clyde
04-24-2008, 10:50 AM
How did you Start sailing without straps? How did the idea come up? Do you have any innovacion in mind?
The idea came from Mark Shinn (well-known, top level kitesurfer). I was continuously injured and couldnīt keep on with the footstraps and didnīt know what to do in order to keep sailing.
The kiters started riding boards without straps and so we took a surfing Longboard and fixed a device to connect the sail and of we went to try it. Bit by bit I ended up taking off the straps off my windsurfboards to see weather they would function without them . and they did
http://www.seabreeze.com.au/gallery/gallery/Windsurfing/1575162.jpg
I remember the last summer (2006) when you returned sailing. People where applausing you with their mouthes wide open after seeing you doing an incredible surfsession. Itīs mind-blowing to see you control a board without straps in conditions with 2 metre waves and more than sufficient wind for a 4.7 sail and even more pulling of moves like cut backs, floaters and aerials of the lip. Thatīs heavy stuff, isnīt it?
How is sailing without footstraps? Did you change your technique?
Well, the jumps donīt have any technique (-laughs-. imagine surfing a more than headhigh wave with a 4.2 fully powered sail .and no footstraps). Itīs very difficult. (I would say itīs impossible). When it comes to riding the wave the style of body is maybe not as elegant as with straps but this is maybe because I have to keep my body more upright over the board. Itīs more like the original surfing without a sail. You need to catch a wave like a normal surfer and not with the help of the wind and sail. Itīs a lot of trial and error in order to see how it works. I move a lot on my board.
For the rest: http://www.windsurfingtenerife.com/index.php?content_left=stories Clik on Choose a story, then, Inerview: Bart David, Part 2
The idea came from Mark Shinn (well-known, top level kitesurfer). I was continuously injured and couldnīt keep on with the footstraps and didnīt know what to do in order to keep sailing.
The kiters started riding boards without straps and so we took a surfing Longboard and fixed a device to connect the sail and of we went to try it. Bit by bit I ended up taking off the straps off my windsurfboards to see weather they would function without them . and they did
http://www.seabreeze.com.au/gallery/gallery/Windsurfing/1575162.jpg
I remember the last summer (2006) when you returned sailing. People where applausing you with their mouthes wide open after seeing you doing an incredible surfsession. Itīs mind-blowing to see you control a board without straps in conditions with 2 metre waves and more than sufficient wind for a 4.7 sail and even more pulling of moves like cut backs, floaters and aerials of the lip. Thatīs heavy stuff, isnīt it?
How is sailing without footstraps? Did you change your technique?
Well, the jumps donīt have any technique (-laughs-. imagine surfing a more than headhigh wave with a 4.2 fully powered sail .and no footstraps). Itīs very difficult. (I would say itīs impossible). When it comes to riding the wave the style of body is maybe not as elegant as with straps but this is maybe because I have to keep my body more upright over the board. Itīs more like the original surfing without a sail. You need to catch a wave like a normal surfer and not with the help of the wind and sail. Itīs a lot of trial and error in order to see how it works. I move a lot on my board.
For the rest: http://www.windsurfingtenerife.com/index.php?content_left=stories Clik on Choose a story, then, Inerview: Bart David, Part 2