Helicopter Tack Stiffy
The Standard-Helicopter-Tack is usually one of the first transitions the aspiring freestylist attempts to tackle. Here, I demonstrate one of the many variations by hanging onto the sail and exiting the maneuver clew first. In other words, the sail rotation is performed last; as a separate motion after the board has rotated and the feet have switched. I have named this variation as the Stiffy-Heli-Tack because visually the move looks stiffer. For some people, this is an easier Helicopter-Tack to learn and is more predictable since the steps are more discrete and you have an immediate counter balance.
Rider: Royn Bartholdi
Steps
1)
Unhook and rake the sail back toward the tail of the board. This will cause the nose of the board to head upwind into the eye of the wind. Place your forward foot on the deck in front of the mast.
2)
Now quickly backwind the sail by moving the mast forward toward the nose of the board and pushing out with the clew hand. Pressure your weight over the front foot. Notice the front knee is bent.
3)
Guide the nose of the board around to the new direction, the new tack.
4)
Open your hips to allow the board to swing all the way around and downwind. Shift your weight slightly over the back foot.
5)
Let your front hand collapse so the mast is downwind and the clew is in the eye of the wind. This will open your shoulders to the new direction.
6)
Push the clew completely out thru the eye of the wind while pulling the mast toward your body. As the sails powers up on the other side then quickly switch feet and lean back toward the tail of the board.
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