In order to start trying an Airflaka, you first have to have regular flakas on-lock, and then just keep pushing harder and rotating faster. Just like last issue’s ponch, it originates from wavesailing and is known as an Air Taka after hittin’ the lip - as you can see in my movie ‘Oman O Nine‘!

The key factor as usual is Speed. More like light speed in a Star Wars movie. Start going downwind looking for the back of a chop that'll make your board pop. Lean forward onto the downwind rail and sheet in with you back hand in order to keep your speed up.

As soon as you feel the nose of the board going up the back of a steep piece of chop, push hard on your back leg to pop the board and swing the mast across your body, into the wind.

Extend the front arm fully into the wind to backwind the sail, while keeping the clew hand sheeted out and close to your body. Kick the tail downwind with your legs, turning your head into the wind to initiate the rotation.

At this point, you pretty much have to curl up like a frightened hedgehog, tucking your back leg up in order

to keep the nose out of the water. If the nose touches too hard, it'll stop the rotation and you'll fall out the sky like a dead pigeon. If it doesn't, then just keep turning your head and shoulders around the rotation, kinda like a frontside 360 on a snowboard or skateboard. The last part of the rotation is aided by the clew of the sail swinging across the wind again, and it can actually pull you pretty hard, so just stay centred on the board and it'll all be over before you know it!

Once you got them down, you can also try them on waves, doing them off the lip, and landing proper Air Takas on waves, like Levi used to do back in 2000 or like Brawnzinho does on every wave he rides in Maui! I-00