BEACHSTART AND WATERSTART in 4 STEPS | Tutorial

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by Lars Wichmann
#MakeWindsurfingGreatAgain #Waterstart #Beachstart #Tutorial
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0:00 Beach and Waterstart Tutorial
0:40 Action
1:10 Overview
2:00 Positioning
2:47 Clearing The Sail
3:32 Repositioning
4:35 Popping Up
7:22 TWO TOP TIPS
8:35 Get out there!

[@spsciroccomk2]

Really good tips, I have divided to get back in to windsurfing after many many years out of the sport, KZbin has been making progressing from where I once was much easier.

[@alanglendon6506]

Great video for THE most important move in windsurfing!

[@michaelcarlsson5246]

Very good explanation of water start and any wrong mistakes you can make. You showed my mistakes with a good explanation.

[@Red-Door]

Great tip flipping the sail by using the leech instead of the boom to prevent sinking!

[@joakimyliruusi]

So that was what I've been doing wrong while flipping the sail. I've flipped it from the boom and then having it sink. Now I'm gonna do it from the leech instead! Always good to come back to these videos although I've watched them many times.

[@shaharor9477]

thank you so much for the video. simple, clear, practical instructions, very well explained. I've been struggling with this technique for years now and only now i understand what I should have done differently . cheers!

[@johnfraser4591]

The pieces about getting the back foot under you and tilting the sail forward with pressure in the mast foot are soo true. I remember being so close to waterstarting in March 2020 but always having the board round upwind. Remember that you can still steer the board from the waterstart position by tilting the sail forward/back. Be light on your back foot while bringing the board as close to your butt as possible, then when you feel the pressure in the sail, Pop Up!

[@richym2020]

This video appeared at the right time for me. I learned to beach start on Sunday. i haven't got to water starts yet. thank you for this useful video!

[@garyhowells4310]

Love the tip at 2:25, brilliant, thanks Nico

[@florianbiesterbos5190]

I’ve been waiting so long for a properly waterstart video 🤩 it is finally here

[@santiagoybarra2348]

Thanks as always nico, I have been struggling so much with water start

[@Andy_XT]

I remember when I was finally able to waterstart: I felt like... Freedom! 😅It took so long to learn it! 😂

[@MaoZedong2225]

I still dont know it, I've never even seen a waterstart. Do you have useful tips for learning it?

[@Andy_XT]

@@MaoZedong2225 Only one: step up on the board. Literally. As if you were not in the water, but on the ground. Be active, climb up, don't wait for the sail to lift you up. Help the sail, instead, by reducing the work it has to do. That's it.

[@telewizortv4716]

Faxxxx

[@MaoZedong2225]

@@Andy_XT thanks, this sounds like a really good tip

[@walterl2006]

I am also trying and trying and i hope some day i can get it.

[@dantefilm]

Nico, it is one of the best water start tutorials! I wish I watched it earlier!!! 😂 Great way of explaining!!!!!! You have a great talent in teaching (and windsurfing obviously 😊)!!!

[@supandsurfeurope5891]

Sehr genialer Tipp, wie Du das Segel mit Hilfe des Windes drehst, wenn es mal wieder völlig blöd liegt. Werde ich sofort ausprobieren. Kannte bisher immer nur das Schwimmen und Schieben des Masts in den Wind. Als Vorschlag für ein weiteres Tutorial hätte ich folgendes: Was verändert sich bei Windsurfen mit kleinerem Material bei viel Wind? Meine ersten Erfahrungen zeigten mir hier deutliche Defizite. Ich habe das Gefühl, viele Variablen verändern sich und auch ein anderes Setup (z.B. Schlaufenposition, Tampenlänge, Mastfussposition) ist notwendig. Mir geht es aber auch um die Fahrposition (aufrechter? - späterer Einstieg in die Schlaufen? - weniger Einsatz der Luvkante?). Mein größtes Problem war, dass ich öfters nach dem Angleiten, die Fahrt abgewürgt hatte, sobald ich in den Schlaufen war. Der Wind war definitv stark genug (30 Knoten, 3,9 qm).

[@andreasherzinger8358]

a good waterstart actually saves you so much energy, especially riding on a smaller board

[@julio10004]

Thanks Nico!!! I am 65 and still windsurf! But never took a lesson in my life. So probably have all kinds of things wrong. Like I never jibed tacked like you guys do. Neither learned how to water or beach start. I can jump into the board and go out sailing and have no upper wind limit. Love to plane and love nowadays sails that de-power so easily. They seem magic. My main water start problem was my board heading up before doing anything. I can't wait to try your tips! May be some day you can do a video teaching these things to a young old timer like me? Would like be that! Thanks again!

[@julio10004]

By the way, I am currently using a Kona One. Have a short board but have never found the valor to take it out. Fear of the unknown.

[@simplejim-il7mg]

Fantastic tutorial - Thanks Nico! 💯

[@marcoscavia]

Hi Nico, I learned waterstart a few years ago and I find it very very important to be able to handle the sail with great ease in beach start. Knowing how to maneuver the sail and literally play using the wind without doing any force, is essential (in my opinion) to be able to start a beach / water start. Another little trick to get lifted, is to simply bring the mast a little forward, this greatly increases the leverage to get lifted. In strong winds it is also important to open the sail immediately once you get on top of the board. And last but not least: go fu###n' practice a lot !!

[@joanvila8416]

Thank you for such a helpful tutorial! Can't wait to implement your tips and gain confidence on my water starts :)

[@reiniermaasse1710]

Thank you! These last tips were really helpful and mind changing

[@lofibeats267]

Super nice. You really know how to teach things.

[@alteisentv]

Der Startschuss zu einer unendlichen Reise in die Welt des Windsurfen! Großartige Tipps und hübsches neues Logo

[@jeroenhessel7535]

Thanks Nico for the great tips en trics. Nice logo by the way. Looks really clean.

[@Costi1100]

Thanks, just started to learn this so it's perfect timing for me.

[@Windsurfing-Steve]

Hey Nico, would love to see some foiling videos, 1) high speed foil gybing (planning foil gybe 2) wing size / sail size to wind and water conditions. Keep it up, love the channel. ☘️😀

[@tristan_krn]

This video was super useful. You just made me realize that I haven't been compact enough when trying to lift myself up.

[@niclaskarlin]

Try imagining that you are climbing up on the dinner table. Same situation.

[@tristan_krn]

@@niclaskarlin lol I like that analogy

[@soleromac21]

Great tutorial to improve my waterstarts.Just need some warmer weather in UK to practise your fantastic ‘don’t lift clue end but clear sail above the boom and your heel to bum’ tips.

[@danielhyde767]

Hey nico!! thanks for this! this will be a great help to learn with.. the last gybe video was also great!!

[@thetrash35]

What an amazing serie. Very enjoying behind the scenes. Congratulations for 1st place in last elimination!!

[@matthewhyde3726]

Woohooo lets go I have been waiting for this to be uploaded for a while now Will definitely learn lots from this.

[@72south]

thanks for the tutorial, was useful to me as I have been trying the beach start but without closing the sail at the time of getting up on the board!

[@martijnwindsurfing]

Sick video Nico!!

[@WillMoody-crmstorm]

Hey Nico. Thanks for your videos. Very clear and easy to follow 👍👍🙂🙂

[@Hardtimes330]

Thanks Nico! Starting my second season soon. I got the beach start last year. This year waterstart hopefully. My sail is a bit small but hopefully I can use these tips. Much appreciated

[@MsGringo05]

Tnx Nico, great tutorial as usual. I'm gonna do learning session this days in Zadar Croatia.

[@alexanderz.3853]

Nice Tutorial, as always really helpful!! 😀

[@your.dark.lord.]

The finer details you don't really remember until you've tried it a few times, then you notice how important they are. Done a few beachstarts already, moving up! Thanks for the lesson

[@daniloscamonatti199]

Great! I think the last two tips are the most important at the beginning.

[@notyouraveragewindsurfer]

super cool nico! great quality and tips. Would like to see a tutorial explaining Fins (like what does the rake, flex, stiffness affects in your ride) and also the same for bottom shape in windsurfing boards. Thanks!!

[@cobbiepalm6790]

Thanks for the Nico secrets! Flipping the sail sure beats swimming around and heal pulling solves nose diving! Great!

[@BLe55eD]

Thanks Nico, your methods and your words of encouragement are really important for those out there trying to learn this awesome sport ❤

[@christopht.5649]

Hi Nico, thanks for the video! Really great esp with the arrows showing the angle and wind direction which makes it easier to understand and follow your thoughts. In the next video I would love to learn how to fully plane the board on the leeward edge under control... Please keep this going 👍

[@bigfefu]

thank you for this fantastic video,i just got 2 waterstarts on my last session, and im really excited, i think WS is one of the milestones in any windsurfer career

[@Ziocunel]

Well done. Thanks a lot!

[@matthieuportier3308]

Thank you so much for your tutorial 👍

[@brettmoore2642]

Hi Nico once again a great tutorial . Not only do you no how to talk us through all the aspects you are trying to tech but you are also able to show exactly with the board / sail what you mean, by demonstrating we’re we may be failing , and how to rectify by changing what we are doing with more cleaver demonstrations . It sounds easy , but it is not , but you do it effortlessly . Fantastic job buddy , keep them coming 👍🏼👍🏼

[@waihowu1494]

The tips are great. A bit more clips on maneuver of the sail with wind direction diagrsm will be great.

[@zXfilgamer]

Realy really thank you nico

[@user-bm4ym3to9x]

Thank you very much, I am going to try it out ...

[@danscottobb]

Amazing video. Thank you so much for making it. I bought a $60 old crappie windsurfer on a whim and have been using your videos to learn. I'm excited to upgrade and try these new techniques! Thanks again!

[@marcschumacher1358]

Hey Nico, cheers for this excellent video. I already managed to stand a few waterstarts but it is so energy consuming... My plan for this season is... after a session... always practicing some waterstarts close to the beach. Keep going with your videos! Marc

[@daniloarena7500]

Looks like you were sailing in Pozo Izquierdo!!🤙

[@Windsurfcoach]

Nice video again Nico! Great footage, good tips, very well explained!!! A while ago I made a video about the same topic, only in Dutch, but yours definitely looks a lot better! Respect!

[@michalecology]

your video is really help me to improve in wind surfing

[@robhruska7611]

Thx Nico, i am very comfortable water starting have been doing it for years but still managed to extract some good information that i am sure will help me next week on the Canadian windsurfing migration to OBX. 🙏🤙

[@Tyzen798]

hello your videos are incredible and your tutorials are very useful to me. I would like to learn how to put my feet in footstraps because I can't. Keep it up!! 🔥

[@barney3444]

super helpful, thanks!

[@flaviodias6884]

Thanks, Nico!!! I'm still struggling with water start. I feel pain on my hip so to raise my foot over the board is hard for me. But I loved the tip to flip the sail without get the mast sinking. Keep going!! You help a lot of persons all over the world

[@drwindsurf]

This is fantastic Nico! I will share this with the windsurfers in our club. On a separate note: I love seeing you wearing you Seiko in these videos - I would recommend wearing it on a nato strap when you sailing, I lost a MM300 on a particularly bad wipeout once when a spring bar let go. Thank you for all great videos 👍

[@mis100tubos]

Good Job! We want videos like this :reinforcement tutorials and I hope to see soon how to go from windsurfing to windsurf foiling: first flights, turns and jibes; buen viento 🤟😜

[@ArcticWindsurfer]

Very good tutorial, thanks 👏

[@sanderboersma7198]

Hi nico, a useful video! Keep it up

[@niclaskarlin]

A mental image that can be used for getting on the board is to imagine you are climbing up on the dinner table. You can't do that while standing 1 meter away, you need to stand right next to it. Combine with the arms straight up in the air. To rotate the gear, you can also reach out with one leg pointing forward, and the other backwards, while pushing the gear. When moving the body back, both legs point towards the bottom of the sea. Maybe hard to understand by this small text. When it's really windy you can water start with the feet in the straps, and sometimes even hooked in, already in the water.

[@Hendreh1]

Niccce . Danke für das Tutorial

[@heiopeiko]

Hey Nico, awesome tutorial to get better and make surfing easier. But I would like to make a suggestion/wish for an additional video: please also add the underwater action! It’s very helpful for all learners to see what’s happening below the surface. How to „bodydrag“ into position, use the front leg as a pivot point and get close to the board when coming up and out of the water. 🤙🏻

[@sakritone]

My technique, as long as you have a big board such that the boom rests on the tail of the board, which makes it easy for the wind to fill the sail. Then you lift the sail and get on the board as usual.

[@marneyman]

Thanks for this Nico. The takeaway for me with this great video is I've not been getting far enough up the mast to get the sail out of the water. I can get up ok once it's flying I've just struggled to clear some times, and ended up sinking everything. Are you planning on doing any footstraps tutorials as that would benefit me alot - really want to nail it this year.

[@caetzar]

Thanks for this! A foot strap tutorial would be great. For me it's the back one that I am improving on, but still find a challenge.

[@vladislavkornushenko]

Waterstart was a key skill for me to enjoy sailing days. Luckly one of windsurfers at our spot teached me how to waterstart. I'm really appreciate him for the help))) By the way, I noticed that I usually grab the rear footstrap with my hand and put the boom over hand to prevent the sail from going uderwater when waiting for a gust to waterstart.

[@erik.miletic]

Great video, you also mentioned "slingshot" can you explain it in more details or make a new video on this subject?

[@ingotaraske6996]

Great tipps. I definitely position the board sometimes with my hand while holding the boom with the other which is pretty unstable. Just using mast foot pressure is the way to go. Rolling the foot towards the buttocks I will try as well. And shifting the sail is amazing, always used to swim around and move the mast which takes a long time. It would be cool to have a tutorial on foil waterstarts.

[@alexvantee6938]

Nice tutorial, 🤙

[@mateuszgliniewicz6434]

Great video Nico, as always. Maybe it You can make tutorial on how to rig/ set properly foil

[@th5796]

Thanks for your tutorial video. I have have tried the waterstart earlier, but never successed. Still dreaming to learn it and I will start to practise it again on next weekend, if there is wind enough. I will keep you posted about my progress, if any. 👍

[@Yomimi1]

Thank you for the tips your videos help me so much i am 11 years old and i am learning water start

[@naturepro5643]

Thanks Nico! I've always improved my skills from your titorials. I think you might be one of the Vip prof. Windsurfer who 've really participated in teaching this wonderful sport to the new coming, the intermediate, even to the more advancing windsurfer comunities in the World.

[@AlazPesen]

thank you!!!!

[@svendejong7775]

Thanks, great tutorial. Still struggling with the water start. Trying to pull the board under my body with the backfoot should help! I would like to see a tutorial about tuning the gear at some point. Small changes you can make to the sail, length and placement of the harness lines, etc. I'm also struggling to keep planing when using the harness lines. My board keeps turning into the wind when putting weight on the harness lines.

[@deanleslie2295]

Great clip what did I get from it I was flipping the sail using the boom end causing the sail to sink now I know the flip the sail from the tip of mast cool 🙌

[@bertvwveldman3931]

Nico …. What a way to start my sunday ( Verstappen fell out with engine issues in australia) , so much enthousiasm and nice filming

[@Nico_GER7]

Gutted -.-

[@sharewavestv]

And Vettel as well 😔 Hope for an exciting season

[@ylkwok8141]

would appreciate so much for laydown gybe with common mistakes!🙏

[@killurbean]

Great video, thanks. This explains some of what is going wrong for me. I’d like to see a tutorial regarding moving down board sizes and how to control them and get going. I’m really struggling on my 3s 117 having used a 145litre board for a few years (I’m 100kg). I keep sinking the nose, falling over windward, pointing up wind. It’s like I never windsurfed before. Completely exhausting and very short sessions. Some guidance would be great.

[@SirKilmore001]

Nice video, I got my water start down but the clew first flip at the sail and not at the boom is something I did not know yet and will definitely try. Follow up with a low wind waterstart tutorial?

[@tommyorla91]

Hi Nico! Thanks for your videos! Can you show me (us) how to handle the sail when it is not in the appropriate position? I always struggle when I have the mast opposite to the wind direction and I have to flip the sail before attempting the waterstart. Thanks a lot!

[@windprobe7264]

I found it easier to waterstart resting both heals on the board. Then the sail pulls you up into the board nice and evenly with weight distributed evenly on both legs. For those who don't have the best knees, this technique works like a charm!

[@Nico_GER7]

This only works when it’s windy enough and when you already have a good technique.

[@sc00Bay]

Schönes Video, ich arbeite da schon seit zwei Jahren dran, bin aber dafür scheinbar talentfrei und habe das Thema Wasserstart aufgegeben......Kleiner Vorteil: Spart Geld, da ich nicht zusätzlich kleines Material kaufen würde. Bei unseren oberbayrischen Seen brauche ich das eh nie.

[@thorstenc7342]

Schade, wenn Du Dich selbst so einschränkst. Lass Dich doch mal filmen, da wird man sicher leicht erkennen, weshalb Du es nicht schaffst. Ansonsten komm ans Ijsselmeer 😉, den eigentlichen Wasserstart bringe ich Dir in unter einer Stunde bei 😇

[@sc00Bay]

@@thorstenc7342 Danke für das Angebot! Leider ist das Ijsselmeer zu weit weg und ich habe meine Frau noch nicht soweit, dass wir dort mal Urlaub machen. Da ist Italien und Kroatien für uns näher. Im Moment geht's eh mehr zum Wingen, da hab ich dann solche Probleme nicht. Aber falls das mit dem Ijsselmeer klappt, melde ich mich. Ich zahle auch 😉

[@thorstenc7342]

@@sc00Bay Ich kann Dich, bzw. Deine Frau gut verstehen, mich zieht es mittlerweile auch eher ins warme Wasser 😇 Ansonsten stoßen wir als Bezahlung danach gerne an 😉

[@KonradOlczak]

Thanks for the great tips! I really enjoy your channel. I wanted to ask about one issue I faced last season struggling with water start. It happened in choppy conditions when I was using camber sail. Usually the wind direction and waves are aligned on inland waters and when I prepare to raise the sail I need to take a position in which waves are hitting me from the back. Because of this water is floading the sail from the top and make battens bend in the wrong way preventing the wind to help in raising the sail. It is very hard or impossible to make cambers flip when being in water. Starting from the top of the mast and moving down let me unglue the sail from the water but battens are still in the wrong position and wind is not helping. So the question is how to deal with this situation? How to raise the camber sail in case battens are in the wrong position?

[@luciennieman4490]

Nice video again Nico. Thanks for the tips. I will try to use my backfoot first, as I am used to put my frontfoot on the board first. But first I have to get healthy as you know

[@Nico_GER7]

🙏🙏🙏

[@pawel7318]

Great video ! One remark if I may - In my humble opinion for the beachstart pop-up it's better to pull the board towards you rather than to push the sail forward. This will naturally move the sail more up but you'll keep stable position on the ground and have more control. This way if you feel something doesn't go right you can make a step back instead of fail it all by dropping the sail or falling down.

[@Nico_GER7]

Hi Paweł, both at the same time actually. Dragging the board under you will automatically make the sail more upright and thus forward in comparison to the board. If the wind is light both in combination help :-)

[@tomcox4146]

Thanks for a great video. Off topic question - what vehicle is that you’re using to get to the beach with all your equipment?

[@modyakbeachboyz]

thank you

[@davethewave9380]

I really would like to see a video, or just a short advice, on foot strap settings, espacially concidering the Interaction of the back strap position with the mast foot position… I‘ve recently got a new board and still figuring out what the sweet set up for performance AND control is: Straps all the way back, mast foot ‚not‘ vs. straps middle position, mast foot all the way back Yes, I‘m a nerd, sorry, can‘t help;) Aloha🤙🤓

[@ramonvanbloemendaal9947]

Thank you for this tutorial! I only have one question, how do you easily recover a camber sail? I can waterstart with a free race sail but I have a hard time water starting with a camber sail to get it out of the water especially when the sail is at the wrong side and you have to turn the sail

[@j_kas4884]

Thanks for the advise, the biggest windsurf community is a fitting name

[@magouero]

At the beginning : use also a life vest. It will save a lot of energy while you intent to get the sail out of water, place the sail, board and even get out of the water. Not a big lifevest but rather the one like they use in kayak/canoe.

[@Nico_GER7]

So true

[@walterl2006]

I would like to know any trick to avoid walking so much if the watter is low and the fin like 40cm, for example the fin first technique would be an option to sail up to where the watter is higher ?

[@gh0strid3r92]

immer coole Videos, aber dieses finde ich für Anfänger, die den Beach-Wasserstart noch nicht können leider nicht ganz so toll, ich glaube die Positionierung des Materials, bzw. die Brettsteuerung mit dem Segel hätte man hier noch deutlich ausführlicher beschreiben können, in meinen Kursen ist das immer die halbe Miete, wenn die Schüler das Board mit dem Segel unter Kontrolle haben, schaffen sie den Aufstieg innerhalb kürzester Zeit... wenn das fehlt, klappt es kaum. für Leute die den Beachstart bereits beherrschen und noch ein paar Tips gebrauchen können, könnte das Video aber sicher weiterhelfen ;-)

[@juanmontano7478]

My first ever try to windsurf was Yesterday, was using a different technique, no succes in 30 atempts Will try this today

[@Nico_GER7]

In the beginning you should work with a big board and use the uphaul. Waterstart is more advanced 🤘

[@superlaune]

Vielen Dank Nico! Ich habe nach längerer Zeit wieder eine Woche an der Ostsee auf dem Board verbracht und die ersten Beachstarts gemacht. Ein super Gefühl nicht immer an der „Leine“ ziehen zu müssen. Wenn das gut klappt übe ich am Wasserstart! Klasse Video!

[@OlliGarchow]

The basic move to enter the wild world of windsurfing in stronger winds

[@priit7777]

do you weight like 50kg? how does the board not flip around and become vertical in the water when you step on the tail end of it so far away from center?