Strap-to-Strap Gybing

Hi Guys

As you probably know, I've been back into the sport since last summer (after 15 years off). I'm progressing nicely, but one thing I'm confused with is that all my gybes are strap-to-strap. I've tried step gybing, but feel off balanced and it just doesn't seem as natural... so I often sail out of the gybe with my foot still in the original front strap, then shift it out and to the back strap once on the new tack. I think this is a habit from my old days in the sport. The problem with my strap technique is that sometimes I find that I'm stalling (tail sinking a bit) after the sail flip. However, in saying that, when I nail a good strap gybe, I come out fully planing and it feels great. Under what circumstances do I use the step and in which do I use the strap? I've looked at heaps of youtubes and now I'm confused. I don't think I've ever done a step gybe, so do I need to learn it or should I persist with my habit of always strap gybing. You input would be greatly appreciated. Oh, I should also mention that most of the time I'm sailing well powered up in a min of 20kts on a Tabou Rocket. Cheers, nige

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2035 said..
Hi Guys

As you probably know, I've been back into the sport since last summer (after 15 years off). I'm progressing nicely, but one thing I'm confused with is that all my gybes are strap-to-strap. I've tried step gybing, but feel off balanced and it just doesn't seem as natural... so I often sail out of the gybe with my foot still in the original front strap, then shift it out and to the back strap once on the new tack. I think this is a habit from my old days in the sport. The problem with my strap technique is that sometimes I find that I'm stalling (tail sinking a bit) after the sail flip. However, in saying that, when I nail a good strap gybe, I come out fully planing and it feels great. Under what circumstances do I use the step and in which do I use the strap? I've looked at heaps of youtubes and now I'm confused. I don't think I've ever done a step gybe, so do I need to learn it or should I persist with my habit of always strap gybing. You input would be greatly appreciated. Oh, I should also mention that most of the time I'm sailing well powered up in a min of 20kts on a Tabou Rocket. Cheers, nige

yea man, you wanna learn to step gybe, it feels a little unstable at first, but you gotta bend your knees and drop your bum abit during the sail flip, then sheet it, then find your straps

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2035 said..
Hi Guys

As you probably know, I've been back into the sport since last summer (after 15 years off). I'm progressing nicely, but one thing I'm confused with is that all my gybes are strap-to-strap. I've tried step gybing, but feel off balanced and it just doesn't seem as natural... so I often sail out of the gybe with my foot still in the original front strap, then shift it out and to the back strap once on the new tack. I think this is a habit from my old days in the sport. The problem with my strap technique is that sometimes I find that I'm stalling (tail sinking a bit) after the sail flip. However, in saying that, when I nail a good strap gybe, I come out fully planing and it feels great. Under what circumstances do I use the step and in which do I use the strap? I've looked at heaps of youtubes and now I'm confused. I don't think I've ever done a step gybe, so do I need to learn it or should I persist with my habit of always strap gybing. You input would be greatly appreciated. Oh, I should also mention that most of the time I'm sailing well powered up in a min of 20kts on a Tabou Rocket. Cheers, nige

Must have been a 80-90's habit as I was the same as you!
I got my first planing gybes with strap to strap which worked great fully lit on smaller gear but if big gear and gusty winds or in a lull I found the late footchange would be bad..
So I find the step best with larger sails , gusty winds or not powered up heaps. With the step gybes you can position your front foot up nearer the front of the board to keep it flat/ sail clew first and help the exit in less than optimal conditions. Actually if you can nail it it probably is good in all conditions although I think smaller / waveboards you can get by strap to strap when powered up. Best to have both skills.
I retaught myself the step gybe ( went from 90% success but average gybes to 1% ) I'm coming out the other side now getting 99% of gybes ( although not all pretty and my planing in chop is worse..)
.I do find with the step gybe it is easier to upset the board trim if your gumby changing possy but I know if I improve that won't be an issue. Much better , more stable stance exiting gybes.
Ps - I used to have a 125 rocket and still have a 95ltre. I have found that I can occasionally catch a rail entering in chop and crash..the Excocet Xcross 115 is much more forgiving although in the long run I suppose the feedback ( crashes) with the rocket can finetune so you get better technique..

Thanks for the tips and advice guys (and gal). Yeh, the step looks most sketchy when your two feed are together for that split second.... I think this is where I'm struggling with it. I've also noticed that I'm probably holding the rig too far away from my body during the step gybe. Still, I'll give the step more of a go over the weekend if this NE'r eventuates tomorrow.

As for duck gybes, I've managed to pull off a few lately and they feel easier than tacking (I suck at tacks), which I really need to work on.

P.S. I'm asking about this because I really want to improve my alpha... I'm on about 16 with crap gybes, so if I can nail a good turn I'll hopefully get a bit closer to the elusive 20.

Thanks again guys!

Strap-to-strap planning gybes are the way to go. However, I believe that as you move into the new foot-strap position, it must be the "front" strap and not the back strap as you described.

By moving into the front strap, you are able to place your weight more forward as opposed to being in the back strap. Another more important reason is that by having your weight more forward, you keep the board flatter for maintaining the speed instead of sinking the tail which stalls the board.

Another very important consideration is not to lean back. Many people lean back to avoid being hit by the rotating sail. That will again upset the board balance as well as sinking the tail, causing it to come off the plane.

By being able to move into the front strap, and not lean backward, and if you are still planning, you will find that the harness line is just exactly where you want it to be. So you can actually hook in and sail away. Once you are sailing away in the new tack, with your front foot already in the strap, you then move your back-foot and feel for the strap.

It is perfectly fine to sail wrong-footed as after the sail flip around. That gives you ample time to move to the new front foot position. Many people are in a state of panic as there are sail rotation, foot movements, hand movements, straps. If you just concentrate on one of these, in a sequence you are comfortable with, you will find the planning gybes are just like riding a bike into corners.

I know it is easier said than done. It is bad to look at your hand movements. Repetitions, many of them, will make it almost a second nature for you to know exactly where your boom is going to be, and where your hands should be ready for it. I believe our brains and our bodies actually memorized the movements, hence it become almost automatic reflexes.

Like most things, preparation of the gybe determines how well it is going to be. Speed, and more speed, good planning speed, and don't even think about failure. As soon as you chicken out, you will do all of those wrong things, like leaning backward, stalling the tail, looking at your hand movements, and of course, panic.

Sheet in hard, sailing on a broad-reach for maximum speed. Lean the sail more forward and inside the turn.

Falling off is part of the learning, as long as you don't keep falling off because you are doing the same thing, and making the same mistakes.

S to S

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ikw777 said..
Do you need a looser front strap for this?

Maybe that'd help. But however it goes, just before you do pull that front foot out the leg has to get pretty straight. And that front foot is twisted hard in the strap. Not much flex room left in any direction if you bounce on a bit of unexpected chop. Always felt a pretty vulnerable point to me though I never did tweak a knee. The step gybe does allow you to safely "bend ze knees" throughout.

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Haircut said..

2035 said..

..... all my gybes are strap-to-strap. Cheers, nige

Bragger

I never said it was pretty though

BTW, wrt to tight/lose footstraps, one thing I can positively add to this tread is that I had really loose straps (the previous owner must've been a Yetti) and my previously broken ankle was getting really sore from all the movement in the straps and chop. A couple of sessions ago I tightened them all up so my feet only fit in up to midway between toes and ankle... it's much better and I have heaps more control and feedback from the board. I've found it's fine for gybing too because it let me lift the heal of my original front foot and I'm pretty much only on the ball of my foot... this also makes it pretty easy to pull it out after the rig flip and shift it back. Tighter straps work for me, but I guess it's personal preference. Keep in mind though, that I only tightened them to prevent so much movement and protect my stuffed ankle.

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ikw777 said..
Midway between toe and ankle is very loose. My toes only just protrude out of the back of the strap.

Ah yeh... my toes are the only thing out the other side. The straps go from the middle of my foot to the start of my toes. Feels heaps better. Thanks for confirming that's the go.

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Jupiter said..




Please note that it is not a very good idea to set the foot straps too loose. It is possible that your "entire" foot may slip right within the strap. Imagine that occur while you are on a wave, or fall off.

The "old" rough guide is to be able to raise your toes within the straps, Too tight is not be too good either as only the front half of your foot is taking the strains.

Within the straps or just so as they grab the inside edge of the strap? If raising your toes works on the inside edge then you can lock in. Nobody's checked, but I bet you'd find that windsurfers who use straps adjusted this way have developed the strongest toe-raising muscles of any of the sports. Relax the toes and you come out easily.


This strap is too loose. The foot is held in by friction only, raising the toes does nothing to keep the foot locked in.



This is about right, with those toes raised he is locked in.