Do you see a trend in the last few years regarding the length of harness lines? Is this perhaps related to wider boards and higher booms?
Harness lines are often a very personal thing - how riders like to use them. In the past, there was a tendency to keep them short, but today riders in all disciplines use longer ropes. The reasons are more freedom and better control. This applies to most disciplines. In wave surfing and freestyle, this is to be further away from the rig: for one-handed jumping and other tricks, as well as to have more control when crossing waves in strong winds. Foiling requires long ropes to relieve the pressure on the foil and enable a balanced flight.
Variable ropes are always the best solution"
The new slalom or free slalom equipment has a larger wind range - longer ropes offer more comfort without loss of performance. Variable trapeze pole systems for adjusting the length of the ropes depending on the wind strength are always the best solution.
What are the problems of too short tampens in general? How does it affect the whole system, control and performance?
Short harness lines give more power. Long harness lines give you more control. The trick is to keep the ropes as short as possible to a point where you still have enough control. In this way, you achieve maximum performance when cruising on freeride or racing equipment - and with the best comfort. Short harness lines limit control and comfort as soon as the wind picks up.
You need to look at the triangle between the boom, your body and the fin: The force from the sail is transferred via the boom and the harness lines to the harness, then to your body and legs, and then on to the board and the fin. This triangular force determines your speed and control.
The shorter the ropes are, the more power the fin gets."
The shorter the ropes are, the more power the fin receives and the more power the fin receives, the more the board edges to the side and lifts off. The longer the ropes are, the less pressure is exerted on the fin, the board lies flatter in the water and you have more control in stronger winds. If you have the feeling that everything is getting out of control and your equipment is lifting off, there is nothing faster than using longer harness lines to regain control. If everything seems too easy, without pressure in the sail or if some of your friends are faster, just shorten your harness lines a little and you'll get the missing power to make the board edge harder again.
How does the length of the ropes relate to body height?
Body weight can be seen as a force in windsurfing. It helps to keep the equipment on the water. If two people of different weights on the same equipment and with the same length of harness line are caught by a stronger gust, the result will be different. If you are lighter, you will be lifted earlier by a gust and the sail will open. You will lose your safe position and you will slow down as you lose control. If you are heavier, the wind will need more energy to lift you and open the sail. In the same conditions, heavier or stronger riders can therefore use shorter harness lines than lighter or weaker riders. Height is a much less important factor - as long as you don't compare the extremes of 1.50 metres versus 2 metres.
What would you recommend to someone who is 1.80 metres tall for slalom racing/freeride/freerace and freeride foil?
This depends very much on the size of the sail. I would recommend the following vario harness lines:
For slalom races as follows:
- Sail size 9.0: 24-30 inches
- Sail size 8.5: 26-32 inches
- Sail size 7.8: 28-34 inches
- Sail sizes from 7.0 and smaller: 30-36 inches
For freeride and freerace you can choose one size smaller from the vario harness lines, at least if the sails are mainly used in lighter planing winds:
- Sail size 9.0: 24-30 inches
- Sail size 8.5: 24-30 inches
- Sail size 7.8 and smaller: 26-32 inches
Windsurf foiling is another sport"
Foiling is a completely different sport compared to fin windsurfing. Here you need long harness lines. This means that less power is transferred to the foil, which is what you want in most cases. The power must come from the foil and not from the rig. The rig must be neutral so as not to exert pressure on the foil and fly out of the water. There are now some rope models with extra long ropes; I would recommend taking one or two sizes longer than normal for windsurfing and always use variable rope systems.
Is there a difference in the length recommendation for professionals and amateurs?
Not at all! It's about how short you can ride them without losing comfort and control. For many amateurs, it's very difficult to windsurf with long harness lines. I still see so many people who look almost stuck on the boom; this is because they are using their muscles too much instead of using their body weight. The trick is to drop into the harness, have your hands loose on the boom, your arms out shoulder width and let your body sheet in the sail. As soon as you use your arms, you quickly become tired and your performance drops by 50 per cent. You need to learn that you should only use the muscles that you really need. The concept is more like this: let yourself fall into the trapeze and let the equipment carry you. The arms are only there to keep the sail a little balanced.
What are the advantages of "longer" ropes? Does this apply to all disciplines?
Longer means control. You hang lower and further away from the sail; the leverage you create is greater. Imagine pushing a person from behind who is standing up straight. This is simply because the person has to take a step forwards. This corresponds to the situation in windsurfing with a rope length of 24 inches and the step forwards corresponds to the catapult effect. Now take a person who is lying at 45° to the ground and try to push them forwards. First you have to lift them up and then push them forwards. This requires a lot more energy and strength; it is the equivalent of windsurfing with long harness lines of 28-36 inches and it will take a very strong wind to catapult someone forwards.
Another big advantage of long harness lines is that you can ride over waves better. When it's wavy or choppy, long ropes give you more room to bend your knees and elbows to go over the waves without your rig and board losing its smooth ride. When you hit a wave, your arms and legs need to bend to release the pressure; when you go downhill, you need to stretch again to give the equipment more power; this keeps the pressure on the fin evenly distributed and the board and rig system doesn't lose speed. Keeping a constant strong pressure on the fin is what gives stability and performance. You need to learn to use your body weight over the harness and not the muscles in your back and arms.
