MARCILIO BROWNE: TWEAKED AIR TIPS
MARCILIO BROWNE: TWEAKED AIR TIPS
MARCILIO BROWNE: TWEAKED AIR TIPS
There is no doubt that Marcilio Browne is the master of explosive tweaked airs; so we asked him to break down what it takes to land one of the most technical and rewarding moves in windsurfing. From picking the right section, to perfecting timing and body control, Marcilio shares key insights that might one day help you emulate the master of this move!
Photos: Fish Bowl Diaries / WWT/ Goya
WS: What are the key conditions to try a mega tweaked aerial?
MB: “Ideally, I would go for a tweaked air in side shore winds, with head to double over head bowly sections!”
WS: Is the decision always spontaneous as the wave in front of you dictates or do you get on a wave and decide that you are going to going to bust one out no matter what?
MB: “The best ones always come out better when its spontaneous and you just let the wave call it. The ones that are planned usually end up looking a bit more forced and not as fluid. So, they are not a move that I would necessarily go out and try all day. You have to be patient and wait for the right moment before you pull the trigger!”
WS: What sort of section are you looking for?
MB: “I am looking for a wave that is bowly and powerful! I need a section that has the power to project me forward enough to execute the tweak and then nail the landing. I am usually looking just forward and than I switch to where I am going to land towards the end of the move.”
What about speed on the wave is this key?
MB: “You don’t actually have to be going super fast when you go for a tweaked air. The projection usually comes from the wave section you hit. Angles and timing are everything!”
WS: At what point do you initiate the tweaked air…and are there any changes to your set up as you do this?
MB: “As soon as the board leaves the wave you can pretty much start throwing the tail! You want to approach the lip way more vertical than a regular aerial! I always try to have a proper bottom turn into it. I usually i just keep my hands wide, same as they were on the bottom turn, instead of bringing them together like in a regular top turn.”
How do you get the sail just right and keep pressure in the sail so you don’t get back winded?
MB: “Just by making sure that the movement is coming from legs and hips and not the whole rig turning into the wind. The right position to be in, is by having the front arm more stretched and the back arm bent!”
How do you know when you have time to throw that extra tweak on some of them?
MB: “With time and repetition you start getting that sense of how far you can push the tweak. You can pretty much anticipate based on the size of the wave and speed you are coming with. The only way to really know this is a lot of attempts, trial and error!”
What percentage do you land?
MB: “Once you get the technique you can land high percentage. The trick is not so much landing, but how much did you tweak it and what angles did you come from.”
How hard is it to get that board back into a landing position when you are totally inverted in the air?
MB: “It is a very physical move I would say. To get all the way there you kind of need loose hips and back … and to bring it back you need that core strength and strong flexible hamstrings. Being fit for sure helps as it is a very explosive move. A lot of the time the landings happen on flat sections, so making the landing really comes down to absorbing the impact by bending the knees and using core strength.”
How important is the timing on the initiation and exit strategy on a tweaked air?
MB: “Timing is critical pretty much 50% is about the timing I would say. If you don’t hit the wave late enough; you might still make it back in, but it won’t look as tweaked for sure. And if you wait too long to bring it back, you might be landing on top of your gear which can be nasty. So yes, timing is huge!”
Does the right equipment help?
“For sure. You want a board that you can trust when committed to a bottom turn on a heavier wave… and a rig that is light and responsive, so you can move it around quick … a light board also really helps!”
What tips would you give somebody who wants to start tweaking airs?
MB: I would say to start slow and take learning the tweaked air step by step. Try to make small increments and slowly get your timing more and more vertical going into the lip. At first just worry about getting it tweaked… even if landing behind the wave. Remember to open that front knee, that helps! Opening the front knee allows the hips to turn further, giving room for the back leg to tweak more.”
How important is flexibility?
“Very important, as you will be stretching your hips lower back and hamstrings as far as they go”
Would you risk an extreme tweaked air in a contest final?
MB: “Depending on the location and conditions yes. But usually in a final you have got to use every move you have so yes…I would for sure risk it!”
What is the fun factor on nailing one?
MB: “They are so fun and rewarding, especially when your timing is spot on and you get that extra tweak and a soft landing!”
And what are the things that can go wrong?
MB: “When it is too off shore, the tweaked air is kind of dangerous as you can get hit by the wind on the wrong side of the sail!”
Some pretty sick tweaked airs in this video!
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