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Learning to Forward Loop Drill 1

I have met many sailors who want to loop and who are at a complete barrier in trying one -- usually this is fear. Sometimes the best approach is a progressive series of exercises to narrow the gap between our intention and our perception of actually performing the action. So here is a lesson to help people get closer to actually hucking a loop. This lesson is designed to train you to automatically perform a few key ingredients in looping: (1) Estabish a wide hand grip, (2) Jump into the loop, (3) Throw the rig forward, (4)Sheet in the sail, (5) Look back, (6) Pull the back foot up under your butt.

Step 1 instruction for Learning to Forward Loop Drill 1

Step 2 instruction for Learning to Forward Loop Drill 1

Step 3 instruction for Learning to Forward Loop Drill 1

Step 4 instruction for Learning to Forward Loop Drill 1

Step 5 instruction for Learning to Forward Loop Drill 1

Step 6 instruction for Learning to Forward Loop Drill 1

Step 7 instruction for Learning to Forward Loop Drill 1

Step 8 instruction for Learning to Forward Loop Drill 1

Step 9 instruction for Learning to Forward Loop Drill 1

Step 10 instruction for Learning to Forward Loop Drill 1

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Rider: Royn Bartholdi

Steps

1) Unhook and get out of the footstraps. Choose a light wind day so your board is barely moving. Point the board slightly downwind.

2) Move the rear hand far back on the boom to increase leverage for sheeting in the boom.

3) Move the rear hand far back on the boom to increase leverage for sheeting in the boom.

4) Now crouch low to aggressively jump off the board. This is important because jumping the board out of the water --so the fin is positively out of the water -- is important in actually looping. Generally, good jumping skills help your ability to loop.

5) Now jump hard from the crouched position and throw the front hand forward while simultaneously sheeting in the sail with the back hand and looking back at your rear hand.

6) Remember to look back at the rear hand and sheet-in the sail with the rear hand.

7) Remember to look back at the rear hand and sheet-in the sail with the rear hand.

8) Hang on as you catapult around.

9) Splash... You have landed on your back.

10) Surface about the water. Congratulations, you have learned the basic technique of looping.