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The One Handed Spock
This month we are looking at moving on from the Vulcan and doing a one handed variation of the spock. Trying one-handed spocks actually taught me to spock properly so even if you’ve not done a two-handed spock, this article may well help you achieve that elusive 360 jump and slide!
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You will require the latest Flash Player for the clip above:
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PRACTICE
- Long slidey vulcans – both ways
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Heli tack competence in light and strong winds will really help your spocking!!! So heli tacks – both ways. For example, if you can only vulcan on starboard tack then make sure your port tack helicopter skills rule.
- Also learn one-handed heli tacks.
FUNDAMENTALS
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Look where you want to go – Look behind you as soon as you take off to make the board rotate and continue to look over your shoulder all the way round. Keep looking forwards as you collect the rig. The head is very important!!!!!
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Stay over the board – Keep centered to get the nose down which initiates a good slide.
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Keep the mast away – Having distance from the rig will enable you to lean into it and enjoy the slide thereby preventing you from getting dumped by it.
KEY STAGES
- Popping the board and getting it round
- Getting the hands in position and sliding through
- Rotating the sail and collecting it
As in all moves your aim is to conquer each stage in succession and then progress onto the next stage. As each stage becomes proficient you can then concentrate on the key points of the next phase.
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POPPING THE BOARD AND GETTING IT AROUND
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Come over the board ready to pop with the front hand moved forward.
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Pop the board from a downwind course and on flat water. Push down throught the toes and the back foot and pull up on the front hand and front leg. Aim to rotate further round so their is alot more gusto than in the vulcan, this will decrease the amount you have to slide through.
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Look behind you. Drop the back hand off the boom and pull the front arm across the body, keeping the mast tight to the chest. Think fast hands. The new front reaches to the new side as the boom is drawn tight across your body. Keep your weight forward over the front foot and toeside with the back leg tucked up.
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GETTING THE HANDS IN POSITION AND SLIDING THROUGH |
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On a full broad reach now with
a light rig. Front hand releases and crosses
over to THE BACK OF THE BOOM, whilst back
hand tilts rig towards nose of the board. Keep
looking forward as back of boom comes
to you
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That free hand can now transfer and go on to the boom. Keep the mast away by extending your new front hand. Keep looking over your shoulder to assist in taking you where you want to go. Try to straighten the back leg to bring your weight forward over the bent front leg.
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The heels are beginning to be weighted at this point, so the board can slide without the rail catching. You can point at the camera and look as silly as me or nonchalantly drop your hand to keep the leading shoulder down, de rigueur for many sporting moves. The front arm is extending to keep the mast away and take the rig forwards.
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Lean into the sail now as your front arm directs the rig towards the nose in readiness for the sail rotation. With your front hand down the boom you have the maximum distance from the mast and therefore the most power over the rig. |
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ROTATING THE SAIL AND COLLECTING IT |
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The rig continues forward as you start to bring in those heli tack skills. A bit of work with the hips leaning into the sail assists in getting the sail forward and round as the body turns and follows through.
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Aim for a big sweep with the rig around the nose, really extending the front arm.
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Let the rig swing back over the tail and keep the board flat with your weight over the front foot. Aim to slide your front hand up to the mast to ease the last bit of the rig rotation.
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Finish the rotation off by pulling the mast forward and to windward, whilst keeping the body position low. Looking forwards will ensure a smooth rotation and a flat board.
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View video of this move:
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Get the board flat and power the rig up and off you go.
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- Try to crouch down as low as possible on the new tack and let the sail flip off your back.
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HANDS CHRISTIAN ANDERSON
This article may see die hard freestylers strongly contest the hand movements required for this move. So its basically up to you, there are options;
1) Boom to boom to boom, as seen here, pretty cool.
2) Boom to mast to boom, can be easier and widely exhibited by many great stylers.
3) Boom to boom via hands free, very cool in a Josh Stone and Chris Audsley styley.
I suppose thats why it’s called freestyle, and it will at least prompt some good beach and bar discusions / arguments / abuse.
FAULT ANALYSIS
- Take a downwind course
- Go for an over cooked vulcan
- Move those hands fast whilst keeping your weight forward
- Old back hand to new front hand leaving old front hand spare
- Keep your weight forward and looking over your leading shoulder
- Spare hand goes down the boom towards the lines
- Point / drop your spare arm as you slide
- Extend your arm forwards and towards the nose as the heel weighting increases
- Rotate the rig around the nose and then back to the tail
- Look forward as you collect the rig
Have it and good luck!
Help is at hand for this and many more moves from simple to sublime. Get yourself on to an overseas clinic with Jem and let him unlock your potential. www.jemhall.com
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John Skye K-57
“I try to keep my mast upright throughout the whole manouver. If your mast starts to lean to the side, you are likely to loose balance and end up wet!”
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Ben Proffitt K-800
“Get your weight back – leaning back as you flip the sail. This stops you being pushed forward as the sail flips off your back.”
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