How to Gybe a surfboard

[garyb]

I've been solely riding surfboards now for 1yr + and thought it about time to learn to gybe now that I'm back from Ireland and back to the tropical warm/brown waters of the Thames Estuary. I don't find it any trouble riding toeside, but sometimes getting out through a heavy beach break toeside can be a challenge.
I have 3 surfboards - a 5'4" Underground freewave, a homemade 5'7" fish, and a 5'10" Cyclone custom wave.
I can ride strapless, but decided to learn to gybe with straps as I believe it is probably more difficult, and I didn't want to learn to gybe strapless, then have to re-learn with straps.
1st attempt I managed a few very wobbly gybes on the Freewave, switching from toe to heelside, but because of it's small size and lack of volume, it was very critical as to where to put my feet. Swapped to the fish - much easier as it has tons of buoyancy. The Cyclone is somewhere in-between the 2.
I have to admit to going back to using a reel leash, frustrating as it tangles everywhere, but saved a lot of body dragging for an old git like me.
I am by no means proficient yet, but feel I am well on the way.
Things I have noticed-
- Much easier to learn on a bigger board with some volume.
- Don't look down at your feet.
- Loosen the straps
- It can be difficult to get front foot outa strap, so pull it out a bit before trying to gybe.
- try to make one positive movement when taking old front foot out of strap and moving it back.
- Nice to be learning something new as there are no waves to play with here.

[gillstah]

nice board range gary. i wish i had that many! how heavy are you and what conditions do you have to have for the 5'4"? what construction is it?

when you've sussed your gybing, it's duck tacks and strapless jumping next

paul.

[garyb]

Hiya Paul
I weigh 75kg ish, and wrong side of 50
The Freewave is more like a large skim really, guess the deck is less than 3/4" thick but it has a raised rail all round and allover deck grip. real strong construction also. As it has quite a sharp rail, goes upwind better than the other surfboards in my collection. Also v.fast.
http://www.powerlinesports.com/shop/pc/ ... tm#details
I have 5, 7, 9 and 12m Ozone light II's, the Freewave goes in a steady 10knts with the 12m, and have been out at Brandon Bay with the same board and 5m in deffo over 45knts. (Windsurfer on beach recorded gusts to 55knts)
Not so good when there is a lot of white water about, it doesn't have the bouyancy. Not such a 'surfy' feel when on the wave as the Cyclone or Fish. Good for blasting around on and jumps pretty good.
Don't use the fish too much, I built it with too much rocker so it's too slow and doesn't go upwind so good. Brill if you do get on a wave tho, real floaty.
was reading about the 'duck tack', deffo next challenge, unless I score another contract in Ireland, then it's back to fine tuning my wave skills

[gillstah]

hmmmm it sounds like just what i was after to complement my 6'1" naish CR!

let me know if you sell or hear of one being sold. you don't see them for sale new or secondhand much.

paul.

[garyb]

Will do, but deffo will not be selling mine.
Perfect for unstrapped board off's with that nice raised rail to grab. Was watching Ryan Coote doing some huge strapless board offs with one last year. may be worth giving him a call, he did have one for sale on his website.

http://www.irishkitesurfinglessons.com/2ndhandshop.php

[Tony]

My 5'6" fish is far easier to gybe than my 6'2" Cyclone quad!

The fish has no straps, the cyclone is strapped, but they are very loose, so loose, I lost it in the air on Sunday
My plan is to spend more time riding the fish, then when I go out on the cyclone I reckon my technique will be refined to the point where I find it easy to gybe round the straps

I'll check the width of my fish, cos it's working well for me and it's only around 5'6" and I'm not exactly a light weight! It's a lost cause quad BTW!

T

[garyb]

Yep, my fish is the easiest to gybe, so stable I can fanny around for ages before falling in.
My homebuilt fish:
5'7" x 20" x 2 1/4" thk. twin fin
Similar outline to 07 Naish Fish, but as I said, I built it with too much rocker.
I cheated on the Cyclone and made a full length pad from gym foam. Adds weight but heh!

http://i529.photobucket.com/albums/dd33 ... /Fish1.jpg

http://i529.photobucket.com/albums/dd33 ... GP1162.jpg

[waverider]

Yep, my fish is the easiest to gybe, so stable I can fanny around for ages before falling in.

So-funny, reminds me of me.

[Ade G]

At last, yesterday I gybed in both directions several times, I'm no Ben Wilson & it wasn't stylish but I got round & changed feet without falling in.

Best tips I took from above was onced I moved my back foot forwards don't look down, concentrate on the kite & keep the board planing, kite up to support your weight to move your front foot back

Second keep your speed through the turn, the board doesn't wabble as much when you try to change feet

Last but not least practice, practice, practice - Dont give up.

[waverider]

Best tips I took from above was onced I moved my back foot forwards don't look down, .

Thanks Ade, I'm not getting enough, 'time-on-water' right now but I'm sure I have the right board. Lot's of bouyancy and fat-at-the-front.

In fact, it's fat everywhere.

[barramundi]

Take the straps off and you will soon crack the gybe, its getting in and out of straps where the trouble starts, i prefer straps so i replaced them after sussing it


those video clips i posted on this thread helped me crack it, or at least most of the time

[Will Bennet]

There are a couple of clear foot changes in this vid.

Cheers

http://www.vimeo.com/7895641

[waverider]

Thanks for the inspiration Will, you make it-all look like it's worth the effort and Gwithian looks remarkably like home to me.

________________________________________________
Richard Roggan. Distinguished kite-surfing gentleman
I don't do tricks.

[JohnM]

nothing special - but you can see some foot changes

http://vimeo.com/14573584

really good strapless rider round our way (Dave McGarvie) just kinda 'hops' to change feet

[waverider]

really good strapless rider round our way (Dave McGarvie) just kinda 'hops' to change feet

It was Dave who inspired me. Dave was over here for a short stay and to surf some waves riding my 7'6" Naish Sky Pirate, the board is to big for me but Dave threw it about in a hefty shore-break like it was built for him. Pure art-form.

____________________________________________
Richard. Distinguished Kitesurfing Gentleman.
I don't do tricks.