Using handle to initiate 180

dalderman · Soul Rider Joined: 08 Aug 2008 Posts: 356 City: Carlsbad

I've been having trouble landing the ol' HS FS 180. I've got 'em dialed inside-out, ollie and one-wake but the W2W is frustrating me to no end. I've searched the site and got all kinds of great advise and it's almost all consistent.
One question I have is when someone says "initiate the spin with the handle" - what exactly does this mean?
Should I give the handle a little pull when I'm at the peak, move it from hip to hip and then release the lead hand?
Not exactly sure how what this is referring to.

flounderbout · Outlaw Joined: 30 Sep 2006 Posts: 224 City: London

When you first start 180s you will try and throw them off the wake(like a snowboarder throws them off a kicker). If you wait until you are at the peak of your jump, then start the 180, then you will get it. Obviously since you have no rotation off the wake, the only thing you can use to start the rotation is the line tension. Hence "initiating with the handle". Don't worry too much about the handle - just think about leaving the spin until the top of your jump and it'll come naturally.

Wakebrad · Ladies Man Joined: 11 Dec 2003 Posts: 12257 City: Dallas

A big key to landing your first w2w 180 is the angle of the board when you land. You have to land on your toeside edge to land it. I used to just get my board parallel to the boat and think "ok, this should be straight." But your momentum is carrying you at an angle away from the boat and you have to get your board at that angle to land it.

Also, I didn't land my first w2w 180 until I started landing on the downside of the other wake. It makes the landing much smoother. I also found that when I grabbed it slob it put me in the exact position to land it: Over your toes.

benjaminp · Criminal Joined: 30 Jan 2008 Posts: 65

landed my first one on the last run of the season, and i agree, dont try to spin off the wake. instead follow the advice and initiate with the handle, just give it a bit of a pull at the apex and let go with your front hand. it will give you all the rotation you need to stick it, and it lets you land with a little less twist, which is always nice when landing switch toeside (assuming you are doing this regular heelside).

dalderman · Soul Rider Joined: 08 Aug 2008 Posts: 356 City: Carlsbad

LANDED IT - I'M STOKED!
Played hookie from work yesterday and rode for about an hour. Tried and fell on few and then it clicked.
Clean HS wake jump, gave a little pull in the air, released the lead hand, spun, landed on the backside, stuck it and edged away. I can't tell you how rad it was.
Thanks to all for the advice.

OuachitaWaker · Addict Joined: 16 Sep 2006 Posts: 577 City: Hot Springs

the best advice i ever got was to try to over-rotate it, because i was landing parallel to the boat and sliding out on my butt, once i over rotated it i landed on my toes and it was all gravy from there

the way i think about it, if the boat is your 12:00, when you land you want your nose to be 10:00

now its second nature

Stewie · Posted: Nov 08, 2008 11:18 am Post subject:

What helped me the most was when somebody told me to think about putting the rope in my back pocket on the landing (pushing it down and towards the landing wake). that really helps your board angle on the landing, and it keeps you more compact so your not as likely to be standing too tall and slip out. That advice goes for anything landing with a last fronstside 180. It still helps me when landing hs 5's and hs r2r's.