Freestyle Friday

Add the Regular Kono to Your Bag of Tricks

The regular kono was originally invented by 2013 PWA Freestyle World Champion - Kiri Thode - and has since become one of the most popular moves on the world tour, whilst also leading into moves such as the kabikuchi. Although the regular kono may look complicated it is actually one of the moves that you can start attempting as soon as you have some of the freestyle basics locked down, so if you want to impress your mates at your local beach here are some top tips from some of the best freestylers in the world.

Sarah-Quita Offringa (Starboard / NeilPryde / Maui Ultra Fins): “Top tips for Kono: The best konos are when you duck perfectly and can translate the speed and power in your sail into major lift.

- With konos if you carve too much upwind after ducking the sail you will lose speed and power in your sail. So after you’ve ducked the sail rather than pointing the nose of the board too far into the wind, find the point where you’re just pointing a slight bit more upwind from when you started ducking. 

- Then try to get your sail behind you so that it’s in the power zone once you start pushing out. That way you get maximum lift. 

- Once you start pushing out with your backhand, don’t give in to the sail, keep your front arm straight and counter the sail’s power as hard as you can.

- You’re upside down and flying now captain!

- To ensure a safe landing on your feet and not on your back remember to pull in with your backhand so that you come upright again.

BOOM!”

Antoine Albert (Goya Windsurfing): “Prerequisite: basic freestyle (spock and flaka variations), normal stance duck, clew first backie might help you as well. The duck has to be a bit lower than for a bob/culo variation, but not too much otherwise you lose power and speed to lift off. 

- Flat water is easier in the beginning. Lift the sail with both arms and not only by pushing on the backhand, as all the other moves, stay on your front foot otherwise the mast will catch the water.

- Top tips -> after the first 180 degrees, bring your body back over the base by pulling your front leg under you and at the same time, let go of the back hand and throw the sail forward with the front hand.

Riccardo Marca (Fanatic / Duotone / Maui Ultra Fins): “It’s really important to duck the sail right, so make sure to do this first part well. 

- Try to not lose speed during the ducking otherwise you will not manage to take off.

- Once you have ducked the sail bend your knees before jumping. 

- Don’t put too much pressure on your backfoot otherwise the board will spinout even before jumping.”