Don't fight it, go with the flow!! That's how I learned to forward loop! You're almost there!!!

It's all about BALANCE, take care when coming onto the plane not to commit too much power to the sail before your center of gravity and feet are balanced and you're body is ready to absorb any small gusts etc.

My body position is a little lower because I bend my legs a bit more and as I'm gaining momentum, then foot goes in the front strap (still bearing off slightly).

Once the front foot's in the strap and my board speed is good, I let the sail luff (very slightly) letting me put my back foot in the strap without the fear of being catapaulted.

Hard to explain this kind of stuff, hope it helps a bit!

Another thought: If you sheet out when over-powered the sail can be damn difficult to control. Your balance goes forward and over you go. In this situation its a good strategy to grunt oversheet. Keep your weight back and just kn manhandle that clew in to your bod. You'll accelerate momentarily but then lose power and carve upwind for a rest or just go with it for a blast.

Several things-
remember figure 7 stance, straightish front leg you're immediately resisting the forward pull

try to keep your weight outboard, dont get pulled over the centreline

dont over anticipate hitting that big bit of chop, rather focus on skimming over the top of it

dont head too far off the wind, double bad with this one- aside from the extra forward pull you run into the back of swell which creates a stall/surge in the sail

dont overtighten footstraps, only having your toes in is hardly control

ensure mast foot is not too far forward and that sail is rigged with correct leach tension

ensure harness lines are on the sails centre of effort or just behind

move you're front hand closer to the mast on the boom, this chokes the power of the sail off a bit

Thats pretty much it for now, finally if you get catapulted go with it- if you resist that is when you get hurt by being flung onto the mast/boom etc

We get gusty winds up here, and being light makes it harder to control. So I hit a gust with a big loud grunt and yank the sail in, and go faster, and try to make it to the other side of the gust alive. top fun really. also pushing through with my feet helps me.

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Originally posted by mkseven

finally if you get catapulted go with it- if you resist that is when you get hurt by being flung onto the mast/boom etc

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This is an excellent point. If you keep trying to resist it you get thrown with full power in the sail. If you accept that it is going to happen and just fall forward, you can go down nice and softly.

thanx boys & girls, have tried a few of the tecniques yesterday and they worked. dont know if im up for a forward just yet but maybe ill give it a go when i hit the chop!!!!
cheers