First Grabs (with video)

taitrt · Soul Rider Joined: 11 May 2009 Posts: 413

So, I can wake to wake without any issue, so I figured I'd start doing some really easy stuff. I can HS 180, surface 180, and ollie 180, but my grabs just aren't happening. I feel like I am maybe starting to pull my legs to my chest too early and absorbing the wake.

As you can see in the video, I'm still clearing the wake (it's a pretty small wake), but I'm not getting much height and I feel like I don't have a lot of time to grab the board.

What can I do to get more air, and still be able to bring my knees up to grab?

the_dude · Outlaw Joined: 09 Jul 2008 Posts: 201 City: Long Beach

For sure you are not standing tall at the wake so you are limiting your pop. Also looks like you are not cutting through the wake which will also reduce your pop. At the height you are jumping there not much time for a grab.

J.unio.R · Outlaw Joined: 23 Feb 2009 Posts: 154 City: E-City, NC

your second attempt is the clearest one that shows your knees taking some of your "pop" away. Like they say "Push your feet through the floor."

get_sum · Soul Rider Joined: 04 Aug 2008 Posts: 395 City: Edmond

Also, the line looks short and the speed maybe a little slower than what I'm used to seeing.

hurley · Criminal Joined: 04 Jul 2007 Posts: 79 City: Calgary

yeah that rope looke really short and it looks like you are about to sink your going so slow

kriggs · Posted: Jul 07, 2009 10:24 am Post subject:

bring the rope out to about 65' and go around 19-21, because you do have such a small wake..
But to run you through the whole trick
cut out, get the line tension high extend and ride all the way through the wake, bring your knees up and just reach down.

STANG KILLA SS · Posted: Jul 07, 2009 10:41 am Post subject:

you also seem to be leaning forward for the grab, dont do that, bring your knees up, not your upper body down/forward

JeffreyCH · Posted: Jul 07, 2009 2:50 pm Post subject:

It also looks like you are speed jumping instead of popping, hard to tell with the camera angles but it seems you are cutting out pretty far and using the speed to clear the wake. Focus more on going up, then build your distance, I did about the same thing at the end of last season. At the beginning of this season I started going up and couldn't clear the wake anymore but was booting 5-6 up. I stepped up my edge speed and now I'm getting it dialed in.

Christobull · Addict Joined: 29 Jun 2009 Posts: 898 City: Tulsa

I agree with all that was said above. To add to the speed/rope length issue. I have a friend that doesn't go more than about 15 and there's really no way to get a good wake close enough together to clear at that speed. It will seem fast at first, but get used to riding at a faster speed (>20), so you can get further back and see your best wake. You'll soon be glad that you did. The grabs will come easy once you get your technique dialed in at that speed.