Had a great sail today in gusty 15 - 20kts SSE..got most of my gybes ( even if they weren't planing) solved my chop hop problem 
..very happy..The old me is starting to come back.
I used to be able to jump well but cactus these days..I knew I had a bad habit of pushing down on my front hand as I went up the ramp rather than lifting with it so I changed my grip to underhand . Now I can't push down..
I also realised I wasn't getting airborne as I wasn't popping the board off the ramp by pushing into the tail as we went on it..I had been relying on trying to pull the board airborne with my feet ( ugh..125ltre..
). Wow it works! I get air! Now I just have to refine control etc & get it together..
Pity I was so tired before I got out that I only lasted an hour..Still great fun!
Much better not wasting energy waterstarting everytime you gybe..!
Dewy Pt @ Carey Bay opposite Valentine works great in a SSE /SE.. when it's too E to go to Valentine try Dewy! No loos but angle is sideshore to side onshore ..great it blows right into the shore mostly.
I found it good there as the chop isn't as bunched up as Belmont Bay or Coal Pt, more even so you can use a larger board for the lulls but smaller sail for the wind..
It was a great SE'ter this morning, I had a 2 hour sail at Ettalong Beach on the Central Coast. I agree with persistence paying off, I have started sailing again after 20 or so years (purchased some used gear after visiting my brother in law in WA where I had a few runs on his gear) the jibes are hard to perfect again! After 4 weeks I am starting to average 3 in a row! Watching lots of vides and need a lot of practice!
I forgot how much fun sail was! 
..very happy..The old me is starting to come back. I also realised I wasn't getting airborne as I wasn't popping the board off the ramp by pushing into the tail as we went on it..I had been relying on trying to pull the board airborne with my feet ( ugh..125ltre..). Wow it works! I get air! Now I just have to refine control etc & get it together..Much better not wasting energy waterstarting everytime you gybe..!
Getting good pop is just like bunny hopping a bike, it's all about loading the board downward into the water by pulling down hard on the boom and the inertia from crouching. Once you time that crouch/bend legs/pull down on the boom at the same time, then just 'pop' by springing your legs straight and pulling up on the boom. I can't stress it enough it's all about that 'downforce', the more aggressive you are with it the more pop you'll get.
Note you body position is different to a chop hop as when doing most freestyle moves like a vulcan etc you want to jump 'above' the board so stance much more vertical and body weight inboard and central. This enables you to press the board vertically down into the water rather than pushing it down/across; also elbows down as this promotes loading of the boom downward.
..very happy..The old me is starting to come back. I also realised I wasn't getting airborne as I wasn't popping the board off the ramp by pushing into the tail as we went on it..I had been relying on trying to pull the board airborne with my feet ( ugh..125ltre..). Wow it works! I get air! Now I just have to refine control etc & get it together..Much better not wasting energy waterstarting everytime you gybe..!
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..very happy..The old me is starting to come back.
