Select to expand quoteManuel7 said..
Yes back slaps and top of the sail hitting the water means lack of height (for the style of loop), pop over back foot with weight back (hurts forward speed), and possibly sheeting in too early (mast not enough into the wind or forward enough). Possible also board too much into the wind.
Good tips, session three was similar to the second so I think I'm doing all those things not quite right to some extent. Last session wasn't that windy and I was struggling to find ramps and keep speed up. Looking forward to some stronger wind to try some more 
Swifted(?) through the video, the wymaroo is the best method though not the easiest technically. On port tack, it looks like I may be wymaroo-ing before front looping. Reason is: it's derived from the wave 360. We need to drive the board downwind with speed opening the sail. Then pop extending our body and front arm, somewhere in there tuck keeping front arm extended.
The difference is in a wymaroo we use speed and explosiveness to achieve the rotation. Being so far downwind there's a lack of power in the sail. So little by little we need to set off the move less downwind using more wind power.
How many here defeated the forward via wymaroos?
Via wymaroos?
I finally cracked the forwards on port tack as well. That means on my weak jumping side (I still can't really jump on that side!) and over far-from-ideal terrain. Wymaroos approach is excellent until we need more sail power to wrap up the move without well, going into a wymaroo.
The secret was... to bring the sail as much windward as possible! This makes many things happen all at the same time:
- makes the initial rotation more sideways which is less intimidating
- helps swoop the board downwind and to the side where the nose won't bite and launch us
- helps keep the board under feet (at least back one)
- sets the sail nicely for better control over rotation and body position (including landing)
- helps clear the mast from board's nose
- forces us to open the sail and move hands back
- generates better timing between pop and tilt
- is more tolerant to delay in throwing the move
- is more tolerant to different approach angles
- is more tolerant to rough terrain or unforeseen circumstances (gusts, lack of speed, whatever)
- develops rig handing and promotes a better approach to late forwards
- is a big confidence booster
I'd still recommend to head downwind first over a slight uphill. From there try and tilt the rig sideways upwind as much as possible, look back and then pull/tuck your gear around you trying to keep front arm extended. Splat, you made it!
Finally closed the quest on both tacks! After many sinking waterstarts on port, I was able to catch more breeze yesterday and get back up in the straps out of my first port forward!
Similarly to starboard forwards, it was crossing the sail with the board that helped it all. Lifting the rear elbow up also contributed to success.
It's our "return to the beach" tack and we only have back of chop / waves to practice. Tougher + it's my weak jumping side.
Super super stoked!
