It wasn’t long into my windsurfing experience that the sensation of weightless airborne gliding really captivated my interest.  The magazines of the day were, like today, filled images with tropical wave jumping, yet on my local beach the waves were all wind sourced and driven.  Back then you were lucky if you had a board under 30 pounds, but I was determine to get my board in the air.  I think that was a fertile scenario for developing one of the fundamental skills for catching windsurfing air – springing vertically of the water while at speed.  Today’s gear is so much lighter and the speeds are way higher, so add a bit of chop, some amplitude to your lift off and a really big air shot is possible.  This style of wave jumping is more like gelandesprung ski jumping – busting out a big hit, and flying it out for distance, sticking the landing, and doing it again!

Without a surf line-up to ramp up a jump, the first prerequisite for catching air on a windsurfer is speed.  Its one of the tenets of windsurfing the Gorge – to go high you first must go fast.  Step one is getting comfortable sailing fast, hooked in, comfortably balanced and in control.   Forget about going vertical right away and start working on long, low, fast jumps.   Mastery in the air begins with low-level flight.  Keep your speed up and get through the transition from leaning against the sail while leveraging the fin/board, to hanging from under the sail and steering/projecting the board in front of you.  Strive to keep your speed up on low hops, landing with control without slowing down.

The key is the weight transfer to the sail.  This is full chin-up mode, fully loading the sail with all your weight.  Tuck your feet in and get your board up and under you so you can steer it to your landing zone.  Want to fly farther?  Set your sights further ahead and reach for the next wave.  Trimming the airflow across the sail and feeling the pressure load the fin and board are subtle windsurfing arts.  So too is the conversion of forward momentum to vertical lift a coordinated redirection of forces.

Stay tuned to this channel, as jumping insights from the Gorge air master himself, Dale Cook, are coming up next ……