It’s been a long time coming, but today I made my first forward loop! Okay, so I didn’t sail away, but I did get the whole way round with the feet still in the straps and landing on my back.... Whooohaa! Then just to check it wasn't a fluke, I did it again ;-)

I say ‘a long time coming’ and this equates to about three years. I liked the idea of looping even before that, but I’ve only wanted to loop for the last few years. And I’ve only really wanted to loop over the last year or two. Having made it round, I’d agree with all the pros and gurus that it’s not a technically difficult move. For me, I’d say it was:

• 60% solving the mental challenge
• 30% waiting for the right conditions – small waves and just nicely powered
• 10% technique!

Why was it so hard? Because the first few ‘just pull the trigger’ loop attempts really hurt. Inevitably, I didn’t bear away anything like enough, didn’t throw the sail enough and ended up with a painful catapult whipping my head backwards into the water. Sore head, neck shoulders and back. Enough to put anyone off.

After the pain, I went back to the drawing board. I spent a lot of time working on my basic jumping. Always jumping unhooked and learning how moving the sail affects flight. I read and watched everything I could about looping and the best guides were Remko De Veerd’s flare gybe to loop series and Jem’s boardless loops. These both really helped me understand the body and board position. They also weren’t too painful. I spent many a session bearing away as if for a gybe then throwing the rig and looking backwards. On just about every attempt the board stayed put, but eventually I started to fly around the front and land on my back facing the right direction.

It’s a big step mentally from these safe loop to a fully planing attempt, but they gave me confidence to have another go when the conditions were right. I bottled out on many a session, but I’ve also been quietly practicing every chance I can. Often, I’ve been the one splashing around in the shallows! After every failed loop, I went back to these board-less loops. Last week I felt I’d broken through the fear factor.

Today, I must just have been in the right mindset. I was heading out looking for ramps when the perfect one came along. It was quite downwind which probably helped me bear away more and, as I went up, I pulled the trigger.

Before I knew it, I was landing on my back with my feet still in the straps wondering what just happened. A fellow windsurfing sailed past smiling and giving me the thumbs up so I knew I’d actually gone and done it. Sweeeeet!