A while back, I decided that I wanted to learn to loop. At the time, I didn't quite realise the journey I'd be undertaking... The theory is simple and I've written about it before but the part I didn't appreciate involved the head games. Pop, look, throw. Simple. Just not while moving at 20knots, six foot up. Except today, I almost got round...
So what's changed? Just about everything... I used to do a lot of hooked in jumping, but that didn't give me the freedom of movement or sail control in the air. I've never been shy of getting airborne, but I needed to develop my jumping to bear away and control the sail unhooked. Tick.
Next, I've done hundreds of non-planing gybe into rig through training moves to get my body used to throwing the rig, looking back and being thrown around the front. Strangely enough, I've mainly done these on flat water.
Finally, I was focused an in the mood. Nicely powered on a 5.2, there weren't any rideable waves to speak of but there were a few ramps 50 yards from the beach. One shaped up, I hit it, pulled the trigger and round I went landing on my back. I felt the rotating kick in as I threw the sail and it felt good. Different to the catapult forwards I'd ended up with previously.
That was it... For the rest of the session, I was out looking for waves to pull a forward on. I didn't make any but, just maybe, I've broken through a barrier... There's more wind on the way, and I'm going to seek out some ramps...