Once we have figured out how to use the harness properly, we will have had more than a few catapults and silly lunges over the lee side due to not hooking out in time and not having anything to stop us from flying over forwards. It is time to learn how to use the footstraps.
Be it to avoid getting pulled off the board or to keep the board under control when jumping off a wave, the footstraps are a crucial component to windsurfing with speed.
A prerequisite to using the footstraps usually is knowing how to plane when windsurfing. The main difficulty we are faced with is the actual position of the footstraps on the board. They are much further back than our basic windsurfing stance. This means we have to learn how to sail with our feet towards the back of the board and compensating for the weight at the back with the sail position and pressure on the mast foot (I will get to that in a moment) and for this it is easier if we know how to plane.
The sail pressure point further back and the centre of gravity further back cause the board to slow down and shoot into the wind.
Up until now we have gotten used to a certain body position that feels comfortable for the ideal sail position. Now we must get used to a new body posture that has the feet more towards the back.
How to learn to use the footstraps
My recommendation is to start off with no footstraps and get used to sailing with your feet gradually further back until you are able to sail as comfortable as possible with your feet where the footstraps would be without losing control (like having the board shoot into the wind).
How to stop the board from turning into the wind with the feet in the footstraps?
This is a question I get asked a lot and a problem I need to correct very often. Think of it this way. As we move our feet back we tend to keep our body position with regard to the board the same as always. However, this means that we are bringing the sail to the back of the board. This means that not only are we moving our weight further back (which causes the back of the board to sink more and thereby cause more resistance and slow us down) but moving the sail back which causes the board to luff up. These two components cause the board to turn into the wind uncontrollably.
So, what to do? We can do two things. The first is to consciously lean the sail forward. This is a motion we are already used to but it also has a disadvantage, it means we have to lean forward, putting a lot of weight on our front foot, meaning we are more prone to getting catapulted. Also, this technique is hard to apply if we are hooked in the harness.
So let’s look at the second option. We must apply pressure on the mast foot. It may sound strange but keep reading. The idea is to push/pull downwards with our front arm in line of the mast towards the board. What this does is cause the board to receive a sideways force on the front which keeps it on course. This method doesn’t require the sail to be leant so far forward that we lose control and it helps keep the board flatter on the water so we don’t create so much resistance.
Think of it as trying to get your front arm elbow to the mastfoot while holding on to the boom.
Now comes the actual getting into the footstraps. I have a theory that differs a little from what is usually taught. Most people are shown to put the front foot into the strap first and then the back foot. I agree with this … when sailing on flat water.
However, when we are sailing in waves or choppy water, my recommendation is to put the back foot in the footstrap first and then the front one. I will write a future post describing why but for now I will just say that the back foot in the footstrap is the one that stops us from doing a catapult.
Putting the back foot in the footstrap is not so difficult and so the change in body position will not be too big other than standing with a wider stance. The difficult part is putting the front foot is the strap as it is usually the one we are pushing into the board with and that is stopping us from being pulled over forwards. The trick is to push down and onto the mast foot with the front hand as we lift up the front foot to make up for the missing pressure of the foot.
That’s all I have on windsurfing with the footstraps. Let me know your thoughts.
Hi Arne, I had always tried getting my front foot before the back foot and always failed, it seemed the straps were too far back. With your advise I managed to get my back foot and sail for the first time in the straps. It felt great especially with the waves, I could steer the board while surfing. This week, if the wind cooperates I’ll try the back foot first, this time in flat water and with a huge sail, I’ll miss el medano.
Hey Ernesto! It’s great to hear that kind of feedback! I look forward to hearing about your foot strap success on flat water. I can imagine you missing El Médano with it’s waves and strong wind 🙂
Hello Arne
I tried to increase mastfootpressure with my front elbow to avoid that my board turns into the wind, but I find it hard to do. How can I do this without being in a more or less monkey stance and bending my front arm to much?
Hey Arne. This is some absolutely great advice. Been dabbling in windsurfing for about 2 months now and can plane relatively consistently in the harness but have been having a lot of trouble getting myself into the footstraps. The idea of “Think of it as trying to get your front arm elbow to the mastfoot while holding on to the boom,” sounds awesome and I’m going to give it a go next time I’m out! Thanks man.
Thanks for the kind feedback Dobbs 🙂 I would love to hear how you progress!
Well, I was afraid of trying to get into the footstraps. I’ve been planing strapless but had no control and the sea of my home spot is quite choppy. So I realized it would be more safety if start using then. I moved the footstraps to the front and closer to the board center. I was very surprised to succeed to get into them from the first trial! I couldn’t believe it wasn’t difficult. I could feel the control when in but as the sea is very choppy and I ride a wide board (71,5 cm), I was not pleased with the bumping under my feet.
The jumping and landing are also difficult and I often land flat…
It is not only choppy but often wavy and sometimes spin-outs happen.
I know it is too early to smoothen these difficulties as I use the footstraps since the middle of July but I can conclude that for me it is so easy to get into them when the wind is strong enough and more difficult when it is underpower.
I’ve been adviced recently to move the footstrap to the back and to the edge but I am not sure whether it isn’t too early. Will appreciate advices 🙂
Hello Mirena, that’s great that you managed to crack the foot straps! It is normal that it is easier to get in and stay in the foot straps the more power you have in the sail because more power means you have to move further back with your feet (which is where the straps are). As for control, it usually increases woth smaller boards so keep at it 😉 All the best and have fun!
Hi Arne! First let me thank you for your website! it has helped me a lot! I started learning Windsurf with my parents and aunts, so they gave me the fundamentals of windsurfing. But they are from the generations where a windsurf board needed to be carried by two, if you know what I mean!
Getting to the point: so yeah, I’ve already improve my skill to the point where I can plane with the harness on (can’t stay planning all the time but will get there), and so I am trying to go for the footstraps now. What you described in this post, it is really what I feel, as soon as I get into the stern, the board turns upwind, I lose speed and so on.
Today (before I read this post) what I was trying to do, was to put my hands further back on the boom. At the beginning it kinda worked, but as further as I put my hand to the back, the harder it was to keep the sail in my hands. I reckon this is normal..?
So as I understood from your post (please correct me if I’m wrong) as I go try to go into the back of the board, my hands should NOT move a lot right? and does this apply also for the harness lines?
The bottom line of the question is: my hands and harness lines should stay (more or less) in the same position, either if I am sailing in a upright position (for low wind or if Im a rookie) or if I’m sailing on the footstraps?
Another question, if I may…:) where should the mast foot be placed? I mean, as I am sailing now (not using the footstraps) it looks good (it is placed quite on the front). But being on the footstraps looks like the mast is quite far away… should I move it backwards as well? How/where does advanced windsurfers usually place the mast, on the front or to the back? or is this a personal choice?
This info would be very useful! And sorry for the looong post!
A big thank you from Portugal! in advance and, again, for your web-site!
Hey Nuno! Thanks for the kind words and the thoughtful question 🙂 Don’t worry about the long question. So to answer them one by one:
1. Do the hands have to move back on the boom?
– Not really. The hands and the harness lines will be set up the same regardless of where your feet are. The hands and harness lines adapt to the sail’s pressure point. You will be sailing with your body leaning forward slightly in order for the sail to remain the same despite your feet now being 20cm further back. A bit like the Michael Jackson dance move, only sideways… and you are hanging onto the boom 🙂
2. Where to put the mast foot?
– The mast foot is adjusted mainly to the condition of the water and what we are trying to achieve. For choppy water you will put the mast foot more forward to maintain the nose under control more. On relatively flat water you can put the mast foot further back so that there is less board surface in contact with the water so you can go faster.
You do not have to move the mast foot when you decide to use the foot straps. If you move the mast foot back the board will have more tendency to turn into the wind (as there is now less lever to push it down-wind).
I hope I was able to answer your questions so that they are easy to understand. Happy windsurfing!
Arne
Thanks Arne for answering Nuno’s questions, I was wondering on same issues especially in regards to mast foot position. I assumed (should never assume) in stronger winds mast foot should go further back but in fact it should go forward for more control and not the tendency to catapult forward.
Cheers
Also I adjusted my foot straps forward closer to mast foot. I have a 140L board and was using a 5m sail (I’m 75kg). I went out to Brighton Le Sands in Sydney a couple days ago and struggled big time in 25 knot winds. I was afraid to use harness as I didn’t want to catapult so tired myself out. I will try the proper technique of elbow to mast foot and bring sail back keeping body aimed forward next time. Waters were choppy too so I will feet back strap first which I didn’t do. I also had a painful moment when I picked up great speed prob up to 30km/hr and went to spin out and lost balance (as I weren’t clipped in harness) and my front foot got stuck in strap and I fell off board cause my ankle to twist. Do the feet straps need to be looser on a 140L board? I know now that I shouldn’t have used such a big board for those conditions.
Thanks Arne
Thanks very much for this explanation!
Do you recommend pointing upwind/downwind for getting either foot into the straps?
Harness line length? Boom height?
Thanks again!
mike
I have tried to plan with techno 293 OD, and a 6m sail, and in about bft 4 wind.
The problem was, when I started to move my stance back near the straps, my board started to luff up. Was I pulled the sail back and down too much? How could I prevent this happen again if I am going to move back and prepare to plan?
Before we start to plan with straps on, should we turn a little down to board reach direction so that the board will move faster and we could lean the sail back (as you said the mast in line with the board). I don’t know this would help or not but I will try it out in coming saturday
This by far the best straight to the point that fixes the luff up wind ptoblem.
I have watch many footstraps videos on youtube none of them mentioned this.
After 2 years I still can’t plane in the straps but after focusibg 9n the mast foot pressure, D9ne!
happy blasting!.
keep up the good article!
Thanks Arne! So great catching this old thread at a point where I’m ready to soak in all the great info.
I’ve been out sailing only a couple times with harness lines, and today I was able to really ride with them. I also was able to get my foot into the back strap and ride it for a while, which is a rarity.
My foot straps were initially set to the very edge of the board. The weight displacement you mention makes perfect sense. But how do you maintain balance and direction if the straps are on the edge of the board? I did move them in a bit from where the original board owner had them, but I’m trying to jump the learning curve a little by not going to the inner most position, I guess. I will probably accept my skill level and move them in another slot, but what are the advantages of having the straps farther on the edge than in the middle?
Thanks so much!
I meant to be more explicit. I only had my back foot in the strap. When moving my front foot in I got off course as you explained, so I will definitely try your technique. But I was happy that I instinctively tried an approach that you describe as against the norm.