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WindHut Windsurfing Instruction Corner

Chop Hop

Rider - Bob Hoekstra

Tips - Bob Hoekstra


Just like any other jump there are 3 phases in a Chop Hop

  1. Take off
  2. Flying
  3. ( a hopefully soft) Landing

Although you can basically jump with a windsurf board on totally flat water it helps to use a bit of chop as a small ramp to get airborn. This little movie was shot in a place with little windwaves only, meaning that in order to use a small chop you need to steer upwind a bit to catch it as windwaves tend to go the same direction as the wind.

Take off

Unhook and keep sail sheeted in completely using body tension. (eventually put sailing hand a little back on the boom before unhooking like in Carve Jibe).

Very shortly before the nose of the board hits the chop bring your body over the middle of the board while maintining ressure on the back foot.

When the nose of the board hits the chop push the tail of the board down hard by giving full pressure on the back foot , at the same time lift the board out of the water with your front foot to get aiborn.

Important (!!) after take off immediately pull up your back foot to your bum as much as possible

Flight phase

To get maximum airtime two things are important to create additional lift.

  1. Tilt the board to leeward by pressing on your toes (both feet) so the wind can catch under the board
  2. Keep the sail sheeted in by bringing your back hand to your back foot (which should be under your bum) as if you were doing chin ups

Landing

As we go for a tail first landing to save board , knees and ankles all we need to do is stretch out the back leg to absorb the shock of landing. Hook in and hold on again , aiming for the next piece from the chop shop .

Tips and tricks

  • The more powerful the take off (body tension/ kicking hard on the tail) the higher and longer you will stay in the air , of course stay sheeted in completely ! and try to keep small and compact once airborn
  • Not bringing the back foot under your behind will almost certainly lead to a spin out when landing as the fin gets too much sideward pressure. Having the back foot as much as possible under your bum means the pressure on the fin comes from above , no spin out !
  • “ the only way is up “ & “what goes up must come down “ , nice !!!

    • Tips - Bob Hoekstra

    Chop Hop - Rider: Bob Hoekstra - added 03-05-2007

    size (MB) length (min) format download time (min)
    4.87 0:39 wmv 03:30 approx on 512 dsl
    download