Switch Stance Kono

Switch Stance Quick Launch:

I saw the always amiable Rob Warwick in the Gorge and the stoic Norman Gunlein in Jeri perform this trick. What a fun looking maneuver! My first thoughts were it had elements of the carving 360 (the staying in the straps variation) and the Wymeroo: a fusion of the two moves if you will. I did not have much success while in Jeri but I learned the maneuver in the Gorge by using the river's swell to get in the switch stance and backwinded position.

Rider: Royn Bartholdi

Steps
Videos
Prerequisites
Ideas

1) Start this maneuver like a carving 360 by making a smooth arch down some swell. This is the easiest way to enter the move. The important points to remember are BOARD SPEED and GOOD SETUP. If you carve to acutely then your board speed will drop.

2) Now continue your carve toward the top of the ramp. It helps to reach the front hand a little forward on the boom.

3) Keep your weight forward on the front rail. For you wave sailors, this section of the maneuver feels a little like making a bottom turn. Remember SPEED is your friend. Notice my body is out over the sail.

4) The board is about 300 degrees out of 360 and I am loading up the sail for the jump. The frames don't show this section very well because it is an explosive gesture.

5) Throw the boom above your head ( into the sky ) and jump at the same time. Notice my body is extened trying to get as high as possible. You make or break the move righ here. And here is the BIG tip: PUSH OUT WITH THE BACK HAND as you throw it above your head.

6) Once in the air, the momentum takes over with everything rotating around the mast base. The carving board speed along with your sheeted out high jump will cause your rig to rotate.

7) Ditto. Hang on for the ride.

8) As the sail rotates around you will begin a transition into sheeting in with the back hand and pulling the heels under your butt. This happens pretty naturally in high winds but in lighter winds you will need to exagerate the ending.

9) Push the front hand forward to get over the center line of the board and to get the sail as vertical as you can.

10) Here is the landing. This one is a bit wet because you are going tail first in the water. As you get better then they will be less wet and you will actually slide backwards. I will try to get some video of me nailing better ones. Either way, this is the move and it is great fun. watch the video to see the comprehensive fluidity to the maneuver.

11) Sail Away.

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This is the baseline Switch Kono (easiest to learn) using the swell to not only get in the switch position but also aid the maneuver by providing a ramp for popping the board. No doubt,this will be become a staple maneuver in the Gorge, much like a Shove-It and Loop. Royn Bartholdi, Arlington, The Gorge 4.5m sail, 83L wave board.

Prerequisites

Laydown Jibe | Carving 360 (In the Straps ) | Backwinded Sailing | Wymeroo is helpful | Good pop with the board

ideas

On really windy days I have over-rotated this maneuver so much that I think it is possible to huck a forward at the end of this move.