How to get in the BACK-foot strap windsurfing!

The common faults and how to fix them as you progress and improve with your windsurfing journey!
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/ ridealongcookie
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Follow me @cookiesport on instagram for daily tips and updates.
Filmed in Vassiliki, Greece- join me here for a clinic!
Kit used...
- Sails provided by Point-7; mainly the Spy, ACX and F1e. point-7.com
- Boards are kindly supplied by Starboard. windsurf.star-board.com
- Filmed on a mix of Insta360 Onex2- www.insta360.com/sal/one_x2?i...
- Audio recorded on InstaMic- instamic.io
- Mixture of camera mounts including Fly Mount and Sail Video System
flymount.com/shop/ www.sailvideosystem.com
- Eyewear provided by SunGod www.sungod.co/en-gb/?
#windsurf
#insta360
#ridealong
#point7
#sungod
#starboard
#sailvideosystem

[@treborhi]

The biz about head shoulders & hips all facing upwind really helped me out today. Both with sailing upwind and more easily moving my foot into the back foot strap

[@Cookiesports]

VISION! I say it in so many of the videos and sessions I teach- glad it’s clicked for you! 👍👍👍

[@kingabori5120]

The first tip just made me smile. There is so much to learn in this sport that too often I find myself wanting to rush things instead of enjoying the things I can do for now. Cookie, you have taught me so much, a lot of things no other teacher mentioned before! Maybe someday I can visit you in Vassiliki to say my thanks 😁 Until then, keep up the good work and I’ll keep watching your awesome videos!

[@Cookiesports]

Happy to help! Hope you can make it here to join us one day soon!

[@lefterislef5630]

Casually hitting the like button before I watch the video. Your videos have helped me so much since last year to get into the straps finally after 3 years of windsurfing (not having much time on the water unfortunately). I just find your way of tackling little things one by one much better than so many other "how tos" online that tell us 100 different things to do at the same time as if it's easy to see them and do them. Windsurfing is very complex and needs every little thing about it well explained. And that's where Cookie comes in! Thank you!! Also I'm thinking of buying a proper rig set and I have no idea what to choose! Is there a link or an opinion on it? I've used Goya sails and Neipryde ones with random masts and booms from here and there. I think I should get a set, no?

[@Cookiesports]

Hahah! Glad to hear it! As you have probably seen I ride .7 sales. I cannot recommend them highly enough. The SPY comes in a large range of sizes and is very versatile. I also have ACX’s for lighter Wind days and more free race style when surfing.

[@lefterislef5630]

@@Cookiesports Thank you very much Simon!

[@ikbelnwindsurf]

It's brilliant how you explained this critical moment 👏

[@Cookiesports]

Thanks! 👍

[@Premed1981]

Great video, thanks Cookie !

[@Cookiesports]

Thank you!

[@danxeneize4063]

great lesson, THANK YOU

[@Cookiesports]

You are welcome!

[@robmilligan3650]

That was my exact problem not so long ago as I progressed. I think the bending front arm tip is the big takeaway, and I’m certainly still guilty of that occasionally!

[@Cookiesports]

Bending the front arm is an interesting one, because it is acceptable to do, and can be very useful - but only for a split second of control not a continual riding position!

[@leoncleiren5469]

I guess your technique really needs to be spot on if doing this on full on slalom boards (maxed out on outboard footstrap positions) with full cambered sails (instant power and overpowered). If I see the minimum space I have to move my foot into (not like a the carve used or a middle back footstrap board only) and already building up considerable speed, I always feel I have no time to waste or forget it (at some speed levels, I dont dare to step into them anymore at the expense of control issues of course). Taking your advice at heart: blindly finding you footstrap and going upwind every so slightly to move weight from the back foot does help indeed! thanks coockie...

[@Cookiesports]

Glad it helping! But yes… slalom boards are hard to sail and you need some good technique… I can drive a car but I’m pretty sure I’d struggle in a formula 1 car!

[@lukasz3tabis]

Nice! Thank you

[@Cookiesports]

Thank you too!

[@iscrippapa529]

Thanks you so much cookie 🤟🏿 I get it in 2try Thank a lot for the tips Big love from Mauritius 🇲🇺❤️

[@Cookiesports]

Thanks! 🤩

[@rasmusboegehave4945]

You should have a special "Cookie package" at Cosmos with all the interest you are generating! I'm currently looking into visiting Vasi because of your videoes and recommendations.

[@Cookiesports]

Better get booked up quick… we’re already filling up for Summer 2023!

[@foobar1013]

I still have one side where it is much harder and instable (always feels like i am almost catapulting) to get into the back footstrap. The other side however its easy.

[@Cookiesports]

Everyone has a preferred side, whether it is writingor kicking a football or windsurfing! Key is to continue practising things on your bad side as well as your good one, and try to figure out what you are doing differently. Possibly even use the TTPPEE fault analysis to decide what the difference is!

[@jimkewley3790]

I came close to planing this season... need larger sail, more wind, more sessions on the water... (gotta go some place with better conditions and I will get to the next level)..

[@Cookiesports]

Come to Vass!

[@Jettemaus2]

Where do you currently windsurf?

[@jimkewley3790]

@@Jettemaus2 alameda, eastbay of San Fran. There are some guys who are blasting along nicely, in which cases I think they are lighter , with small board and larger sail, and clearly better technically than I am...

[@jimkewley3790]

@@Cookiesports yes, adding to bucket list🤙

[@dairyairman]

@@jimkewley3790 That place is famously windy in the summertime, isn't it? I've also heard Berkeley Marina can be good, as well as Coyote Point, Crissy Field, The Delta, etc. You kind of live in a windsurfing paradise!

[@jonmullet5739]

Your videos continue to help me progress, and I have recently had my first successful water start which is encouraging. However the foot straps remain somewhat mysterious to me. I do not have them on my board, and have never found a time when my feet have felt unstable. However, as I have been getting planing more, I am wondering if foot straps might help counter increased sail pressure while trying to maintain planing speed on a beam reach. I know that progression points toward getting in the foot straps, but so far I can't see the need. What am I missing?

[@Cookiesports]

No rush… as long as you’re having fun your doing it right! 👍👍👍

[@aadms]

It would be nice a video about how to deal with heavy chop, how to select boards, fins, stance, straps, how to ride over the chop, waterstart, jibe, etc.

[@Cookiesports]

Try this one out…riding chop kzbin.info/www/bejne/aqe3XqSqf8mKocU

[@danielsitton9641]

@@Cookiesports thank Cookie, any special tips about getting into the back strap on wave conditions? Should I prefer going for it coming down from a wave?

[@Cookiesports]

@@danielsitton9641 use the squirrel stance! 👍

[@markchip1]

"No-one likes that Downwind Dave"... From memory, everybody felt so sorry for the poor bugger, as once an hour we could all watch him exhaustedly walk his board and rig back up the ENTIRE length of the beach!!!

[@Cookiesports]

Oh gosh- is that how is phrased it- I meant to say “no one want to be that downwind Dave!”

[@markopanger412]

That rig back-body forward counterbalance might just be my issue with heavy back foot stomping into the backstrap and then correcting with pushing with the frond foot. I''ll pay attention next time tomthis detail. Thanks for highlighting it. What about foiling? Same principle should apply right? Just maybe it is advisable to lower the height before going for it?

[@Cookiesports]

Lower the height is good for foiling… I’d rather touch down briefly than beech and crash down!

[@kurateam]

6.47 wet shorts, no glasses... great video!

[@Cookiesports]

Good spot- that was a clip I filmed in the “how to ride in chop” video… I ditched the glasses as it was getting a bit spicy out there! 🌶

[@mikaelwahlstrand1552]

love your tutorials here on youtube. i have a little question , my back leg is streched as in straight and the front one is bent( when im windsurfing that is :-) ) , why ? rig too far forward ? harnesslines too far forward ? i have no problem with it just that everyone else is doing the opposite /mike

[@Cookiesports]

Could be a mix of things TBH! Send a link to video and I'll have a look! Thanks for watching!

[@Handzoff]

To get into the back foot strap when the wind is really gusty (between full on and off) I use your stiletto heel 👠 technique in a kind of weird way. I get into the backstrap first (!) and with back foot in stiletto position, I lean far forward to take weight off the back foot and avoid turning upwind. As soon as the gust hits, I lean hard back and push the front foot near the mast hard forward to get planing. With the back foot locked early I can easily absorb strong gusts. The wide stance probably looks really ridiculous though, like a straddled cow 🤣.

[@Cookiesports]

Oh dear! You may have heard the “stiletto back foot” technique from me, however this is definitely not how I described it, or how I recommend using it!

[@rasmusboegehave4945]

@@Cookiesports lol

[@simonepinto1388]

Thanks for the great insight! Question: I'm 70kg and this is my second season on a windsurf, I'm learning on an old beat up Bic Techno 293, 79cm wide and 200lt. Can't do a planing gybe yet, bet I'm getting more and more comfortable with in-strap planing (both feet) and I'm managing my first water starts. Do you think I could switch to 120-130 lt freeride board? I see they're all quite wide (I'd like a 70cm), so stability shouldn't be a huge problem, but I hope it would be more light and agile. Thanks a lot!

[@Schimpy99]

Hi Simone, last year I went from a 170l Starboard GO (somewhere around 88cm) - on which I surfed for several years because I didn't have many opportunities to go out on the water - to a 125l Tabou Rocket (75.5cm). 72kg myself, and I have had no real difficulties. Of course you will be struggling a bit with gybing/tacking in the beginning and the footwork will require more focus, but if you go out more often like I did this year I think you'll manage just fine. And a big + with your weight: if you don't yet succeed in waterstarting, you can always uphaul your sail on these wider boards

[@simonepinto1388]

@@Schimpy99 Thanks a lot, I'm looking forward to try a new board

[@Aijse]

I recommend renting a couple of boards, so you know what you want.

[@simonepinto1388]

@@Aijse Thanks! There is a center with some not so new boards where I live, but I guess I could try something!

[@Cookiesports]

Good advice already mentioned here is to rent a few boards and test them out to see what you like the feel of! Dropping to the sizes you mention should be achievable for your weight and the sounds of your ability, but no need to rush. A few weeks of good wind on holiday at a test centre and he will change boards and discover what really feels good for you!

[@DidBer]

My personal way out of this problem is (which I have been advised not to get into this 'bad' habit) getting into the back strap first. This is actually impossible on my favorite (goofy) foot positioned firstly right into the back strap as I start planing at port tack out to the open sea on my specifically optimum spot (sometimes I can make it with my regular foot, but mostly not), but then it gets super smooth tacking/jibing back shore at starboard tack... Has anybody got this weird experience?!?=_=😂^_^🎉

[@Cookiesports]

If you’re loving the sport and it’s working for you- crack on… but please don’t offer this around as good advice! 🤣

[@gasgas-ec450f]

Haces unos videos muy buenos, podrías hacer uno en español?

[@Cookiesports]

¡ja ja! mi francés está bien, ¡pero me temo que no hablo español!

[@slickvisualpoetry]

Heck, I get into the foot straps alright. Don't even know, why I watched this one, but again so many little things to pay attention to. I tend to be a "Downwind Dave".

[@Cookiesports]

I hope these videos do work for people at a mixture of levels! Even if people can complete the skills there might be a little hint or tip that will make things easier/smoother/more efficient!

[@Brian_in_Indiana]

As suggested at 0:44, I tried just going for the front foot strap, but it seems like you're much more likely to get pulled over the sail without the back foot strap. Any suggestions for staying on the board without the back foot strap? Video of my attempt at kzbin.info/www/bejne/jmWznap6nMuUsNk

[@Cookiesports]

You look like you’re doing well here… however you seem to be in a squatted/seated stance?! 1. Get a waist harness (which will help with point 3) 2. Get a free-ride board- this is a slalom board right? Technically hard to sail- it’s like me trying to drive an F1 car! Unforgiving brutal speed- the fact your asking these questions tells me you don’t want this board! Try a GO or a Carve, or if your really want the speed (which I don’t think you do) them a futura. 3. Extend your front leg; while dropping you hips out and back- you may have to go up wind a little to do this- the bear away again after. 👍

[@Brian_in_Indiana]

@@Cookiesports Thanks! I'll try that out.

[@selbalamir]

Keep your back foot out of the back footstrap when you’re planing for more leverage to increase upwind range. Swivel your head, body and hips parallel to the board for literally a split second when you want to go into the back strap.

[@Cookiesports]

😎

[@kuntanay2627]

Stand BROAD Period

[@Cookiesports]

🤷‍♂️