01/31/2022
Winging pop up pro tips.
Kaohi Leash and Belts
Prep work: You want to set yourself up for success. Make sure all your leashes are untangled, your wing is flipped right side up and the wing and board are facing the right direction for the wind. You don't want to be messing with things once you're on the board.
Use the wing for balance. The wing is a great tool to help stabilize yourself when you're getting into position on the board. It's filled with air and has a ton of float, often more than our boards
Stay low. We often see people sit on their knees with a really high posture. This puts your center of gravity high, and makes you less stable. Small chop will knock you right off the board and you'll have to start all over again. Instead, stay low. Keep your chest low to the center of the board. You want your center of gravity to be low, which gives you so much more stability in dynamic conditions.
Get the wing powered and board moving ASAP. Have your ever tried to ride a bike really slow and found it harder to balance, but the second you get some speed, it's way easier? The same applies with your wing board. Speed = Stabilty. Get the wing powered up to get the board moving to give you a more stable platform.
Watch that wing tip! Unless you're riding a 2m wing, those wingtips are really easy to hit the water when you're low. Pay some extra attention to the wing tip, so it doesn't hit the water and flip the wing upside down.
Don't rush, but don't waste your time. If you rush getting up, you can fall right back in. Wait for a moment when the wing has a lot of pressure, you feel stable and can comfortably stand up. On the other side, you don't want to hang out in this position for too long. It can fatigue your leg muscles and make it harder to get up. Don't rely on just your legs to stand up, use the wing and the wind!
Getting up to your feet can take some practice, and it's something you can practice at home or on the beach.
Now, go get out there, practice, and have some fun. If you'd like some wing coaching, give us a call. We're happy to help walk you through whatever you need to work on.
