Standing tall, but only one leg

GuitsBoy · Posted: Oct 08, 2007 7:18 am Post subject: Standing tall, but only one leg

In my quest to get more pop, ive been paying close attention to how I'm popping off the wake. Everybody in the boat seems to agree that when i stand tall, only my back leg is straight, the front is partially bent. I feel that Im doing this to keep upright. If I were to extend both legs equally, id have to be rocked back at a stupid angle, and I dont think id be able to get myself upright at the peak of my jump. As it is, i dont really have any trouble getting a solid 5 feet of air, but I usually do land way out in the flats. Id love to be able to pop up with the same or more height, but be able to land on the other wake rather than 10 feet out in the flats. My guess is that all along ive been doing more of an olley jump, since ive been an avid snowboarder for years and that what comes naturally. How can I pop with both legs but still pull myself upright?

I feel like a tard for having to go back to basics, but I feel like this foundation isnt as sturdy as Id like it to be. Theres nobody else that rides on my lake so the only exposure and instruction on proper form is through video, which does nothing to correct bad habits.

Thanks all

jpminter · Posted: Oct 08, 2007 8:26 am Post subject:

You're from Long Island, NY? Hmmmm, a good friend of mine is from up there. Damn good wakeboarder, too.

Anyway, just stand tall with both legs. It won't necessarily make you launch at a stupid angle. Just try it.

GuitsBoy · Posted: Oct 08, 2007 8:50 am Post subject:

Yeah, Im from LI, but theres no good water down here. I ride upstate NY.

Ive tried to extend both legs, but the only way I can do it is by leaning towards the tail at a 30* angle. This throws me off and I cant pull myself up straight again.

howabouttheiris · Addict Joined: 16 Jun 2005 Posts: 677 City: Austin, TX

GuitsBoy · Posted: Oct 08, 2007 9:23 am Post subject:

No, its certainly not a problem edging up through the wake. I am hitting the wake completely on edge with a loaded line, and I am leaning back in tug-o-war fashion against the boat. I just also mean that I have to rotate towards my tail, like the first 30* or a back roll rotation, if that makes sense...

LFADAM · Posted: Oct 08, 2007 1:15 pm Post subject:

GuitsBoy, I think I see what you are saying. And BTW, not a bad question to ask at all...best get your technique down good so you are solid for everything else. Lots of people dont do that.

Anyways...it sounds like your body position. I see what you are saying about if you straighten your legs equally you feel like you are going to do a backroll, because thats exactly how I do mine. I straighen both of my legs equally, but heres the kicker...I have more of my weight back to do the flip than if I was doing a normal jump (BTW: I Dont cut into the wake the whole way leaning back, this is just at the dish of the wake). On a normal wake jump (No backroll), you dont want this. It sounds like you are putting too much weight on your rear (as in doing a backroll) when trying to do a normal jump. But when doing a normal wake to wake, you want to have your body centered over your board, just as if you are jumping on a trampoline, the slope of the wake is negligable (It wont make you lean back when you hit it). Then do the same both leg pop as before and you should be nice and level through the air. Just think what would happen if you tried to jump on a trampoline with your weight on your back foot and extending your legs equally...same thing on the water.
Next time you are out on the water, try moving your weight more forward than you normally do on your cut so you are centered. That should fix your problem. Also, if you want, experiment with putting your weight slightly forward on your cut and pop. This is how Adam Fields tought me to do HS 5s. It helps you get more pop and get over your toes on the landing . I also use this for sw HS 180s.
Interestingly enough, Adam also worked with me on my TS edge and jumps and he actually teaches to come off the wake back heavy and nose high (pushing off your back foot mostly) and leveling out in the air. You get a lot more pop if you do it, but it feels strange when learning it. It also will teach you to wait on your spins, because its impossible to spin when you are that far tail heavy.

Good luck!

WAKENERD · Criminal Joined: 17 Jan 2006 Posts: 54 City: HONG KONG

I think LFADAM is right. You need to put more weight on your front foot. Think of weighting down on your lead hip and transfer you weight from your lead hip down to the heel of your front leg, if you are doing a heel side of course, and hold it there until you are all the way up to the peak of the wake.

GuitsBoy · Posted: Oct 10, 2007 6:43 am Post subject:

jpminter · Posted: Oct 10, 2007 7:26 am Post subject:

You've got it now.