Air?

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Air?; how to?
Topic Started: May 4 2008, 02:46 PM (370 Views)
mikej	May 4 2008, 02:46 PM Post #1
Advanced Member Posts: 58 Group: Squad Member #886 Joined: September 24, 2007	Hey, How might you go about gettin an arial on a wave, do you need to throw the boat up at the top of the wave or just get enough speed through the bottom turn to lift off at the top? or is there somthing different you need to do altogether? thanks, michael
	Michael Johnson


surfkayaks.com	May 6 2008, 06:25 PM Post #2
Advanced Member Posts: 110 Group: Members Member #43 Joined: June 30, 2005	Just change your name to Harvey, Hobson or Bason. Simple



mikej	May 6 2008, 06:28 PM Post #3
Advanced Member Posts: 58 Group: Squad Member #886 Joined: September 24, 2007	:lol: Thats some great advice there lol
	Michael Johnson


Harry	May 6 2008, 08:18 PM Post #4
Advanced Member Posts: 1,288 Group: Admin Member #1 Joined: May 9, 2004	Good question. I'm not great at getting air but I had a few small successes. Having said that I have looked at this manoeuvre a lot from a coaching point of view and I always ask those that are good at it for their opinions, when I get the chance. Unfortunately there's no short answer or quick fix, as getting air takes a lot of wave knowledge, surfing ability and a fair degree of commitment which all take time to build up. On the other hand, you could say it's just a top turn that breaks free of the top of the wave. Best bet is to find some video of people getting air and have a good look at it. http://www.waveski.info/nuke/index.php has a video player running in the top right hand corner of every page with some pretty impressive footage. Or any Sub Graviti waveski film will have countless airs for you to analyse. What I see is a set sequence of movements that the top paddlers go through when going airborne and you can see it repeated again and again (with slight variations) on the videos mentioned above. It's possible to break down this sequence into separate parts or movements which can be practised individually, hopefully making it easier to add it all together for the real thing. There are plenty of paddling/surfing exercises that you can do to build up your aerial ability but timing and reading the wave are key ingredients and it's hard to get good at that without lots of surfing. Finally you really need to be confident in your boat and not mind getting trashed in the learning process. Hope that helps, Harry



Jonny	May 6 2008, 11:14 PM Post #5
me new horse Posts: 837 Group: Squad Member #14 Joined: March 16, 2005	Need loads of speed, good timing, the right sort of a lip/takeoff ramp and a controlled method of landing it. Remember exit airs look and feel good but they are exit airs!



marty	May 7 2008, 07:32 PM Post #6
Advanced Member Posts: 24 Group: Members Member #42 Joined: June 22, 2005	Have a look at the clip of welsh waveskier Jem Howe.



Harry	May 7 2008, 08:00 PM Post #7
Advanced Member Posts: 1,288 Group: Admin Member #1 Joined: May 9, 2004	Great Example Marty. This illustrates the sequence of movements I was talking about and Jonny's points of speed, timing and the right wave shape. But what I really like is the way he is surfing the wave as well, not just tracking along looking for the one big manoeuvre, and of course he lands it - top stuff I think it's fair to say that this isn't the easiest way to get air either (bottom turn and hit the lip of the shoulder you're travelling away from). I'd say most people get their first airs launching off a section that's coming towards them. Any other tips from those that are good at getting air would be really appreciated. Thanks, Harry



mikej	May 7 2008, 08:15 PM Post #8
Advanced Member Posts: 58 Group: Squad Member #886 Joined: September 24, 2007	hey thanks for the advice the vid on youtube looks really good. thanks, michael
	Michael Johnson


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