Learning to Forward Loop

Hi guys,

Is anyone else looking to learn to forward loop?

Mines the usual story, been thinking about it for ages but haven't plucked up the courage to go for it but i think if a few of us learn at the same time then we can push each other on and finally get there.

Would anyone else be up for learning with me?

This, hands down, helped me more than anything else to learn the forward.

The secret to learning things quickly isn't blindly (and most cases, painfully) attempting moves. Be smart about it. Break it into 3-4 moves so that you can master each one then combine them.

Using the above method you can practice the feeling on <15kn and in flat water. You'll look like a kook for a few days, so what. You'll feel more confident with the 'getting thrown forward OMG' feeling which accounts for 90% of the difficulty of a forward. Don't take it as the gospel, but step one-two in the vid are pretty good steps to learn. Most of the other tutorial vids on youtube show pretty psycho loops off decent waves, which if ur learning is a good way to get owned.

This helped me a ****load. Hope it works for you.

Thanks guys that's awesome.

Now we've got a few of us interested i reckon we'll nail it

I usually sail up around Pinaroo point or Quinns or Lancelin as i live in Butler.

I used to be an instructor for Neilson and i found that filming the guys i was teaching that week and then showing them the video back afterwards helped them tons as they could see what they were doing right/wrong so im wondering if it will help learning to loop as well, ive got a video camera which ill bring down as well so we can all see ourselves trying, if nothing else it'll be a good laugh with a beer afterwards.

Where do all the rest of you guys usually sail?

Also OzPricey would you recommend getting an older board to learn this on, did you wreck any boards when you were learning?

One last thing, with the getting in the footstraps non-planing, i'm quite heavy at about 90-95 kilos and at the moment i've got a 102ltr JP FSW board, would this be ok or do you think i should get a bit of a bigger board for the initial learning non-planing footstrap stuff?

I'm in. My lack of cajones has been holding me back for years

No as you end up jumping away from your board its usually ok. Also because you throw the rig away from you in a forward/wymaroo the only thing to hit is water if your doing it right.

I always sail with a thick boom-bra and would recommend a mast base foot pad cover thing, also an uphaul is a must for light wind attempts.

Use a board thats comfortable. If you sinking while uphauling in light winds use a bigger board. Common sense. Slalom/Freestyle/Wave whatever as long as you have the litres for comfy uphauls/waterstarts. You won't be on the plane for the first steps in the vid. And you won't be trying those steps for long before you nut it out/get bored of it.

Around Pinaroo is good for me

Right, now there's a few of us interested let's get this thing going.

It's looking ok for tomorrow so let's have our first learn to loop session tomorrow down at pinaroo point, can anyone make that?

dont forget to drink a beer before you hit the water! takes the edge off the nerves!

Hey Oli, 5 might be a little bit late as it'll be starting to get dark by the time you get there but by all means give it a shot.

Also I'm thinking of heading to quinns this arvo instead of pinaroo if anyone wants to join us, just been down there and it's looking good already.

Did a couple more step 1's today, trying to do step 2's but the board just stays stuck to the water.

Did you get out Alimac?

(Feel free to call me names for not having the guts to try sheeting in when I was actually in the air)

When the spin thing worked, the start of it felt like a flare gybe. Sub planing, lean the mast to the outside of the turn, but instead of leaning to the inside and sheeting out, you lean to the outside and sheet in [}:)]

A microsecond later I'm in the waterstart position, with the board having disconnected itself from my feet as it pointed downwind

So I tried it on a steeper wave but I found it hard to time my gybe right so that the nose of the board would end up in the air when the 'wave' hit...

Greenroom, comments welcome

i've learned the front loop this season and this vid helped me,,,you just have to go for it!

Gave step 1 a go on Friday arvo but I think I need to watch the vid again cause something didn't feel right. Are you going to Cervantes this weekend Nebbs? If so, might have a bit of a crack up there with you.

Hey Oli and Hooksey, well done on having a go! I was starting to think that everyone had chickened out

Yep going to cervantes so would be nice to sail with someone else and have some motivation.

Tried another one yesterday, same old story not enough of a ramp so no air and the board stays put. Absolutely no swell down south yesterday

Sounds stupid but the board 'getting stuck' sounds like your trying the move before you get air. I did this a bit when I was learning. Remember to get airborne first!

Other nugs of info to help control the spin:
Leaning back at initiation = more horizontal spin
Leaning forward at initiation = more vertical spin

To increase spin rate take off further off the wind. If your overpowered dont head off the wind, as much.

I've got the start, it's the second bit where you realise you're about to catapult yourself into the water that's the problem...

... Anyone think that trying to just do a 180 would mentally be easier than trying to do a full somersault?

This is where looking back helps enormously I reckon. If you've been sailing for a fair while that catapult reflex is ingrained in the muscle memory and it's very hard to shake, particularly when you can see it coming. Looking back at the clue somewhat alleviates this in my opinion.