Joanna James
So, you are finally off on that tropical beach vacation; the Bahamas, Hawaii or Maldives? No matter where, you must be hankering to try your hand at windsurfing; especially if it's the beautiful Maldivian archipelago blessed with windy lagoons. Here are some basic tips to enhance your skills.
If you are a beginner and are planning on windsurfing in slightly less, well, windy locations, a large board is best. You will find this handy when winds die down and you need to make your way back. The downside of a large board is you lack the ability to make sharp turns, however the range of the board can be adjusted by altering the size of your fin. Many places like Naladhu Private Island Maldives, rent out windsurfing boards which is perfect, for you to keep changing sizes as you skills increase. Choose a popular Maldives luxury hotel for the best facilities.
Longer lines opposed to shorter ones, which many people seem to use, offer a range of benefits. Longer lines give you more leverage, especially if there is a change in the wind, chances of you getting pulled and flung in the water are less if you are using lines longer than 18 inches; a 30 inch line comes recommended and if you are not a professional at windsurfing, is a pretty good tip to follow.
If you are surfing in rough water and are still trying to get the hang of jibing, remember that having your legs too straight will hamper your flexibility. By getting down as low as you can, you can make sure your knees are unlocked, thus helping to keep the board on course. Therefore, the correct technique is to get down as low as possible, bend your knees and straighten your arms; the perfect stance to carve through those turns.
The best part, about windsurfing is the jumps which seasoned surfers seem to handle with so much ease. Your jump can be as high as you want, just make sure to stay centred on the board. Avoid leaning too far out on the water. Start looking for the perfect ramp about 15 or 20 feet ahead of you and once you hit it, spring with your entire body, do this by pulling in your arms and compressing your legs; basically, you must try sucking in your arms and legs towards the centre of your body and face that chop full on.
In other words follow your head; and keep a look out to where you want to go, keep in mind that the body will always follow the head, hence, by focusing on what lays ahead of you, your body will automatically perform the manoeuver to get you there. To maintain your speed, look for a downhill type of route and stick to a smooth jibe. Treat the chops like they are mini mountains, using the down-side to whizz down and gather-up speed.
Good luck!
A true believer that the pen is a mighty weapon, ventures into reaching the minds of every reader with the earnest hope of leaving an indelible stream of thought.
A travel writer who has a passion for fashion and a deep interest in admiring new and exotic attractions around the world.
