CUT-OUTS
KK “Most modern slalom boards these days have cut-outs. I don’t think many riders actually know what they do. Some say they are to help release water. Some say to help gybing or going faster but it is something that works. To me it looks like they make the water release. If they are too big they make you spin out! They are a part of modern board shapes while the older boards used to have more of a tail kick.”
FM “It’s the terminology used for the back end of the boards! These days they are really complicated and intricate. They release the pressure on the wetted surface area on the back end of the board. As the sails have become more stable, the cut-outs have become more open.”
BVDS “All the back of the windsurf boards these days have a piece of board cut away at the back. The boards are so big in the tail, if you did not have the cut outs then the board would stick to the water! They are to create release on the board. If they are too big you can go out of control and it will be hard to plane.”
FR “In a board, that is when you dig into the shape at the back to make the board more alive!”
IN SEQUENCE
FM “Once a race has started at the red flag we go into sequence, which is four minutes before the start.”
BVDS “When the start procedure is running when the red flag goes up!”
FR “Ahh that is when we are within four minutes before the start of a race.”
LIFTED
KK “This happens quite often. Our boards and fins today are so powerful that every now and then they rear up and lift out of control. That is called being lifted.”
FM “We all get lifted once in a while. It may be when you have too big equipment and the wind hits you, normally these days the fin can hit you out of the water. You don’t really tail walk so much anymore. Everything comes out of the water, it can be a bit scary!”
BVDS “When you get too much wind in your sail and the whole equipment just flies out of the water! It can be in strong and light winds.”
SPITTING THE DUMMY
FM “Getting upset! It happens, I’ve thrown the toys out of the pram a few times!”
BVDS “No idea! I have never heard of that! (laughs). Ok, that happens when we are racing on the wind minimum!”