick up speed, and to keep the speed in the jibe. Going into jibes at 30 knots at places like Albany is worth a long trip! But if you mostly sail on flat water, it's very easy to forget about point 2, since you can get away with not bending your knees if there's no chop. But that will bite you next time you jibe in chop, so bend those knees (more!) even on flat water.
On entering the gybe, sheet in with rear arm and straighten your front arm
2 and 3 are my main failings with fin jibes.
When I've been lucky to have enough wind to fin lately, I've really tried to exaggerate bending my knees and getting forward to what felt like a silly amount to me.
It wasn't. The board glides much further, about 3/4 thru and if my sail handling was better (point 3) I would come out planing.
Foiling is much more forgiving because you can see and feel what is going on, and even step and flip pretty ugly and still come out the other side with speed.
Got you covered John 340. By keeping the sail away you are extending your front arm. When you turn to face where you are heading you are automatically pulling in on the back hand and easing the front hand. In this position you are getting close to a good stance for a lay-down.
My jibing improved significant when using overhand grip instead of underhand grip.
Select to expand quoteaeroegnr said..
...Foiling is much more forgiving because you can see and feel what is going on, and even step and flip pretty ugly and still come out the other side with speed.
I agree that with enough speed, foiling allows you plenty of time to go through the steps. However, it's challenging for a lot of beginning foilers to trust that turning down powered up or in a gust won't end be the end of them. I remember being terrified at that stage.
When you get finned jibes wired, the same thing will happen. That's the most unfair thing about the whole process. Once you have it figured, you will make all sorts of dead ugly jibes and come out smelling like a rose. Meanwhile someone next to you has watched a thousand videos trying to figure it out, gets 95% of it right, makes a small bobble and ends up wet.Select to expand quoteIcelake said..
My jibing improved significant when using overhand grip instead of underhand grip.
Yep, good tip. Pulling down hard on the boom will enable planing through some pretty light wind jibes by keeping the board flat and weight off the tail.
Select to expand quoteIcelake said..
My jibing improved significant when using overhand grip instead of underhand grip.
I always change to overhand grip just before I unhook.
Reach under with underhand grip after the flip. You can keep lower and reach further. Guy Cribb tip??
Not that I'm any good at speed in chop.
Select to expand quotePaducah said..aeroegnr said..
...Foiling is much more forgiving because you can see and feel what is going on, and even step and flip pretty ugly and still come out the other side with speed.
I agree that with enough speed, foiling allows you plenty of time to go through the steps. However, it's challenging for a lot of beginning foilers to trust that turning down powered up or in a gust won't end be the end of them. I remember being terrified at that stage.
When you get finned jibes wired, the same thing will happen. That's the most unfair thing about the whole process. Once you have it figured, you will make all sorts of dead ugly jibes and come out smelling like a rose. Meanwhile someone next to you has watched a thousand videos trying to figure it out, gets 95% of it right, makes a small bobble and ends up wet.Icelake said..
My jibing improved significant when using overhand grip instead of underhand grip.
Yep, good tip. Pulling down hard on the boom will enable planing through some pretty light wind jibes by keeping the board flat and weight off the tail.
You're giving me hope with fin jibes. I see the light at the end of the tunnel... just need the right day...Select to expand quotesboardcrazy said..Icelake said..
My jibing improved significant when using overhand grip instead of underhand grip.
I always change to overhand grip just before I unhook.
Reach under with underhand grip after the flip. You can keep lower and reach further. Guy Cribb tip??
Not that I'm any good at speed in chop.
Andy Brandt recommends the same. Double overhand when jibing but underhand grab on the new side. He has an interesting way of demonstrating it....
Select to expand quoteaeroegnr said..
....You're giving me hope with fin jibes. I see the light at the end of the tunnel... just need the right day...
You got this! We're cheering for you. 
Select to expand quote
Andy Brandt recommends the same. Double overhand when jibing but underhand grab on the new side. He has an interesting way of demonstrating it....
I can't even imagine how underhanded gybing would work. Sounds wrong to me, you'll need to pull down on the boom.
As to grabbing underhanded with the new front hand on the other side, it allows you to reach further back (=more power) and after trying it once you will never go back to overhand rig flip in normal conditions. Back hand is always overhand for completeness.
Select to expand quoteIcelake said..
My jibing improved significant when using overhand grip instead of underhand grip.
Most important part of the process....
Select to expand quoteRumChaser said..
I saw a post recently about gybing and I just want to list a couple of things that help me and hopefully help newer riders. This is not an in-depth discussion just a broad brush list of things that could help someone starting out. In other words, the checklist that I use out on the water to make sure I have the best chance of staying dry. There are only 4 of them so not so hard to remember.
1. Speed in equals speed out. Pretty obvious really. Try and get as much speed going into the gybe as you can.
2. Get low. Bend the knees, you hear this all the time. If you think you are low enough going for the gybe, get a bit lower. This especially applies in rougher water and let's face it, that is where most of us have to do it. We all can't have a nice sandbar to turn behind.
3. Keep distance from the sail. Don't choke it, give yourself some room Just makes it all come together better.
4. Look where you want to go. Sounds simple and it is. What it does is get your body in better positions.
OK, That is it. I use this checklist every time I turn the corner and even though I don't always plane out, I have given myself the best chance to do so. Finally, have fun. This is a great sport and a good day on the water is priceless.
I do the opposite lol, my home spot is gusty and don't like to waste a good gust gybing, 20.11
Select to expand quotePaducah said..
How not to jibe - even skilled riders make some goofs
I'd be very happy if I could gybe as well as his 'bad' gybes..
