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Original source: TomBrendtCoach
This video from TomBrendtCoach covered a lot of ground. Streamed.News selected 5 key moments and summarises them here. Everything below links directly to the timestamp in the original video.
Understanding how to isolate your shoulder for sail control is the difference between a clean clew first transition and a fall. This technique provides the exact movement needed for stability after the sail flips.
Post-Flip Sail Control Relies on Shoulder Isolation and Wide Hand Placement
Once the sail has swung to the new side, pulling the clew into the wind requires isolating the shoulder from the rest of the body; using the entire torso would introduce instability and disrupt balance. After this initial pull, the hands must be spread wide on the boom for clew first control, with the new front hand in front of the harness lines and the back hand positioned far behind them, keeping the arms straight.
This sequence is essential if one aims to maintain control, as it immediately establishes a stable framework to manage sail pressure. Body weight must then shift decisively onto the back foot, with the back knee bent and front leg straightened, to effectively counter the forces generated in the clew first position.
"Pull the clue as hard as you can into the wind, but only with your shoulder, not with your entire body as you would lose balance very easily."
📊 Technical data
Equipment: harness lines
Training: clew first sail control drill · shoulder isolation technique · wide grip arm position · body weight shift onto back foot
Executing a Static Duck Jibe Sail Flip: Correct Hand Path is Critical
To perform a proper duck jibe sail flip without turning the board, one must begin from a solid, shoulder-width stance and close the sail before initiating movement. The critical action involves releasing the front hand to cross over the back hand, reaching as far toward the clew as possible on the same side of the sail. The closer the front hand gets to the clew, the more neutral and easy to manage the sail becomes during the flip.
This specific hand sequence ensures the mast swings forward and to the leeward side correctly, allowing the sail to pass to the new side of the body with minimal effort and maximum control. It is a foundational drill for mastering the entry into any clew first maneuver.
"Cross your hands on the same sail side all the way back to the clew. The closer you can get to the clew, the better, the easier, the more neutral the sail will be."
📊 Technical data
Training: static duck jibe sail flip drill · hand-crossing technique to the clew
The Clew First Beach Start Demands a Deep Downwind Angle and Forward Lean
The clew first beach start requires a significantly different setup from a normal start, demanding that the board be placed much further downwind, almost dead off the wind. With the front arm straight, one must sheet in with the back arm and lean the head and shoulders aggressively toward the mast foot before stepping onto the board. This committed forward posture is non-negotiable for success.
This exaggerated downwind angle and forward lean are essential to generate the initial lift and forward momentum while the sail is in a powered, unconventional orientation. Once on board, maintaining a wide grip, a bent back leg, and placing the head on the front shoulder ensures continued control.
"Place your board way more downwind, almost dead off the wind... try to lean as much as you can towards the mast foot."
📊 Technical data
Training: clew first beach start drill · deep downwind board positioning · aggressive forward lean posture
Mastering Clew First Switch Stance Begins with Precise Footwork
Transitioning into a clew first switch stance requires a deliberate footwork sequence to maintain balance and board trim. The front foot must step back first, followed by the back foot moving forward to land directly on the board's centerline. This specific order and placement is a key point to practice, as it prevents the board from rocking and losing planing speed during the shift.
This footwork is a fundamental component of advanced maneuvers, and its mastery is best achieved by practicing the clew first beach start. That exercise ingrains the correct body position and weight distribution needed for successful wave rides and jibe exits.
"For a clew first switch stance position, step your front foot back first and then your back foot forward and right onto the center line of your board."
📊 Technical data
Training: clew first switch stance footwork drill · clew first beach start exercise
Developing a True Feel for Clew First Requires Active Steering, Not Static Poses
There are various options for entering a clew first position, such as completing a jibe or a helicopter tack without flipping the sail. However, simply holding the stance is insufficient for genuine skill development. A key point to practice is to actively play with the position, deliberately steering the board both upwind and downwind to explore its handling characteristics.
This active steering is essential for developing a true feel for sail and board control in this unconventional orientation. For those still mastering the more complex entries, isolating the duck jibe sail flip from a broad reach provides a more accessible starting point to build confidence and proper technique.
"Not only stay in clew first position, also try to play around, steer upwind, downwind and get a nice clew first feeling."
📊 Technical data
Training: clew first steering drills (upwind/downwind) · entry via jibe · entry via helicopter tack
Summarised from TomBrendtCoach · 6:43. All credit belongs to the original creators. Tomb Brendt Coach summarises publicly available video content.