Every big windsurfing aerial starts with a big ramp and a very projected takeoff.  Making this happen in a dynamic wave field is all about selection and timing.  The prerequisites are controlled high speed sailing in point and shoot “I can sail wherever I want” mode, and of course a clear space to start busting loose some air. Mark your wave and get it lined up – see it, hit it. 

Dale Cook and I have been blasting around the Gorge together for over 16 years.  I’ve had the privilege of a front row seat for his windsurfing mastery, and here’s how he describes his way of cracking a big hit of air. 

“Once I’m balanced, trimmed out and powered up to speed I start looking out in front of me for a big white cap or breaking wave.  Wind swell rolls forward in a circular manner, a big whitecap always precedes a big step ramp”, Dale begins.  “A big long jump takes some space and timing to get set up so I’m thinking about where and when my target wave will cycle to its next steep peak and how to meet it when that happens. 

I’m looking for a smooth line to get to the wave with max speed.  All my favorite jumping spots kick up a bit of shoulder to the wave peak that helps to square up the ramp to my line.  That’s my bulls eye spot.  The less I have to carve into the wind for a good kick is more power and speed I can project in the air.

Often there’s a mini ramp or pre-jump to get over as you approach your bigger target ramp.  Lifting over the pre-bump and then really trying to get down into the trough that precedes my ramp is key for max boost.  This is the compression that coils the spring for my liftoff, so I bend my knees and get low into the trough in anticipation of the liftoff.  As I’m rising up the ramp I time my leg extension to get as much vertical pop just as my board exit the top of the wave.

There’s lots of high speed timing that has to sync up, but the bottom line is get comfy going fast, pick your ramp way in advance, and hit it …. hard!”

Next up …… Flying the rig for height and distance.