Sport Today

by **Howard & Jayne Ferguso** » Wed, 23 Aug 2000 04:00:00

I was taught to adjust the footstraps so your toes showed when
placing the foot in the strap. After sailing for a number of years
my philosophy on that matter has changed. To me loose is
better. So loose that you curl your toes upward to maintain the
pressure needed to control the board. Releasing this upward
pressure ensures your feet will always come out of the straps.
And on those jibes when you tend to keep the foot in the strap
a bit too long, less pressure is put on the foot at its awkward
angle. Anyone else do the same?

by **Mike** » Wed, 23 Aug 2000 04:00:00

Yes. Robby tried it, for better board control. Injured his foot badly next
time out.

I presume you're suggesting we just put the foot in very loosely, but after
a couple of jumps my front foot is jammed in as far as it will go, waiting
to be snapped when I crash if the straps are loose enough to ride up over my
arch.

The experienced folks are welcome to try anything and assume the risk; I'd
hate for any newbies to try this in ignorance of the risks. The risks could
be reduced by glueing a wedge in front of the front straps to stop the foot
from going in too far. These wedges, called Toe Jams, were available
commercially at one time.

Mike \m/
To reply directly, remove the SpamDam.

Quote:

> I was taught to adjust the footstraps so your toes showed when
> placing the foot in the strap. After sailing for a number of years
> my philosophy on that matter has changed. To me loose is
> better. So loose that you curl your toes upward to maintain the
> pressure needed to control the board. Releasing this upward
> pressure ensures your feet will always come out of the straps.
> And on those jibes when you tend to keep the foot in the strap
> a bit too long, less pressure is put on the foot at its awkward
> angle. Anyone else do the same?

by **Den Fo** » Wed, 23 Aug 2000 04:00:00

Yes, must confess that I do. However a loose footstrap can allow your foot
too far in, which can position your foot away from its optimum position on
the rail (talking flattish water free rides etc here aren't we?), and it
could allow your foot to jam completely. But if you are aware of all this,
which no doubt you are, then why not make yourself comfortable. I'd keep
our little confession away from the learners though, don't you agree?

Den

Quote:

> I was taught to adjust the footstraps so your toes showed when
> placing the foot in the strap. After sailing for a number of years
> my philosophy on that matter has changed. To me loose is
> better. So loose that you curl your toes upward to maintain the
> pressure needed to control the board. Releasing this upward
> pressure ensures your feet will always come out of the straps.
> And on those jibes when you tend to keep the foot in the strap
> a bit too long, less pressure is put on the foot at its awkward
> angle. Anyone else do the same?

by **Chris Schefle** » Wed, 23 Aug 2000 04:00:00

I recently read the same thing Mike. If your foot goes in further than where
just your toes are sticking out, you risk breaking your foot.

I've got mine loose because it's all I can do just to find the rear strap and
get my foot in it, and come to think of it in my hook 'n foot lesson the
instructor made my straps as loose as they would go on the lesson board, but I
suppose I should tighten mine up.

Not that it matters at the moment. 4th day with no wind in the Gorge.
Actually, the wind is perfect for me at Stevenson today, 18mph, but going the
wrong way (E). With both current AND wind pushing me in the same direction,
there's no way in hell I'd ever get back to the launch!

Quote:

> Yes. Robby tried it, for better board control. Injured his foot badly next
> time out.

> I presume you're suggesting we just put the foot in very loosely, but after
> a couple of jumps my front foot is jammed in as far as it will go, waiting
> to be snapped when I crash if the straps are loose enough to ride up over my
> arch.

> The experienced folks are welcome to try anything and assume the risk; I'd
> hate for any newbies to try this in ignorance of the risks. The risks could
> be reduced by glueing a wedge in front of the front straps to stop the foot
> from going in too far. These wedges, called Toe Jams, were available
> commercially at one time.

> Mike \m/
> To reply directly, remove the SpamDam.

> > I was taught to adjust the footstraps so your toes showed when
> > placing the foot in the strap. After sailing for a number of years
> > my philosophy on that matter has changed. To me loose is
> > better. So loose that you curl your toes upward to maintain the
> > pressure needed to control the board. Releasing this upward
> > pressure ensures your feet will always come out of the straps.
> > And on those jibes when you tend to keep the foot in the strap
> > a bit too long, less pressure is put on the foot at its awkward
> > angle. Anyone else do the same?

by **(Pete Cresswell** » Wed, 23 Aug 2000 04:00:00

RE/

Quote:

>I recently read the same thing Mike. If your foot goes in further than where
>just your toes are sticking out, you risk breaking your foot.

Having size 15's and high arches, this issue is near and dear to my heart.

Setting the straps really, REALLY loose lets me get my feet (especially the rear
foot) in far enough so my heels don't drag in the water as much.

www.Foot-Saver.com solved the safety problem for me.
-----------------------
Pete Cresswell

by **christophe antonof** » Thu, 24 Aug 2000 04:00:00

I had the problem of heels dragging in the water on my Vivace,
so I set my footstrap loose. As a result I had a torn ankle during the
next session...
So I tightened them enough to have only the toes out of the straps and
practiced
a lot my riding position. Now it's no more a problem, as I point my toes
my
heels are no more dragging. Only the second I put my back foot in
generates
sometimes water slashes.

Christophe

Quote:

> RE/
> >I recently read the same thing Mike. If your foot goes in further than where
> >just your toes are sticking out, you risk breaking your foot.

> Having size 15's and high arches, this issue is near and dear to my heart.

> Setting the straps really, REALLY loose lets me get my feet (especially the rear
> foot) in far enough so my heels don't drag in the water as much.

> www.Foot-Saver.com solved the safety problem for me.
> -----------------------
> Pete Cresswell

-

by **Rollthedice** » Sat, 26 Aug 2000 10:37:33

Life sucks if you don't have your health. I just recently destroyed my feet
with straps that were too loose but don't twist at all. Add that to a race
board going 30-35 mph in choppy water and you've got a recipe for serious foot
injury. In fact, I'm limping right now with a foot that's so swollen, I'm
worried I may have fractured it. Err on being safe. It's worth it!

by **Tom McClellan** » Sat, 26 Aug 2000 04:00:00

Its a tricky one,

Peter Hart says don't risk breaking your ankle with a too-loose strap, and
his advice is usually excellent.

I bought a Mistral V170 last year, and with the straps outboard unless I
have them loose my heels are dragging in the water, but my problem is
probably bad technique.

Regards

Tom

by **Wolfgang Soerge** » Sat, 26 Aug 2000 04:00:00

Quote:

> I was taught to adjust the footstraps so your toes showed when
> placing the foot in the strap. After sailing for a number of years
> my philosophy on that matter has changed. To me loose is
> better. So loose that you curl your toes upward to maintain the
> pressure needed to control the board. Releasing this upward
> pressure ensures your feet will always come out of the straps.
> And on those jibes when you tend to keep the foot in the strap
> a bit too long, less pressure is put on the foot at its awkward
> angle. Anyone else do the same?

I'd still say that the old rule to set them so that a bit more than the
big toe shows on the other side is the best choice for fla***er sailing
overall. Good control, easy to get out, safe. For serious b&j or
wavesailing, especially jumps where the board is twisted / moved in the
air (off the lips, loops, volcans, whatever), many prefer them a bit
wider so that the foot sits deeper, is not released as easily but gives
better board control and less risk of accidently coming out. The
downside is a higher risk of ankle and knee injuries due to getting
worked while the foot is still in. Not too uncommon among professionals
but they probabely often would get hurt with tight straps as well. So
it's a choice you have to make.
But: To me it seems you've set the straps VERY loose. Besides the
reduced control (if i have to curl my toes upward i'm no longer
comfortably sailing along and in full control) there is the risk that in
case of a fall or bad landing after a jump your foot slips into the
strap completely, past the ankle, especially if you wear booties. Very
*** and injury prone. I'd not recommend anyone to set the straps that
loose.
--
Wolfgang

by **Bart Driesse** » Mon, 28 Aug 2000 04:00:00

Quote:

> RE/
> >I recently read the same thing Mike. If your foot goes in further than where
> >just your toes are sticking out, you risk breaking your foot.

> Having size 15's and high arches, this issue is near and dear to my heart.

> Setting the straps really, REALLY loose lets me get my feet (especially the rear
> foot) in far enough so my heels don't drag in the water as much.

> www.Foot-Saver.com solved the safety problem for me.
> -----------------------
> Pete Cresswell

I suffer from the same problem (size 14/15). Help from my surf-collegues was not
really useful ('Don't use the board, but put the sail between your toes...'). I
started opening the straps at max., but realised this results in a kind of
'backlash' between your feet and the board. Now I tightened them again, and when I
get into the straps, the first seconds my heels are dragging in the water. During
this period I try to push my feet further in. If my speed increases, the problem
gets less serious automatically.

Greetings,
Bart

by **Mike** » Mon, 28 Aug 2000 04:00:00

When on a board on which my front heels drag, I pivot my front foot more in
line with the board's axis. That's usually good enough for my petite size
12s. If I buy a buard with two rear straps, which is rarely, I convert it to
a single strap setup. Again, that's good enough for my 12s even on my
smallest board. I also open up the rear strap to admit more foot because
that foot releases more easily than the front feet.

Mike \m

by **(Pete Cresswell** » Tue, 29 Aug 2000 09:28:56

RE/

Quote:

>That's usually good enough for my petite size
>12s

I'd mortgage my house for size 12s.
-----------------------
Pete Cresswell

Sport Today

Footstrap tightness ... loose is better?

Footstrap tightness ... loose is better?

Footstrap tightness ... loose is better?

Footstrap tightness ... loose is better?

Footstrap tightness ... loose is better?

Footstrap tightness ... loose is better?

Footstrap tightness ... loose is better?

Footstrap tightness ... loose is better?

Footstrap tightness ... loose is better?

Footstrap tightness ... loose is better?

Footstrap tightness ... loose is better?

Footstrap tightness ... loose is better?

Footstrap tightness ... loose is better?