After much discussion amongst the speed crew and how we could apply the technology to wave sailing.
Starting this weekend we've decided to start doing some experimentation to see if we can utilize the GPS technology to enliven, enhance and improve wave sailing.
Some of the areas which we think the data can be utilized are:
Jumps ie height measurement
Wave riding analysis, speed on wave face, speed of turns, amount of turns etc,
It should be interesting to see the results
I think we could benefit from using the data on elevation to see if the jumps that feel really high are exactly that. And for those bottom turns that feel like you are pulling 5g's. It would be great to see how fast you are going mid lip bash.
I'm in sounds good.
So who can pull the quickest lip bash/bottom turn combo
Think the latest gpsarpro will do acceleration as well, be interesting to see how many G's you can crank on a bottom turn.
Initially I was sceptical but I can see how it could be applied to waves...
Categories could include:
* Max G's on a bottom turn
* Max height when jumping
* Max turns on a wave
* Alphas
* Best upwind angle when sailing over 15 knots...
I think the prize for max Gs would go to a, board snapping,dead flat, mast high, landing.
Pretty certain it won't register loops (shame) except for heights.
The G' forces can be calculated from turning speeds though, realistically the real "Gee" forces are generated by how much you destroy the lip.
For those doing the tests the GPS's will have to have the setting changed to constant recording rather than min speed, else they won't log during the jumps.
Grumps
You haven't seen Kookman in action yet, all I need is a set of floaties and I'll be set.
I love the idea of trialling gps in waves to see if anything is possible. I think the nature of wavesailing and the "pure wavesailors" probably wouldn't be interested, but I hope I'm wrong. I thought that video taping wavesailing and getting people to post their tapes to a website and then the registrants/members could all act as judges, casting a vote for the performance categories. But certainly some gps categories on the GTC website would be interesting if only from a blogging point of view!!!!!
Arrrrrrrrrrrgggggghhhhhhhhh cameras are my arch nemisis.
Smegging things don't even have to be switched on, or pointing at me if I'm honest for them to make me stack
So who thinks this "front" will actually come through tomorrow, and who thinks it will go through tonight and leave us with NOTHING tomorrow?
I'm gonna see if I can get Nebbs to do some calculations of track points on a wave face, which will determine the type a manouvres on wave faces, looking at off the lips, cutbacks, vertical smacks etc, with the highest scores maximising points!!
I'm not gonna rest until every wavesailor sees a gps as a vital part of wavesailing!!!
