Freestyle Basics: Ducking the sail – the duck tack and switch heli tack as warm-up exercises

Julian Wiemar

· 16.06.2026

Freestyle Basics: Ducking the sail – the duck tack and switch heli tack as warm-up exercises

Photo: Emieck De Goede

Ducking the sail is both the starting point and the crux of many popular power moves. We’ll show you some stylish light-wind manoeuvres, such as the duck tack and switch heli tack, as warm-up exercises that will help you practise the sequences – and look cool too!

“Ducking the sail” is based on the classic duck jibe and simply means diving under the leech of the sail. It is therefore the opposite of the classic tack on the mast side of the rig. To perform the duck, the correct setting of the material just as crucial as a polished technique. Whilst typical power moves such as the Kono, Culo or Burner only work with sufficient speed and wind, you can practise ducking even in lighter winds, for example with two freestyle classics: the Duck Tack and the Switch Heli Tack.

Duck Tack

Wind at the glide threshold is ideal for practising the duck tack when conditions aren’t quite right for proper freestyling.

2) The aim is to move the sail precisely in the direction of the relative wind; only then will it remain neutral. The relative wind is the sum of the airspeed and the actual wind speed – it therefore does not blow directly from the windward side, but diagonally from the front. To duck, release your front hand from the boom and, as with a duck jibe, reach across to the rear end of the boom. Push the mast diagonally forwards towards the water. By applying a slight pressure to the windward edge, your board will continue the turn to windward.

3) Tip: If the mast plunges into the water on the windward side like a stone, you’re leaning the mast too far into the wind. Next time, try shifting the rig further forward towards the bow. If, on the other hand, the sail immediately comes towards you as you duck and hits the water on the leeward side, you are shifting it too far towards the tip of the board. In this case, try to let the mast tilt more towards the water/windward side as you duck.

4) If your sail is hanging neutrally in front of you, try to move far forward towards the mast on the new boom side by pulling firmly on the clew.

5) To prevent the increasing pressure from pushing you backwards off the board when carving to windward, keep the sail open and avoid pushing back with your sail hand. Slide the rig past your body towards the stern.

7 Images

Photo: Emieck De Goede

The seven steps to the perfect duck tack

Switch Heli Tack

A move like the switch heli tack is a great way to practise the approach for freestyle tricks such as the Culo or Kabikuchi. The key is controlling the sail whilst your feet are twisted – this is very easy to practise in light winds.

1) When riding the wave, switch to a switch stance.

2) Turn into the wind until the board is facing into it, then push the sail forwards towards the bow as you would for a helicopter tack – it will luff, and the board will turn out of the wind.

3) This position is similar to the one you adopt after ducking in a regular stance; you’ll need it for moves such as the Culo. Twist your upper body and hips and keep the sail open with your back hand so you aren’t pushed off the board downwind.

4) The manoeuvre is then similar to the shift used in a standard Heli Tack.

5) The great thing about the switch version is that you don’t have to change your foot when shifting.

5 Images

Photo: Emieck De Goede

Julian Wiemar explains the Switch Heli Tack in five steps.

Julian Wiemar

Editor surf

Born in Cologne in 1996, Julian grew up on the western banks of the Father Rhine, where he still pushes himself to new tricks almost every day as one of Germany's best freestyle windsurfers. He discovered his passion for water sports at the young age of five. 15 years and countless hours on the surfboard later, Julian traveled the world from Cologne after graduating from high school. With a German championship title in his pocket, he spent several years traveling to the best windsurfing spots on the planet in order to gain a foothold in the World Cup. With the aim of making windsurfing the focus of his life in the long term, the then 24-year-old globetrotter found his way to the surf magazine through his love of writing travel and spot reports.

There, as a trainee, he immersed himself in all the other areas of responsibility of a surf editor and was able to expand his expertise on a daily basis. With dedication and extraordinary enthusiasm for the sport, he is motivated to share his experiences, adventures and knowledge with readers in the world of windsurfing.

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Freestyle Basics: Ducking the sail – the duck tack and switch heli tack as warm-up exercises

Duck Tack

Switch Heli Tack

Julian Wiemar

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