Pull The Trigger

To your average by stander on the beach the forward loop still remains the most impressive looking trick out there despite its simplicity and relative ease. However, whilst it may be one of the most technically easy manoeuvres it still represents a huge psychological battle for most. With the correct tips and approach the forward loop doesn’t need to be scary or dangerous and we recently caught up with some of the top female sailors in world to gain their insight into the forward loop, which will hopefully encourage you to begin your looping journey or help take your loops to the next level - make 2020 the year of the loop.

Sarah-Quita Offringa (Starboard / NeilPryde / Maui Ultra Fins): "For the front loop:

The forward loop is a very dynamic movement where your arms, legs and your head all have different tasks.

It only becomes more and more fun as you get better at it!

So the main tips are mostly :

- Moving your backhand as faaaarr back as possible (you can never be too far down) right before you hit the ramp. 

-As you launch, move your rig up and forward across your body and then sheet in as hard as possible. 

- Tucking in your head and looking down to your feet between your arms will make you rotate vertically, so as you’re sheeting in remember to exaggerate looking over your (back) shoulder to get a more horizontal rotation. 

- Other than that, get really small by tucking in your back leg under your butt. Combine this tucking in of your back leg, with sheeting in hard with your backhand and getting your body close to the boom.

Last but not least, go with speed! I used to slow down before the ramp and just launch into a really out of control loop because my sail would feel heavier and would be harder to control. Whereas if you go with speed the loop will feel more effortless."

Oda Brødholt (Starboard / Severne / Maui Ultra Fins): "Make sure you know the technique on how to get the rotation before starting.  And when you do try, go for it and be committed! Put your backhand far back. Remember to get the board out of the water beeeeefore sheeting in and look backwards. On flatter water (without a ramp) you get the board out of the water by lifting the front foot up at the same time both arms up and forwards - slightly downwind! And right after sheet in with backhand and tuck up your back leg and look over your back shoulder. Life is too short to not loop! It’s easy to learn - never give up!”

Lina Erpenstein (Severne / Severne Sails): “Choose a short and steep little ramp. While going up the ramp, slightly downwind, get over your board and open your sail while putting your hand far back on the boom. As you take off, put your sail against the apparent wind, keep your backhand close and as far towards your hips as possible, while the front arm is fully stretched out. Look back as you rotate and try to orientate by spotting your landing.

As you land slide your hand forward a bit to open the sail and smile because you’ve just landed a perfect forward ;)”