i was out today and was trying a few shove its. was comfortably powered on a 5.2. it felt really awkward in the air so i was wondering if its easier with smaller sails and more wind? any tips?
5.2 is fine for shove-its but they're easier when you're really powered up. They're a really tricky move to learn becasue it's a totally different feeling being pushed up in the air backwinded. They're one of the best feeling moves around though so well worth the effort and once you've got the feeling then they'll feel easy.
The best way to get used to it is to try really aggressive backside cutbacks on small swells (the bay is fine). As you cruise along a swell then turn the board up the wave while raking the sail back and laying it down, then as you get to the top of the swell carve the board back down as you push the sail down and away from you (key tip - if you feel like you're going to fall on the sail then push harder, don't try and pull the sail back up. It's the wind that blows the sail back up). Once you get the feeling of doing these little cut backs then get more and more aggressive with them, laying the sail down further and carving harder up into the wind.
Then all you need to do is exactly the same thing but going out into the swell instead of riding with it. A common mistake is not to carve up into the wind far enough which will result in you going around the mast and crashing (or doing a shove-it spock...). The other thing to remember is that this is not a jump - it's the wind pushing against your sail that gives you the air. Good luck and keep practising - these are a really cool feeling move and once you've got them you can get into Shakas, Gutter rolls and shove it spocks!
great question and great reply, i'm keen on nailing these too - thanks 
do your hands need to be anywhere specail along the boom like with flakkas / grubbies etc?
Hands don't matter too much. Can maybe put back hand a bit further down the boom than normal but nothing as pronounced as the flaka or grubby. Front hand should be in normal sailing position. I sail with an underhand grip but always do these with an overhand grip (front hand over the top of the boom with palm facing down). Good-luck and have fun!
Al, Unfortunately Nomadic has been canceled for this weekend 'cause the conditions aren't going to be "hard core" enough. I've got a month in Tassie over Christmas upto the Nationals in Marrawah though! You should head down for the nationals - there'll be a juniors division - you could be a good chance if you can get a bit of wavesailing in over summer!
ah that sucks. yeah i would love to but im gonna be in the sunshine coast. so basically im not gonna get any proper waves until february. will work on my freestyle though. btw if you see levi siver can you ask him why he never uses the wood starboards?
