56651_Salus_Ads:Layout 1 12/19/07 8:10 AM Page 1
technique
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Carly Harris
P
hoto Rick Ma
THroW MASSiVE BLunTS
TYler FOx www.salusmarine.com
To throw massive blunts that even Bob Marley would be afraid of, first check
out the wave’s dynamics to locate its unique sweet spot and launch pad.
The sweet spot is the place at or near the top of the wave where you can set
up to get momentum down the face. The launch pad is the area of the wave
that you use to release your edge and pop into the air. Depending on the
wave type this could be the flat, hard water at the base of the wave, a steep
shoulder on either side or the lip of a vertical pitch or step in the wave.
When you accelerate down the wave from your sweet spot, you need to
bury an edge to set up for a huge launch. There are two ways to do this: I
have always been a fan of taking a set-up bounce and landing on edge in
the launch area; however, some waves require that you carve on edge from
the sweet spot. As your boat starts to rebound, lean slightly backwards and
snap your hip to release the edge from the water and allow your nose to
shoot high into the air. There is a crucial delay between this pop into the air
and throwing your boat around 180 degrees. Most people rush this part,
which is a key reason that their blunts lack big air time.
After this delay but before your boat reaches its maximum height, push
your paddle into the water at your opposite hip (right hip if you have been
edging left) and initiate a backstroke. My good friend Tyler Curtis once told
me that the angle of your backstroke exemplifies the angle your boat will
take. If you push out away from your hull, your boat stays flat. If you want
your boat to go vertical, push straight down into the water. While watch-
ing boaters at Bus Eater, I picked up on another great lesson: To get your
blunts even more vertical or over vertical, shift your upper body further out
over top of your paddle and try to look under your boat.
Keeping your upper and lower body separate allows your boat to rotate
around the central pivot point of your hips and swing through a vertical 180
degrees. Before landing, flatten your boat out and get ready for a recovery
backstroke on the other side.
#
reality
check
6
raFT G
uide
answering stupid punter questions. F
oot rot.
Fifty dollars per day. Water f
ights. lower
back pain (that will last your lifetime).
bad
lasagna. and a negative balance in your bank
account (also likely to last your lifetime).
www.rapidmag.com 
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