Windsurfing: Tips and Tricks
Using the Harness
by Dean Karnazes, BayInsider Windsurfing
Using the harness looks so easy. But to anyone who's struggling with the learning curve, the harness is one of the most difficult stepping stones. It can feel awkward and unnatural. And when the wind picks-up, the harness can be downright terrifying. Here are some tips that will make handling your harness a breeze.
Wait until you're planing before you hook-in. One common mistake people make is to hook-in before they start planing and then trying to get onto a plane while in the harness. This is difficult and one runs the risk of being pitched while in the harness.
Hook-in before getting in the footstraps. Once you start planning hook-in, and then get into the footstraps.
Change your spreader bar so that the hook is down. This will allow you to unhook naturally if you sheet in quickly. Having the spreader bar facing down will help prevent you from being inadvertently thrown over the boom if things should go wrong.
Adjust your harness lines so that when your arms are completely outstretched there is just a little tension on the lines. Do this on land before going into the water. If your harness lines are so short that you cannot extend your arms while hooked-in, lengthen your lines. Conversely, if your arms are outstretched but the line falls out of the hook, shorten your lines.
Try learning with a waist harness first. A waist harness is easier to hook and unhook than a seat harness. Once you get a feel for it, then switch back to your seat harness.
Learning to use a harness is milestone in your windsurfing development. It will allow you to spend more time on the water without taxing your arms and is essential in stronger winds. For help using your harness, ABK Windsurfing Camps has an excellent program that focuses specifically on using your harness.
|
