Gybing with a directional

[yojimbo]

Thanks for all the info guys. I am also grappling with how to deal with the area around my front foot strap.
The board came with minimal grip pad around the front foot strap, so the board is totally slippery around that area.

I was thinking of either waxing that area or putting some grip tape on it. Any recommendations?

[adamrod]

you can buy traction pads which stick on....longboard traction pads should work...

you can also wax it, but that gets messy and the wax melts in the hot sun

[dewey]

One other thing I learned on Thursday. It's WAY easier with booties or water shoes on. I tried bare footed on Thursday and could not believe how much harder it was.

I was also talking to some people on the beach yesterday and was told to try and carve toe side and pop your feet around . I heard it needs to be pretty quick. I'm going to try it today. What's the worse that could happen, I fall off?

Be warned today if kiting at Sherman. I plan on falling alot!

[yojimbo]

I am also getting the idea that gybing may not be totally essential. What seems to be more important is that you can ride toeside after you gybe.

So you head out into the surf, when you get to the outside you gybe, but come back in toeside. Actually performing a complete gybe out in a wind chopped ocean way increases the level of difficulty, increasing the likelihood that you will wipe out.

So it is basically heelside, toeside, heelside toeside, and so on. I have yet to go out into the ocean, but this is the read I am getting from what I have seen. Please correct me if I am wrong.

The other thing I think I am understanding is that a downwinder is essential in dialing in your turns. A Dillon downwinder to be more specific.

[timwim1]

Thank for some great advice,

I looks much easier than it actually is...

I found this video that explains some what was described above...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eJ-Zyt6deSg

Anyhow, practice practice and practice some more it what I found...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZNZ5TmgZQxM

This video shows what with lots more practice what is possible

tim