Trimming square tail board - what to look for?

[Luc Benac]

Hello,
I am just starting to use my newly acquired JP Australia Sportster FW 14x28.
It has a wide square tail. Coming from a SB Touring with a pin tail it is different :-)
I am trying to learn to trim the board. Regretfully I do not have one of these nice tools that measure your speed and show it in big letters.
So I try to get a good glide going and then turn my head/torso to look at the release of the tail.
I have been spoiled with the pin tail where there is really not a lot to look at so the relase of the square tail look like a typhoon when I look at it.
What should I been looking for or expecting?
I had a look at David's video on his Javelin which shows a little bit of the tail release but would love to see more so that I can recognize the symptoms better.

Thank you in advance.

Luc

[PonoBill]

Should be pretty obvious. I'd start in a somewhat back position and shuffle slightly forward. When the tail releases it will be pretty sudden. Then move a little further forward and see if you feel even more glide. Generally you wont, moving past the point where the tail is trimmed lightly to the water should feel suddenly better. It's like a lightweight on an unlimited speedboard and was pretty much the same on the 14' Amundsen.

[Luc Benac]

Thanks for the explanation Bill.
Then everything is good. I got exactly what you described when stepping fully in front of the carrying handle.
The board kind of "jump" forward and become "lighter".
Today going upwind in chop I even went further to the front which helped quite a bit slicing through the chop and keeping the board quiet.
Compare to my Touring with its "big nose", it feels strange to be that much upfront almost like if you are going to fall overboard but if that is what works....

Cheers,

Luc