Whats the secret to mastering Windsurfing?

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/ ridealongcookie
There are so many techniques, tricks and tips to improve your windsurfing, but without this key point, the rest of the development is blocked.
It's taught as beginners, within the first 15min of starting the first session....but for some reason we forget about it as we improve and develop.
The BALANCE POINT will make or break you skills!
Follow me @cookiesport on instagram for daily tips and updates.
Filmed in Vassiliki, Greece- join me here for a clinic!
Kit used... a mix of Point-7 sails, mainly the Spy, ACX and F1e.
Boards vary too, starboard tends to be my "go-to" for kit, but also RRD a lot too.
Audio recorded on InstaMic
Filmed on a mix of Insta360 OneR & GoPro Max
Mixture of camera mounts including Fly Mount and Sail Video System
#windsurf
#instaoner
#ridealong
#point7
#sungod
#starboard
#shorts
#vassiliki
#flymount

[@bluetommy77]

The thing is, Cookie… You are KILLING it on youtube videos because you bring so much thoughtful, observant and articulated FACT to your audience. Your competition just has a hard time comparing!

[@Cookiesports]

Thanks Tommy! Really appreciate the stoke! I don’t see it as a competition though- as long as people are inspired to get on the water and have some fun then we’re all winners! 🤙🤙

[@keendnb]

I do agree, I watch a friend who's a pro freestyle sailor and he makes every track, Heli tack, backwind tack look effortless. It's a combination of pure skill and just knowing the sail power, wind direction and balance point of the sail and his counter balance (position on the board). He never fights the sail or worries about the sea state, his focus is position of body and sail every time.

[@Cookiesports]

👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍

[@jamesmckenzie4572]

I've made the same observation of Balz Muller windfoiling. Regardless of his extreme antics with the board and sail his body is always centered in the vortex of it all. It's like a little safe zone where small inputs can quickly regain control of the pandemonium he initiates.

[@Rehberaabi]

Enlightening! Now I see the reason why I can't: too much focus on details but miss the basics: the balance pnt. This video is "the gospel to the intermediate". Thnx:)

[@Cookiesports]

👍👍👍👍

[@jonnydelacruz8553]

You, Cookie, windsurf in a straight line. I can see that

[@Cookiesports]

Thanks!? 🤔

[@lucamuller4121]

Hey cookie thanks for the tip after 300+ hours of windsurfing i never came across that one. Can you make a video about how to safely crash or how to learn falling the right way. We have never seen you in the water or wet xD

[@Cookiesports]

Thanks! I’ve fallen in during a few videos… and one coming soon!… Have you seen this one? kzbin.info/www/bejne/mqGkp6FsfKypp7c

[@Dantanalicious]

Great tip! It took me a long time to figure this out - never had any instruction. I learned it by watching the experts do different tricks, moves etc. Every maneuver was balanced and effortless with control of the mast position was what I saw. As I started to do more myself I realized how to get the sail and mast where it was effortless and balanced. Wish I had gotten instruction from you years ago!! It would have saved me countless hours, days, years!

[@Cookiesports]

All that balance you mention- in soooooo many manoeuvres, comes back to the balance point! 👍👍

[@markopanger412]

Interestingly I only feel these things now that I'm somehow past the basic things. Confidence and relax makes you explore and feel things more. Beside this, with foiling where balance gets a new dimension, I think I become a better fin windsurfer. Great if not the best instructional windsurfing channel out there. Would it be possible to make a video on the heli tack? Thsnks, Marko

[@Cookiesports]

Thanks! Heli-tack video is on the way! 👍👍👍

[@goronaito4368]

A huge eye-opener for me! One small point of basics, but tend to forget. I need to get back to the water and try this out.

[@Cookiesports]

👍👍👍 Let me know how you get on!

[@Jhoekstra]

A crucial point in windsurfing!! And yes, I have forgotten it! I need to focus more on keeping the mast upright while changing positions. Again, thanks very much Simon!

[@Cookiesports]

Thanks Joal!

[@ghughes20]

Another great video, thanks Cookie!!

[@Cookiesports]

Thanks! 🤙🤙

[@jamesmckenzie4572]

Good observation. I've sailed for 45 years and have not heard this elucidated before. I watch learners on the cam in my area and can see that they need to learn this as they are held back and cannot 'commit' their body to the sail because of it. It kind of separates those who progress and those who get stuck in a semi-planing mode.

[@Cookiesports]

👍👍

[@chant-c8503]

Wow! OK, I'll be sure to keep this in mind when I'm out on the water, I think this is where I've been going wrong. Thanks cookie

[@Cookiesports]

👍👍👍👍

[@meridi4ns155]

perfect timing to release the video tomorrow is my first session planing and my first 5.6 sail session too , so exited

[@Cookiesports]

Hope not goes well! 🤙🤙🤙

[@lefterislef5630]

Loved this vid!! thank youuu!!

[@Cookiesports]

Thank you!

[@SuperMoskis]

Great video!!!

[@Cookiesports]

Thanks 🤩

[@kev-the-windsurfer.]

Excellent point!! I totally agree with this.......Right, now for some wind to get out there and think about this....... It is also important to enjoy the session, I sometimes have a habit of putting too much pressure on myself and get overly self critical....I end up sailing better when I say to myself, lets just have a bit of fun before I wrap the session up..... Always enjoy your videos!!

[@Cookiesports]

Thanks! 🤙🤙🤙

[@jamesdougall2886]

another great vid! many thanks. Would you be able to provide details of a basic camera and mic setup similar to the one you use? Going blasting in Dakhla Western Sahara soon and would love to shoot a few vids..cheers Simon

[@Cookiesports]

A few notes are in the description of the video. I’ll do a full video guide to my camera set up at some point soon. Thanks for watching!

[@ned193]

That's funny, only yesterday, during a camp of my windsurf club I told people exactly this, with other names, and without the advanced stuff, but still. It all is so true...

[@Cookiesports]

Great minds think alike 😜

[@dr.franciscotorresmarquezc7352]

Perfect

[@Cookiesports]

🤙🤙🤙

[@benbhand]

Wow, the section about not being able to get on plane despite doing everything in the (other) Cookie videos correct is me to a 'T'!! I have been trying to sail with the sail more perpendicular to the board and facing less laterally, but now I understand why that's important. Can't wait to give this a shot next time out. Oh, and for whatever reason, the audio in this video was not up to your other videos (even the ones from last season!).

[@Cookiesports]

👍👍👍👍 thanks for watching!

[@6977202865]

There is only 1 point in windsurf. KEEP PRACTICING. nothing else matters! :)

[@chucky882]

Haha! I personally call it “board time”...the more board time the faster the learning curve.

[@Cookiesports]

Remember though- practice makes permanent, not perfect! Time on the board is great, but spending hours out doing the wrong thing will buy make you better- where as the right coaching points and practicing the right thing at the right time and you’ll improve far faster! A few coaching sessions with me and you’ll learn more than months just sailing about! 😜 Hope to see you in Vassiliki next summer!

[@horsemadf1]

I was expecting you to say time on the water..Great tip...I've been sailing for 30 years and hadn't really thought of that . I suppose I thought about it a bit after I had a really bad stack exiting a gybe when I pulled the rig too much to windward as I flipped before I powered on.. Being in lockdown I've been doing a lot of dryland gybe practise and this certainly shows when I let the rig get out of balance!

[@Cookiesports]

Time on the water is important, but remember "practice makes permanent- NOT perfect!"... You can spend weeks and years on the water doing the wrong thing and not improving... a few hours with the right coach- practicing the right things, can transform your windsurf for ever! 🤙🤙

[@horsemadf1]

@@Cookiesports Pity you're in the wrong hemisphere..lol's

[@dairyairman]

This really hits the nail on the head. I kind of knew this material, but only in my own way after having figured it out over a period of years with no lessons. For me, the big realization was that you almost never want the mast to lean downwind. There are exceptions to that, but not many. For example, I know that letting the mast dip downwind while flipping the sail during a jibe will almost always ruin the jibe. Either it will pull you into the water or at the very least it will make the board suddenly point upwind, especially if you're on a smaller board. I've learned that the wind wants to push the mast downwind into an "off balance" position, so you have to get ready for that by bending your knees and generally keeping low but not bending at the waist. Likewise, when sailing in a straight line you don't want the mast to be leaning downwind. I'm not even sure it's possible to sail with the mast leaning downwind. Your advice about keeping the sail balanced is a more refined and accurate version of what should be done with it while sailing straight, tacking, jibing, etc.

[@Cookiesports]

Thanks for watching and glad you enjoyed it. Interesting though MT in lean the sail downwind… there’s quite a few times that it’s necessary… have you seen this video on humane exits- a large scoop downwind and around will help! Search for : “Disco Gybe- How to exit your gybes!” Thing about all of it is wherevers the mast is moved to, you must bring it back up to the balance point to re-gain the control and begin the next movement.

[@dairyairman]

@@Cookiesports I watched one of your jibe videos again and I see that you do let the mast dip downwind slightly when flipping the sail, but you are ready for it! You have your body positioned correctly so that the rig does not pull you downwind and into the water. You counterbalance the sail and pull the mast across your body and back into a forward, upwind position. I need to focus more on that! Thanks for these great videos! I will keep watching.

[@marcosgallodgp]

Well said cookie, thanks s bunch

[@Cookiesports]

Thanks! 🤙🤙🤙

[@thomasmonti2450]

i love

[@Cookiesports]

❤️

[@jemand8462]

I just looked up the surf schools in Vasiliki but couldn't find you. Do you still work as an instructor there and if yes, where?

[@Cookiesports]

Yes! I’m based at the Cosmos Hotel, Vassiliki! Hope to see you there in summer 2022!

[@kristianmartincic3011]

The most out of balance I get right now is coming out of tacks in light air, sometimes I'll get stuck unable to bear away, and the board goes sideways while pointing up into the wind. Only way out I've found is to get low, push the rig fwd and push super hard on the front foot to get moving again. Anything better to do?

[@Cookiesports]

Try this… it’ll change your racks for ever…. kzbin.info/www/bejne/Z3jSo4ybjaZ3pcU

[@DrLewPerren]

Thanks great video. I know I should keep sail at balance point, but in light winds I find it hard not to go slightly down wind in the correct balance point position. To keep going upwind slightly I seem to drop the sail back like turning, but hold it there. If I go back to the sailing position and balance point I stop going upwind. Any suggestions. Thanks.

[@Cookiesports]

The balance point is your “reset” point, your “go-to” point as your start and finish things. You cannot keep it there all the time. To go up wind you must sheet OUT, then lean the sail back, then sheet IN. Return to balance point. Repeat. ✅✅✅

[@DrLewPerren]

@@Cookiesports thanks. Your videos are great.

[@Cookiesports]

@@DrLewPerren Thank you! I'll be back on the sea in Vassiliki this summer!

[@paulw7600]

I understand when you pull the rig across your body and find the balance point but when you get going in the foot straps and harness and foot straps the mast looks like it's leaning back and no longer in the balance point position..

[@Cookiesports]

Exactly right… the balance point is the to starting and finishing everything…. To get going to being in the balance point, then pull the sail in, back and down to speed up. Try this one…. kzbin.info/www/bejne/aoHFeZVjbKikgJY

[@paulw7600]

If I was to get going and the sail was not in the right balance point at the beginning and then pulled the sail in and got in the foot straps. From what your saying the sail would be alot heavier as it was not balanced to start with ? Thankyou

[@Cookiesports]

The board would likely 1. Not actually get going 2. Be very powerful/heavy, but not actually drive the board forward 3. Spin up into the wind very quickly

[@paulw7600]

@@Cookiesports thanks

[@matthisoutt8006]

So the mast have always to be vertically?

[@Cookiesports]

That is the “reset” position for sure… it doesn’t stay there all the time though.

[@frankiebob7345]

35 years ago a great Windsurfer said Balance is the Key. Big Sail and a Small Brain. Name that Windsurfer?

[@Cookiesports]

Oooo…great question! Sounds like a Harty kind of quote!? Or maybe Naish?

[@frankiebob7345]

@@Cookiesports Dana Miller. Wrote for a free west coast underground windsurfing paper in the mid 80's. Wish I could remember the name of it. He was a fixture of Hatteras and the Gorge in the 80's and 90's. Fueled the anti Kite movement in 2000's. Lives in Pistol last I knew and made peace with kiters. Last time I saw him was the late 90's at the Hatteras Light. Wonder if he is alive. In those days everyone knew everyone. Balance is Key!

[@Cookiesports]

@@frankiebob7345 glad he made peace with the kiters (I kite quite a bit too!). “Balance is key”… however the point I’m trying to make in this video- and a few others is “the balance-point”- where the sail is vertically balanced! 👍👍

[@ElectroHouseFanXXX]

I think you are waaaay wrong. I just learned windsurfing 1.5 years ago and balanace point is not what secured my big jumps towards mastering windsurfing. Yes, balance point is important. But it literally has nothing to do with mastering it. Finding your balance comes by itself by going out on the water and just windsurf. But let me tell you what really is the key point of mastering windsurfing from a perspective of a farily new windsurfer. If you want to master how to windsurf, then you first need to fall in love with it. The second thing is you need A LOT time on water and on the board followed by the third point which is getting the knowledge of the entire windsurf theory. I mean by that you have to be highly motivated to educate yourself and to study the whole matter. Because in windsurfing, there are tons of small advices that help you get far ahead. For example mastering to do the advanced waterstart in high winds like 6-8 bft you will definetly need all three points: To love it. To practice it. And to STUDY it like a maniac. You will then somehow find yourself watching youtube videos and maybe step over the SMALL advice "hey maybe try waterstarting with both feeds simultaneously" and you go out and try and you think: WHY didnt anyone tell me this earlier. So you officially did a big step towards mastering windsuring with a tiny advice. The truth of mastering windsurfing is to put really really hard work on you. You always want to listen to your body and how it feels on the board while you windsurf. You also have to get into contact with as many other windsurfers as possible to ask them everything about technic, material, how to do this how to do that and so on. How can finding my balance point help me to master windsurf when I use complete wrong windsurf stuff. Like taking a much too smal / big sail, picking the wrong material (like wrong mast with wrong curve). How does finding my balance help me when I dont trimm board and sail properly. How does it help me when finding into the footstraps and where to put the footstraps. There are millions of examples like this where finding balance wont help you improve as a windsurfer. And let me tell you I am only 1.5 years windsurfing and I learned the hardest way how to do it. The real secret of mastering windsurfing is to first fall in love with it and then start a) practicing and b) studying it like nothing else. If you do this while being open-minded and proactively asking other people to help you out or to just simply get a lot in contact with the people you will master windsurfing in no time.

[@Cookiesports]

Wow! So firstly, top marks for the longest comment I've ever seen- anywhere! ✅ Maybe you're new to this channel, as many of your points are covered in other videos! 👍 Remember time on the water is of course important- but "practice make permeant, not perfect!"- make sure you get coaching a learn things well or you'll be stuck on a windsurfing plateau in no time! You do however have a number of very "unique" views you talk about here. I'm sure you've learnt a lot in the 18months you've been getting on the water; you're clearly a fast learner to have these strong views on how to teach the sport in such a short time! You should plan a trip to Vassiliki, Greece, for summer 2022. We can have a few sessions together on the water (utilise my 15-20 years teaching experience), then have beer or two and see how we can take you skills to the next level! 🤩

[@ElectroHouseFanXXX]

@@Cookiesports Sounds fair enough! Thanks for taking time to read and answer 👍 Viganj/Bol and Vassiliki are top spots on my windsurf bucket list so I will definitely accept your offer ! Cheers 🍻

[@fertysurfer]

Forever the gentleman and patient teacher.