What’s your tips on pumping upwind ?
Where I struggle the most is when I’m pumping upwind while SUP surfing in onshore/sideshore conditions. I can’t figure out the good technique and I just muscle it trough until my legs gives up. Pumping upwind sucks but I"m sure that there’s an efficient way of doing it. How do you do it ?
Thanks in advance!
I pretty much can’t do it. Its actually pretty amazing to me that 10knots of wind (far less than I could parawing in) is enough to make it fairly easy to pump with the wind and almost impossible to go very long into the wind.
Pumping into the wind is a pain but it can be easier if there are small bumps. I find if I can time my pump with the wind swell bumps it’s about 90 per cent easier. That being said you maybe pumping in proper swell not the wind swell we get, so this may not apply.
I often have to contend with 10-15 knot upwinds at my dock start spot. I’m still experimenting, but what reglularly helps is shifting my stance/center of weight forward a hair. I also will increase my pump cadence and make sure I’m only doing micro taps. I’m usually just trying to skate above stall speed without wasting energy.
I’m on the fence on mast height. Higher on mast usually takes much more effort here and I take a wind hit. If I can stay above stall at mid mast I often just chill here. I don’t do all the time, but I’ve also had success with oscillating a bit, two pumps to gain a bit of height, two pumps to spend a little for speed. You run the risk of getting to low on mast in a headwind though.
there’s no real secrets to pumping into the wind, it’s hard. exit with speed and hit the gas fast and hard when you start pumping, once you slow down you’re likely not speeding back up so Take as much speed as you can get and hold onto it for as long as you can. other than that, good technique, know how much glide you have so you’re not over pumping, stay high, project forward and control your breathing if you need to go far.
I size up on the front wing and then try pumping more aerodynamically. less with the upper body facing forward and more with your feet and shoulders in alignment to slice through the wind.
When I have to pump against the wind I focus on timing my pumps to the upwards face of on coming waves and if they are the right size it makes it about 50% less effort.
I also turn my back foot more forwards and pump harder with some bend in my hips. I can only do about 90 sec though before I gas out.
Thanks everyone, I’ll definitely try every tips. I’ll try to remember to post back when I’m going to have more of an opinion on all the techniques. But to be fair, my fitness is probably the limiting factor here.
So far I have :
Right! Plus, you definitely feel the aerodynamics of the board while pumping upwind (and downwind to a lesser degree). Pumping upwind is way easier on a pumpfoil board > parawing board > SUP.
There is the anticipation factor that really helps me for those windy days. When I start a session and winds starts to pick up, that is usually when surfers tend to leave the spots but there is a fairly good amount of time to have a fun…If you know your constraints well. Predominant wind direction, wind speed estimation before entering the water.
Chosing a take off with wind in your back if possible.
When engaging the turn, anticipate the head wind. Try to pump cross-wind with a efficient pump, high on mast as long as possible. Engage the second gear.
To finalise the turn, that’s when the wind force is right in your face, engage the third gear -before- by moving weight forward, deep pump until you can catch a bump and relax. It’s being concious of where you are and which direction you are heading to.
Sizing up the foil is always something I consider when I know it will be hard pumping. It makes a big difference.
Then last be not least, the point of non-return when the breeze is in. Accepting that your session ends up a downwind fun.