Hi everyone

What's better, front or back foot into the straps first. I always go front foot first to stop my tail sinking, but theres many people who go back foot first so they don't get catepulted. I personally think that you are unlikely to get catepulted while in the harness and not going to fast (assuming you go harness before straps like i do), therefore go front foot forward so you tail doesn't sink?

Is it more just personal choice?

bubs

well I water start with back foot in strap, so for me it's not an issue.
Back foot in, waterstart, hook in harness, front foot in.
As long as I'm powered up of course.
Coming out of a powered up gybe, the old back foot, new front foot is just behind the new front foot strap. So then it's front foot first, hook in harness, then back foot.

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Originally posted by bubs

I personally think that you are unlikely to get catepulted while in the harness and not going to fast (assuming you go harness before straps like i do), therefore go front foot forward so you tail doesn't sink?

Is it more just personal choice?

bubs

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hi bubs, i don't agree with that. i think being hooked in and going slow is where most catapults happen because the wind speed is so much higher than the board speed. and ultimately if you are not hooked in then you can't get catapulted.


but i agree about front foot first. i mostly go front foot then harness. but i am generally pumping onto the plane.

you guys that hook in first and then go for the straps, try it the other way and see what you think. from a personal point of view if i hook in first i tend to dredge for a long distance and in the marginal stuff i just don't get planing until a gust comes along. on the days where i am feeling energetic and i pump onto the plane i rarely dredge.

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Originally posted by Haircut


heya Decrep. Apart from the few folk I have taught, you're the only other person I've met who waterstarts like i do

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Haircut! thank the Gods, another one. A while ago I posted a lamented that I was the only one I knew, got one post saying they did it too, think it was grumps.
I've also tried teaching people this method, but nobody takes it up, I can't convince them, it works better in strong and light wind.

I always put back foot in first - just before getting on the plane - purely because it's easier than trying to find the strap when planing. I have never been catapulted as a result of this supposed bad technique. I also waterstart with the back foot in.

Hey back-footers, which foot first after a gybe, front or back

I am a front-footer and always have been - except if my back foot is already in the strap (ie dropped off the plane, pull my front foot out and put it forward).

For water starting, usually neither foot in straps, unless very windy, then I sometimes start with both feet in straps...