Technique Time

Contemplating pulling the trigger? These top tips may just give you that extra courage you need

The forward loop still ranks as one of the most visually impressive moves out there — especially to your average bystander who can’t differentiate between all of the crazy rotations out there today — and it is also one of technically easiest moves to master, which makes it a great target for your next move to learn. However, for many the psychological barrier is too great and they never pull the trigger, but with these top tips hopefully you’ll find the extra courage you need to embrace the fear and pull the trigger, while for those of you already going for forwards, hopefully you’ll find that extra little nugget of information you need to sail away from your first loops. Good luck.

Victor Fernandez (Fanatic / NorthSails / MFC / Shamal Sunglasses): 

“When you are preparing for your first attempts choose a good day with little ramps, sail size around 4.5m with good power, but not overpowered are the ideal setup. Then when you are ready to try to grab the boom with your hands separated to spin very sideways — making sure your backhand is a long way back. I think if you do this you can break through the fear barrier — or at least that’s how it worked for me when I was 11 years old. My 3 top tips would be: 1. Have good speed before the ramp to gain enough height to rotate. 2. Move your backhand as far down the boom as you can and bring your front hand closer to your harness lines so you rotate sideways. 3. Once you rotate and are starting to land forwards open the sail to slow down the rotation if you need to.”

Marc Paré (99NoveNove / Simmer / Maui Ultra Fins):

“When you want to go for the forward loop I think that the most important thing you need is to have proper speed. So, get planing with good speed and spot the ramp and as you start climbing up the ramp move your back hand as far back as possible (you can also move your front hand back a little). Once the board has lost contact with the water, put the sail as much forward as possible by extending your arms and right after this close the sail as hard as you can and look back (really important). Remember to extend the front leg and to put the back leg as close as possible to the sail so the nose stays down.  Keep the sail well closed with the front arm extended, this will block the power on the clew of the sail and fill focus on the front of the sail and then you will go SIDEWAYS (this is what we are looking for).  Once you are rotating and you are under the sail (not above) all you have to do is let the move flow until the landing, where you will have to open the sail a little bit and extend the back leg.”

John Skye (RRD / RRD / MFC):

“The main thing with the forward loop is just to get over the fear and go for it because at the end of the day it’s pretty easy! I think the main mistake people make is trying to throw the sail over the front, when you actually need to throw it out to the side and really sheet in with your backhand. If you do that you will rotate - probably onto your back to begin with. The hardest thing is going for your first ones. Try and think of it as a side loop rather than a forward loop to help you visualise what you need to do! Oh and however far your hand is down the boom, put it further! Other than that just go for it!”

Marco Lufen (JP / NeilPryde / Maui Ultra Fins):

“Try to put your backhand further towards the clew. Once you are about to do it, you move the sail forward. Once the sail is upright, you fully sheet in with your backhand and look backwards. While you do that, you try to keep the backfoot close to your bum. Once you rotate...hold on to your boom and wait!”

Markus Rydberg (Simmer / Simmer):

“First of all, there will never be a perfect ramp for the first forward loop. Just decide you are going to go for it and commit! My top tip is do it from a pretty small but steep ramp in the beginning to get the kicker you need. Then throw the rig, with a wide grip on the boom, up and forward, almost like you are tensioning a bow. Pull in your legs, look back and rotate. Just start with this to get the rotation and a feel for the move. Later you can work out your own style, get more height and fine tune the move afterwards. Good luck.” 

Adam Sims (Patrik / Sailloft Hamburg / Flymount):

“Well first you need a lot of power in the sail and to aim for a decent piece of chop. Then move your hands back, front one on the harness lines and back one on the clamp, throw the sail high and across as you hit the chop and then as you sheet in hard pull your body up and over the boom, stay sheeted in and try to land a little bit off the wind to come out at full speed, sometimes you can land faster than when you took off but it's worth just focusing on your hand placement on the boom and tucking up tight to the boom first. Good luck.”