The Secret of Forward Loops - Ben Proffitt

Struggling to get your head around Forward loops?
Well, maybe it's time to look at them a different way...
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[@rctrix9063]

I am likely wrong but I tried this and it just caused me to NOT get air and get wrenched out of the foot-straps. Instead I lift the nose with the boom as I hit the wave/chop and the board goes off the wind and I follow, while half sheeted. Following is what I think most people resist and that's why they get confused. Going with the rig could feel like suicide if you have ever been catapulted. Most people have experienced this when learning to windsurf, which gives you a kind of phobia for the sensation. I think the hand at the back of the boom or the twisting motions do anything to help the trick. I may be wrong, please feel free to contradict.

[@WindsurfingTV]

@@rctrix9063 hi mate.. this video is the train body position and the way it moves.. board first.. sail comes across then you catch the board up. It happen fast so it’s super helpful to feel this movement. Then when you start going for forwards properly you don’t get into bad habits. Send me a video of your loops.. then I can see what you’re doing. But you need to go off a wave for this technique when you start. If you are going off chop you will need to push the rig up and release mast foot pressure to get the lift. Then you need the movements in this video.

[@AdrianTregoning]

Ok, so last Friday I had the privilege of joining Ben on a forward loop clinic. It was incredible, I learnt so much! And after 23 years of windsurfing and being afraid of looping (from bad experiences) I have overcome it and in safety. Let me say this clearly, go and do those flare gybes. Work on that movement. It's so vital one cannot say it enough. The board downwind and the rig movement - practice it. Coming from one designs and loads of non-planing in light wind that helped me a great deal and you'll do yourself a massive favour by getting those rig, board and body movements firmly into your mind through repetition.

[@Beric_W]

Hahahaha!! The graphic for "... or maybe your even scared to do them." Gold!

[@davidwillmann-xc9hn]

Nice stuff Ben , you are the best !!! Uplifting , motivating and a great ambassador to our sport of windsurfing !!!

[@tayronachan]

I think I've seen this video about 10 times.

[@TheDavehorse]

I'm gagging to loop. This has given me an insight. I'll be trying soon and hopefully not getting smashed.

[@soulzerosix]

This is essentially the same approach Remko De Weerd was suggesting ages ago. Low consequences method to get familiar with the forces that provide the rotation. You make a very good point about placing yourself as the axis of the rotation, that helps a lot in visualising the move. Although I still haven't taken the time to follow Remko's (and your) advice, I have tried the "big balls" approach and it was scary enough not to persevere for long.

[@WindsurfingTV]

Totally 👌🏻

[@WindsurfingTV]

Main thing is the boards goes off the wind first... then the sail. Just think about where youre pivoting around... the mast base. So if that is out in front of you... or even upwind of you. it's a long way to go in the 'powerzone' (wind in the sail until the clew goes through the eye of the wind) But if that pivot point is downwind of you it is soooo much easier and less scary! (less time in the power zone) So the main aim is to through the board of the wind as quickly as possible (like in a slam gybe) so when you sheet in you have less time in the power zone.

[@tayronachan]

@@WindsurfingTV Board first, got to remember that.

[@WindsurfingTV]

@@tayronachan Problem is it can be interpreted different ways. But maybe sure you have that Gybe forward sorted first.. everything kind of happens together. As it goes fast.. you have to train those body movements so they are automatic and you don't just pull...

[@JoyriderTV]

If i'd seen this about 20 years ago it might have saved a few boards! Nice one!

[@twentyfiveknots]

Ben, thank you for your content. We always love your videos and the way you work with the basics in order to explain the tricky ones!

[@astalavista007uk]

Always good to see your tutorial videos Ben 🫶🤙

[@gasparweb]

Massive thanks Ben for putting heroic effort into teaching the forward loop! I've always been a conservative raider. I nailed the maneuvers after a lengthy process (i.e.: no big balls). So, for me, your approach is great. Also, Graham Ezzy did something similar. But the "body at center, kit around" feels so much natural than those who says, "just pull the boom".

[@speedquestwindsurfing]

Honestly Ben, fantastic. Thanks again and again.

[@c4tubo]

Best explanation of the mechanics of the forward loop: the relationship of the sail and mast to drive the board downwind. It IS a jibe, or more precisely, the complete move is a downwind 360 in the air. Most videos say just jump and sheet in--a great way to faceplant hard.

[@kev-the-windsurfer.]

The timing of this is impeccable!! I am just starting to get my head into the forward loop way of thinking, I'm going to watch this again, and start trying some of these things......Its going to be a hoot!!

[@thomasquemeneur9867]

You're a genius Ben 😄 Thanks !!! Gonna practice it tomorrow. 2022 resolution : landing a clean forward loop and I'd be happy !

[@alexandreguerin-baizeau]

thank you very much Ben for this video, i do forward loop for 2 months and now, my rotations were nice but not like this, now i understand the technique and i will try to do this.

[@lorenzobacci7566]

Firts real good tip after 20 years of bad attempts.Thanks...you are a very good teacher!

[@christophehardy2085]

Really perfect, thanks

[@kristofjarder1300]

Great tipps mate, thank you!!

[@robhruska7611]

Love it. Just started working on the flair gybes with good results. Waiting now on the follow up video. 🤙

[@pauleaton6908]

Cheers Ben. Sounds like I do everything wrong, I broke 3 boards within 2 years of teaching myself to apparently badly forward! I've also had people tell me I do an endo! I just sheet in with the back hand and power round!! I'm gonna have a crack at some flare gybes, see if I can stop cracking boards!!!

[@WindsurfingTV]

Don’t worry fella it’s normal. I broke 8 boards in one year when I thought I learnt forwards. Every so often I would do a planning one.. but had no control and I landed where I landed. When you learn the right technique it’s a different move. Becomes way more fun… and you can go any height you want. Trust me work on the gybe.. board first then sail 👌🏻

[@gregoryschreier6378]

Great tip Ben. I can't wait to try it. Have a great trip to Capetown! Send us a video of your time on the water. Cheers, Greg

[@stormy-storiessurf9210]

Thanks!

[@gilpinacabral]

Nice tip, will try on my next session, hopefully this week!

[@kz237]

Definitely going to give this a try next time we get some conditions.

[@rikiwind9199]

Buen video, gracias Ben !

[@marcosgallodgp]

very nice tips!

[@andrewbetts9855]

‘Disconnecting the hips, lower body around first, then upper body and sail’. That’s a good tip. Do you advocate for sending board down with the legs… or with mast base pressure from the sail being upwind (ala Andy Brandt?)

[@hubebruno]

Super !!!! Thanks a lot !!!!

[@thechippedtoothsurfercts528]

Thanks for this Ben. Going to give it a go today at Westward Ho. Well in my head anyway 😂

[@juuson5818]

Super!

[@deroux]

Nice body drag Ben! You are a Legend!

[@guillaumelacoste9614]

Very good explanations.. as always Ben, I saw you have commented a video by Graham Ezzy on the same topic 🙂

[@jeromemahe3539]

Disconecting the hips and Pushing with the back hand : let s try !

[@lucienlagrange38]

That's what Graham said in one of your video. Just do a couple of those before will help a any stage of learning !

[@sRoGoRs]

Awesome, can practice forward loops on a formula board on lake Travis 😆🤙 Im excited to do my first bit of wave sailing! 🤣

[@stauffap]

You can also do this sort of jibe from planning with a huge spray even on flat water. Just stay in the straps lift the front foot up (Nose up) and put your weight on the backfoot (or lean backwards). It's nice when you get a bit of spray in your face on a hot day ;)

[@ned193]

When the temperature goes up I 'll start working with my whole club.

[@elliotmccreery4619]

finally landing forward loops now! Watching videos of my loops they are more of a big cartwheel loop rather than a spin loop. Any tips for more of a 360 looking loop ?🤙

[@RyanA14]

Thanks, that's helpful, but I don't know how to do a wymaroo which you mention a few times, can you explain the steps for that please. It looks like one does not sheet in?

[@andreslarrain2790]

I love your tutorials. Fantastic. My problem is that I windsurf 90% of the time on small wave pure onshore wind. So I can do decent jump but I have to go really upwind to hit the wave. And it doesn’t seem the easiest way to start for the first forwards. But let’s see if I get inspired when I go abroad.

[@WindsurfingTV]

My first ever try’s were on a lake off the back of the chop… it actually can work really well. Short steep chop is better. As you got to release the board so you really have commit and be aggressive with the rig and board movement. Too slow and the board will stick to the chop. 5:20 - a version of that

[@WindsurfingTV]

@Thomas Svensson pah haha Thomas!!! Depends what technique you want to develop! I'm teaching a certain technique which for me sorts your forwards for life,,, then you can take off anything any time... in control. Same technique as a wave 360... if you tell someone to go upwind then do a forward when they are learning. They will power up as they sheet in and still only be half way through the power zone!!!!... either then... they sh£t themselves and let go...or get too powered up and not be able to sheet in and do a crazy pole vault or hit the mast as they cant rotate. and probably never try again... I'm not sure i'd want too go on your forward loop course!!! haha But feel free to make a video though fella. I'd be happy to watch it and see if what your saying makes sense!

[@WindsurfingTV]

but i hate writing in the comment to technique as they is so much more to explain and understand. It's not as simple as do this and do that... it comes with a few checkpoints and conditions depending on the water state, angle and wind condtions

[@andreslarrain2790]

Thanks guys for the tips. Thanks Ben, I hadn’t thought of hitting the back of the chop. That makes lots of sense. I’ll give it some tries when the water gets back to 10 C. Now I try to minimize the time falling and waterstarting at this time of the year.

[@anthonypmcbride]

Ah bugger - you mean that having just got my 13yo into this awesome sport, I'm gonna have to pull out me own gear again and have another go. Got so close in the '90s.

[@zubererfabien9898]

Super 🙌 coaching I will try it! Very well explain ! Vidéo well explain for the mouvement! Very Nice tips!

[@robertallison1580]

Never mind forwards - I think you've just fixed my flare gybe. Yes, back hand extend, don't pull in!

[@sharewavestv]

Very happy to see the bullseye logo on your sponsor page! Happy new year to you and your team

[@WindsurfingTV]

Well spotted... finally Neilpryde and JP are supporting the channel 😁 ...about time! haha

[@calouledoux1]

it's a good new's !!! we don't need a big ball to do a good foward loop !!!!

[@aqua3890]

omg this 2:14 clip is sooo smooth!!! Where is it from??

[@Hotwire_RCTrix]

To initiate the rotation lift the boom over your head. Everyone who does controlled forwards does this. It only initiates the rotation, then if you don't sheet out you will go around. In a flare jibe you pull down on the mast hand which kills the rotation and will cause the fin to stay in the water or for your feet come out of the straps.

[@Hotwire_RCTrix]

@@WindsurfingTV I would love to get some video of my sailing. 20 years ago a professional photographer did a whole bunch for me after the local surfing even was on hold. No luck since. But about the flare jibe, it was originally a jibe on a board with a centreboard. You tilted the board to windward and it would pivot around the centreboard. The rig was sympathetic but the board did the work. If you do this on a wave board its a bog jibe and you just wheelie the board off the wind. Now consider the sail, off the wind the head of the sail doesn't spill air it is the most influential part of the rig. It wants to rotate and you just need to let it. If you use the whole sail it wants to go end over but if you just use the head it will go around. Thats why you don't have to do anything but get the fin out of the water. When you lift the boom over your head the head of the sail has more leverage. Just relax and go with the rotation. I would rather loop than go straight because it's actually what the gear wants to do. I really like your vlogs. Keep it up.👍

[@ojchilton]

@windsurfing.TV, Hi Ben. I've been looping for years, but have never perfected the planing exit. It is very random when I get a good landing. I sail in the SF Bay and conditions are onshore chop to onshore bay swell. I feel like I'm jumping and getting the board then sail rotation as you describe, but I'm not sure where I should be looking. Do you look forwards, over your shoulder, under your arm? Do you spot the landing? I never see the landing coming. It is all feel for me. Thanks, love the channel.

[@WindsurfingTV]

Do you have any video? As for where to look.. I don’t think it matters too much as long as you getting it towards the back. I look down.. but don’t always look for the landing. When you have the right technique you pretty much float so the landing is much easier

[@jmalina327]

Great video! I tried today but still was landing on my back. The wind and chop/waves were very onshore so was hard to find a ramp that I could initiate the flare off of. Wind should be more side onshore next time hopefully it will go better.

[@WindsurfingTV]

This is just the first stage… you will land on your back! This is to train body movement… and gain you control. after you really have that down. You can start looking at the next stage… Do you have videos of your forwards? If you do send them in..

[@jmalina327]

@@WindsurfingTV unfortunately no, I couldn't find my GoPro last night so no footage from today, but will try to get some footage next time

[@jmalina327]

@@WindsurfingTV I finally landed one and waterstarted out of it in the straps!!! Got a bunch of videos on the gopro (mostly fails) but will share it

[@martinshauer637]

Hi Ben, Great video. I've been trying for over 10 years., can land on my back , but still up wind a little. I'm confused on the hips, I think that might be the key for rig moving around you. Do I want my hips in ,or out for the turn? For some reason very confusing for me. Thanks

[@WindsurfingTV]

Write me on Instagram then I can leave you a voice message 👍🏻

[@apocapocpocapoc1560]

I cannot suscribe 2 times to this channel my friend !...

[@jondwavedancer8700]

Film "Simon Thule" and Malthe Øgelund who are in CT at the mo :-)

[@natkingcol909]

Can you send some wind my way so I can try this?? Pleeeeeeease???

[@user-lj4yt4zt4r]

❤️❤️❤️🙋‍♂️

[@foobar1013]

So its like catapulting in the air? 🤔

[@WindsurfingTV]

Not quite 😁 … but ever time you catapult you should sheet in and push the sail forward 😁

[@deroux]

⛵💨

[@stauffap]

Didn't you steal that tutorial from Remko de Weerd? ;)

[@WindsurfingTV]

Steal? Isn’t that like saying every golf swing video is stolen from Jack Nickolas… everything gets reproduced. The idea is to motivate people to try. Different spins on techniques and presented in different way will happen for years and years! I think it’s funny you class it as stealing… what about carve gybe videos… who were they stolen from? :)

[@stauffap]

@@WindsurfingTV I was kidding. I really enjoy your content and i think you're doing great work. You may have been inspired by Remko though. And Remko might have been inspired by someone else. Who knows? :)

[@WindsurfingTV]

@@stauffap No, but it's an interesting point. I've had quite a few messages saying that. Remko for me did the best video years ago... and more people need to understand the principles of it. Not just put your hand back and sheet in!

[@stauffap]

@@WindsurfingTV I absolutely agree. It makes Spinloops so much safer and easier. And of course Remkos video is a bit out of date and those who need it the most will probably not find it. So obviously it's great that somebody with your reach is teaching this stuff and adding some depth to it.

[@Turbodudedk]

That is one thing, but then sailing 25 knots Huiiii suddenly no balls anymore 😂

[@WindsurfingTV]

😁... but serious question. Can you do what i do in the video? As most people go 'yeah yeah yeah... i can do that' ‘gybe thing’ but when i ask them to show me... 9 times out of 10. They can't make the board go off the wind fast with out the sail.... and then they don't put the sail forward into the postion. This is just the first bit... but get this gybe position mastersed... and i mean throwing it fast like i do on some of them in the video and you will be ready for the next stage! . Remember board first…. When you get the right technique you wont care how fast you are going!

[@Turbodudedk]

@@WindsurfingTV Njaaa it’s the feeling of doing a harness launch on purpose and the mind says No freaking way. I remember my buddy and I trained it, suddenly he launched and was just hey it didn’t hurt and 2 weeks after perfect forwards dammit