Handle being pulled away on grabs

Fossilfuelburner · Newbie Joined: 29 Jul 2006 Posts: 36 City: San Jose

I started wakeboarding this year and was making really good progress riding switch, ollie 180, HS and TS W2W. However, I feel my learning curve has leveled off. My riding hasn't improved the last 5 times I've been out.

I feel the next step in my riding should be grabs and 180's off the wake. When I try grabs on my W2W jumps, the handle gets pulled away when I release my rear hand (indy). When the handle get pulled away it throws me off balance. Can anyone offer any tips for learning grabs.

The same thing happens when I try a 180 off the wake. When I let go with my lead hand, the handle get pulled away and I take a hard fall.

albinoblacksheep · Criminal Joined: 14 Nov 2005 Posts: 77

just try to keep balanced and the handly close to your hip when you land.

on your 180's, pull the rope to the opposite hip, the one you'll land forward with

FLWake · Soul Rider Joined: 21 Apr 2007 Posts: 274

Is your rope a non-stretch rope? If not that might be part of the problem...

Fossilfuelburner · Newbie Joined: 29 Jul 2006 Posts: 36 City: San Jose

albinoblacksheep: Thanks, I'll try pulling on the handle more on the 180s. Currently, I just let go with me lead (without pulling with my rear hand) and that spins me around.

FLWake: Yes, I'm using a non-stretch rope. Its an Accurate X-line.

michigan boarder · Soul Rider Joined: 03 Jun 2007 Posts: 333 City: MI

are you grabbing before you spin? That helps me stay on axis and when i do OA 180's i grab later to help pull me down

broux2 · Newbie Joined: 03 Aug 2005 Posts: 29 City: pascoag

Try pulling the robe in hard to your waist as you leave the wake. This will make you wait just a tad longer before you go for the grab. As you reach for your grab make sure to keep the other arm tight to your waist. As you land try to get the other hand on the handle. This is not necessary but a good habit to learn.

Epic · Addict Joined: 21 Aug 2005 Posts: 765

Also make sure to bring your board to you, don't reach for it. Bend your knees and bring it up to you. When you reach for the board too far away it'll pull you over.