Original source: Graham Ezzy
This video from Graham Ezzy covered a lot of ground. Streamed.News selected 8 key moments and summarises them here. Everything below links directly to the timestamp in the original video.
Understanding these competition tactics can help aspiring windsurfers not only improve their scores but also manage the mental and physical demands of high-stakes events. This advice extends beyond windsurfing, highlighting universal principles of competitive preparation.
Windsurfing Competition Prep Emphasizes Bigger Gear, Strategic Wave Selection
Preparing for a windsurfing competition requires specific adjustments to training and on-the-day strategy, particularly for optimal performance in wave-sailing events. Competitors should prioritize training with larger gear, as this often mirrors the conditions and equipment needed for competitive heats, giving an advantage over those less comfortable with bigger sails and boards.
Crucially, success hinges on wave selection rather than quantity; riders should aim for fewer, higher-scoring waves, focusing on set waves that offer more sections and potential for multiple turns. Additionally, practical tips include wearing and getting accustomed to a competition watch to manage heat time and performing a "cold water dunk" before a heat to reduce anxiety about falling and getting cold.
"If you're really set on the best performance, i.e. the best relative scores in the heat, then yes, you do need to change your windsurfing before the event."
Graham Ezzy Details Back Loop Technique for Controlled Rotation and Landing
Graham Ezzy demonstrated his personal back loop technique, emphasizing a deliberate approach for maximizing height and controlling rotation. The method involves several critical steps to ensure a smooth, nose-first landing:
- Spotting the Ramp: Identify a steep wave ramp, ideally just beyond the whitewater, to ensure sufficient launch height.
- Take-off: Launch from the steepest part of the ramp, sheeting in the sail aggressively on the ascent.
- Gaining Height: Focus on ascending straight up, resisting early rotation, to achieve maximum airtime.
- Controlled Rotation: Execute a slow, subtle 180-degree rotation once airborne, avoiding a forced or fast spin.
- Nose-First Landing: Aim for a gentle, nose-first re-entry into the water.
This technique prioritizes height and a slower rotation, making the maneuver more manageable and less prone to uncontrolled landings.
"You want to take off where it's nice and steep... just shoot straight up, sheeting in going up, going up, going up, not rotating, coming around nice and slow. Easy easy nose first landing."
Kelly's Pivotal Role in Windsurfing Innovation Highlighted
Windsurfer Kelly is recognized for his profound, yet often overlooked, influence on the sport, particularly his pioneering work with board design and aggressive wave riding style. Kelly was instrumental in shifting the sport from single-fin boards to the widespread use of thrusters and quads, which revolutionized wave sailing performance.
His aggressive approach to wave riding, characterized by tight, snappy bottom turns and innovative tricks like the push forward, also pushed the boundaries of what was possible on a wave. Kelly's contributions, including being the first to land the push forward, underscore his legacy as a transformative figure in windsurfing, though his impact is sometimes forgotten compared to other legends.
"He is the reason that we ride thrusters and quads. Before Kelly, everyone was on a single fin. Everyone. He started experimenting with twins and thrusters and quads. And it changed the world of wave sailing."
Back Loop Mastery Requires Height for Slower, Controlled Rotation
When executing a back loop in windsurfing, achieving sufficient height is paramount for a slower, more controlled rotation, rather than relying on a quick, forced spin. Taking off slightly into the wind can assist in initiating a subtle rotation, preventing the over-rotation often seen when attempting the maneuver more downwind.
However, the primary focus should be on gaining altitude. A higher trajectory allows for more time in the air, enabling a gradual 180-degree rotation, which is characteristic of a refined back loop. Attempting the move from too low a height necessitates a faster, more challenging rotation, hindering mastery of this subtle art.
"The back loop gets easier if you're a little bit higher because just like if you're taking off downwind, if you're taking off too low, you have to rotate faster."
Strategic Approach to Riding Challenging A-Frame Waves in Loitos
Riding a challenging A-frame wave, such as the one described in Loitos, requires precise positioning and timing for optimal performance. Expert advice suggests a strategy that combines elements of starting slightly upwind of the breaking point and executing a tight turn into the section.
- Upwind Positioning: Position the board slightly upwind of where the wave begins to feather and break.
- Drop-in and Bottom Turn: Drop into the wave as it starts to break, immediately executing a tight bottom turn.
- Hit the Section: Carry speed up the wave face to hit the breaking section effectively.
- Exit Strategy: After the main maneuver, perform a foam climb or a roundhouse turn on the shoulder to exit the wave.
This approach aims to leverage the wave's power source efficiently, enabling riders to generate speed for maneuvers while navigating the narrow breaking window.
"It's starting a little bit upwind and trying to hit it where it breaks is what I would do."
Back Loop Technique Emphasizes Height and Controlled Rotation
For successful back loops in windsurfing, Simuli receives advice emphasizing a solid run-up and achieving significant height for a more controlled rotation. A clean run-up, avoiding whitewater, is crucial for stability and speed before the jump. During the ascent, sheeting in the sail aggressively is key to gaining maximum height.
Resisting the urge to rotate too quickly at lower altitudes is critical. Instead, aiming for greater height allows for a slower, more deliberate rotation at the apex, which is easier to control and leads to more consistent landings. This approach contrasts with attempting fast, low rotations that often result in instability and crashes.
"If you sheet in on the way up, sheet in, sheet in, sheet in, fly, fly, fly, then at the top, come around, steer it around, you've got less wind in the sail, you can do it slower."
Push Loop Refinement: Control Tweaking for Improved Landings
Julius's push loops demonstrate aggressive form, but feedback suggests reducing the degree of "tweaking" for better landings, especially on smaller ramps. While extreme tweaking can look impressive, it often leads to instability and difficult recoveries, making successful landings inconsistent. The core issue lies in the body and sail fighting each other rather than moving as a cohesive unit.
To improve consistency, especially on less forgiving waves, the advice is to focus on a more controlled, less contorted rotation, similar to a reverse cheese roll rather than an overly aggressive goiter. Keeping the body aligned with the sail, particularly the front hand and legs, promotes a more unit-like rotation, facilitating softer and more reliable landings.
"Don't tweak it as much. You'll land it. So, try to go more of like a reverse cheese roll than a goer where you're locking the legs and then throwing the sail."
Forward Loop Refinement: Tilting Mast for Softer, Horizontal Landings
Chris's aggressive forward loop rotation technique receives praise, but a key refinement is suggested for achieving softer landings. While his body use effectively rotates the sail, the current landing can be harsh. To mitigate this, the mast should be tilted to the windward side at the beginning of the rotation.
This adjustment encourages a more horizontal axis of rotation, which ultimately results in a gentler re-entry into the water. By contrasting his current downwind mast tilt with the recommended windward tilt, the advice aims to enhance both the aesthetic and physical comfort of the forward loop.
"If you want to make the landing less hard, what you want to do is in the beginning... you bring this front hand over to the windward side. And so then you're tilting the mast... that'll make a more horizontal rotation."
Summarised from Graham Ezzy · 41:12. All credit belongs to the original creators. Windsurfing Class summarises publicly available video content.
