Jumping the board is getting the entire board in the air, including the fin, and returning it back to the water. Unless you only sail in flat water conditions, this phenomenon is probably going to happen to you whether you want to jump or not.
Jumping is a natural progression in windsurfing and is a skill that only comes with practice. Usually the beginner will complain of spinning out when they jump because they have not yet learned how to jump. In addition, becoming a good jumper is a necessary skill to learn other maneuvers. For example, I see many sailors who try to learn Vulcans but they were not very skilled at jumping so they had difficulty learning the trick. Last but not least, jumping is just downright fun!
Once the sailor has learned how to jump, low and behold, the limbs start being removed from their proper place. The first to be lifted is the hand and thus we have the Hand Wave, Front Hand Rail Grab, and the Rear Hand Rail Grab. Removing both hands is the No Hand Jump or sometimes called the Monkey Jump. Why not a foot? When the foot is removed then you have a One Footed Jump. And finally, perhaps you guessed, removing a hand and foot is The One Leg, 1 arm Jump
Tweeked jumps include the Nose Landing, the Head Layback and the Clew Forward jumps.
Nose Landing Jump: | Landing a jump with the nose hitting the water first (before the tail). Most jumps land tail first but a more advanced, controlled and smoother landing is when the nose of the board scoops into the water. This implies bearing off the wind. |
1 Handed Jump: | Letting go of the boom with the front hand and extending your arm while at the peack of your jump. The extended arm (hand wave) can be any direction including above your head or below the board. This implies staying hooked into the harness line. |
Head Lay Back Jump: | Throwing the head back and lifting your hips up toward the sky at the peak of the jump so your head is upside down, lower than the board, and your are looking behind you. |
Front Arm Rail Grab Jump: | Letting go of the boom with the front hand and grabbing the rail of the board while in the middle of a jump. This implies staying hook into the harness line. |
Rear Arm Rail Grab Jump: | Letting go of the boom with the rear hand and grabbing the rail of the board while in the middle of a jump. This implies staying hook into the harness line. |
No Handed Jump: | Letting go of both hands during a jump.Sometimes called the monkey jump when both hands are extended behind you. |
One Legged Jump : | Jumping and taking the front foot out of the foot strap and extending the leg down and away from the board while lifting the tail of the board toward your chest. Replace the foot into the strap before landing. |
1-Leg, 1-Hand Jump: | Letting go of the boom with the front hand and taking the front foot out of the footstrap and extending the leg while jumping. |
Clew 1st Jump: | Jumping the board while sailing clew first. |