I hope by now you are getting into my new technique series, please remember you can give feedback and ask question on the Boards forum on The Moves that Matter thread. However, please note that my 2012 clinics have now kicked off in style so I am in Moulay, Morocco from May 8th to 25th, so will not be able to attend too much in the next few weeks but will do on my return.

In the mean time building on the simple tips that I presented last month on the One Handed Top Turn  I would now like to present a video in order for you to see and understand how to best put these tips into action. This will also mean your riding brings in some freedom, style and as always, really matters ..

Next up , I will look at the more fundamental areas of tacks and gybes, as we move in to summer.

Thanks for reading and watching and please do forward this, and my other articles on to your peers and sailing buddies and post online to social media sites.

Check out the other technique features, news and features involving Jem Hall on Boards.

Jem is supported by RRD boards, Ezzy Sails, Flying Objects, Big Salty Weather and Prosport Sunblock.

Check out jemhall.com for more details.

Jem goes one-handed up top

Jem Hall fully engages in his frontside series once again as he invites you to rejoice in the joyous freedom of one-handed top turns. Photos: Dave White

I’m just back from another great trip to Punta San Carlos (PSC), Baja, and as with all my coaching weeks I’ve learnt a great deal from my crew and my tutoring of them. The group comprised a mix of more experienced wavesailors wanting to step up their game and relative novices who were keen to join Waveriding Club – although we all know that doesn’t exist, right?

What was amazing was that if I set them targets and they actually did them well then they moved their sailing forward. One of the targets was to get out there and do some one-handed top turns so that their hands were surfing the boom as much as they surfed the waves. Those that did a lot (more than 10) made more progress, and most importantly achieved that crucial feeling of being comfortable with being uncomfortable. In fact my main man Clive ‘El Toro’ Boden did so many that he was almost nonchalant about them, where at first he was somewhat tentative. As always the standards you set and the targets you aim to achieve will strongly affect how much you improve.

I have to say it – I love one-handed moves. I feel more free and they force me to counterbalance with more finesse while giving increased feedback from the board and rig. Over this series I have set you many challenges, so how about stepping up and doing this one?

One-handed moves get you to really counterbalance the pull of the rig using your body, and force you to consider the position of your head, hips and hands. This is crucial to developing some style in your wavesailing, and particularly in your riding. When I get people sailing one-handed their stance transforms. If I get them going one-handed front-to-sail they truly understand sail control, and if you do tail-grab jumps… Well, you know what that does for you.

I will revert to my trusty formula for this move:

Who? This move is for people who are happy making frontside bottom and top turns in cross-off to cross-on. You don’t have to be ripping to do it.

What? As you’re going up for your top turn it’s a dropping of the front hand as you drive through the wave to redirect.

Where? Off small to medium and relatively green waves – i.e. not too steep or critical and on an open face, and perhaps as a cut-back to the steeper section of the wave.

Why? This is another trigger move that will boost your confidence, technique, hand positioning and style.

When? As for all moves do it when you’re fresh in your first hour of sailing after getting a couple of rides under your belt to warm up. Have a session of 30 minutes on it and no more – and do one on every waveride!

How? Just let that front hand drop and feel the joy.

Click here to read Jem’s Wannabe 266 article in full…

Jem top turns at PSC, Baja

Jem Hall forges ahead with his fully frontside series as he gets you attacking the lip with some tantalising top turns.

Let’s take your amazing wave selection and full-power bottom turns and put them to good use by throwing some spray in your top turns. As you’re starting to get in the bottom turn groove you’ll now be in a position to arrive at the top of the wave with more speed and power, allowing you to get much more aggressive in the top turn. However, the initiation of the top turn begins much sooner than you think.

The top turn calls upon some basic skills that we use in all our windsurfing sessions:

• Look where you want to go – in this case turning back upwind.

• Bring your hands together when sailing upwind to power up the rig. In the top turn this follows through to opening up the sail, thereby powering it up.

Before we get all techy let’s keep it simple. Wavesailing is all about head and hands. Look downwind with your hands apart for your bottom turn, then look upwind with your hands together for your top turn. If you start really focusing on your head and hands in your blasting, sailing upwind, gybes and tacks, well, then you’re evolving as a wavesailor – so get on it!

Tuning

I covered this last month, so no slipping back please. It’s worth taking a look at the March issue to remind you of the key areas to look at – especially as your kit may now be poking its head up for the first sessions of the year.

By failing to prepare you are preparing to fail.

Timing

With all your ocean realignment in wind and watersports you’ll now be benefiting from better timing, and at this stage of your journey will have fully realised that ‘good judgement is based on experience, and experience is the result of poor judgement.’ You must enjoy both the pain and pleasure of getting it wrong and right, and reflect on it to move forward. You will go too late up to the lip and get smacked down (over the falls), or fall off the wave (going over the back), as well as getting your timing spot-on and making that connection so that the bottom of the board is exposed to the powerful surge of the wave, redirecting you with speed and energy.

Location, location, location…

Wavesailing is hugely condition dependent and the good times flow when tide, swell direction and size, wave speed, wind direction and speed all combine to give you some kick-arse action. Cross to cross-off winds give you speed down-the-line, and cross-off especially so, as you have cleaner faces and often longer waves. We benefited from a great swell and the consistent cross-off winds last year in Punta San Carlos (PSC), Baja, and the longer waves gave my crew more opportunities to get into a flow in their turns. So please seek out these conditions to take your riding forward. Cross-off gives you easier, longer turns with plenty of speed, yet it is harder to get more vert. Cross-shore is bumpier and easier for going more vertical and making aerials. Cross-on, our standard in Europe, will be covered later.

Click here to read Jem’s Wannabe 260 article in full…

One-handed top turn

In this instalment of his comprehensive series examining every aspect of wavesailing, Jem Hall looks at a variation in the regular frontside top turn as he inspires you to go one-handed…

I trust you’re feeling inspired after reading all the great tips my wavesailing crew bestowed upon us last month. The one theme that ran through their tips was being challenged – either challenging themselves, or having challenges set for them by me. When you’re challenged you progress, you improvise, adapt and overcome.

As in fitness, if you do not overload your body and force it to attain progression, well, then you will stay the same.

One-handed moves get you to really counterbalance the pull of the rig using your body, and force you to consider the position of your head, hips and hands. This is crucial to developing some style in your wavesailing, and particularly here in your riding. When I get people sailing one-handed their stance transforms. If I get them going one-handed front to sail they truly understand sail control, and if you do tail-grab jumps, well you know what that does for you.

OK, enough of the sales pitch. Let’s use our trusted formula for new moves.

Who?

This move is for people who are happy making competent frontside bottom and top turns.

Where?

Off small to medium and relatively blue waves, i.e. not too steep or critical and on an open face.

When?

As for all moves do it when you’re fresh in your first hour of sailing after getting a couple of rides under your belt to warm up. Have a session on it of 30 minutes and no more.

Why?

This is another trigger move that will boost your confidence and style. It will improve your hand movement and positioning in wave riding and therefore your ability to keep speed and make sweet turns. The one-handed top turn will also put more style into your sailing.

What?

As you’re going up for your top turn it is a dropping of the front hand as you drive through the wave to redirect.

How?

Just drop the front hand dude. (OK, I’ll be a bit more technical and cover it in the sequence later.) I teach beginners and all sailors to sail one-handed in light winds to understand where the power in the sail comes from and to pull down on the boom while keeping the back leg bent in order to maintain their sailing line. You can be training to be a better wavesailor from your first day of sailing by seeking challenges and receiving good coaching.

Click here to read Jem’s Wannabe 242 article in full…