Snap Jibe

The Jibe, more or less, is considered the foundation for switching direction in windsurfing. In fact, many sailors only know how to Jibe and have become very polished at this necessary skill. Over time, however, different types of jibes were needed for different conditions. The Snap-Jibe derivative, also known as the Slam-Jibe, evolved to compensate for some of the limitations of standard Jibing; such as losing distance down wind, taking a long time, and requiring a lot of room to complete. In particular, the Snap-Jibe is used often in wave sailing because this maneuver offers a sudden and predictable change of direction in front of the wave face.
Step 1 instruction for Snap Jibe
Step 2 instruction for Snap Jibe
Step 3 instruction for Snap Jibe
Step 4 instruction for Snap Jibe
Step 5 instruction for Snap Jibe
Step 6 instruction for Snap Jibe
Step 7 instruction for Snap Jibe
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Rider: Royn Bartholdi

Steps

Tips for step 1)  Unhook and get out of the foot straps. To reduce your speed, head a little upwind and slightly sheet out.
Tips for step 2)  Move the back hand farther back on the boom and place the back foot behind the footstrap. Sheet out and press the backfoot down into the water on the inside rail.
Tips for step 3)  Sit back (lowering your hips toward the water) while leaning leeward. The idea is to get the nose of the board out of the water so you can pivot on the tail of the board. Sheet in again. Notice my body is in an arc position to counterbalance the momentum of the rig.
Tips for step 4)  Let the nose of the board drop leeward. Pull in with your arms to keep some weight over the board. Keep sheeting in to support your body weight as the tail sinks in the water.
Tips for step 5)  Let the nose of the board drop leeward. Pull in with your arms to keep some weight over the board. Keep sheeting in to support your body weight as the tail sinks in the water.
Tips for step 6)  Straighten out the sail and let the wind power pull you out of the water and vertical. Control the sail by sheeting in or out with the mast hand and by keeping your body weight down toward the water.
Tips for step 7)  Rotate sail once you are stabilized.
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Helpful Skills

Clew-First sailing... Good jibe... Jibing when slogging...

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Tips

Learn how to spray water by stamping on the back foot.


Ideas

  • Clew-First-Snap-Jibe!
  • Try an early sail rotation.
  • Try the Aerial-Snap-Jibe.