Bad day today...

eric-holmes · Outlaw Joined: 19 Jun 2009 Posts: 150 City: Searcy

So a lot of you seen my last thread about my new board. I took it out today and could not even get up. I weigh so little I always pop up no problem when I go out on my friends boat. His boat has a tower. I went out with my uncle today and he doesn't have a tower. Do you think a tower makes that big of a difference? I just kept plowing in the water like a bulldozer. It was either the board or the boat because I know I should have been able to at least pop up.

imshirazy · Outlaw Joined: 01 Jul 2008 Posts: 117

Like I said already I have your exact same board so take from my experience. I started out on a 115hp outboard fourwinns boat, and the rope was held by the tow hooks that were maybe 4 inches above water. I was able to get up on my second try. Have you had wakeboard experience before? Or snowboard? skate board etc? If not it just takes practice but you can do it. A few of my friends tried with my old board on the same setup and it took them about 15 tries, then after that they could keep doing it

eric-holmes · Outlaw Joined: 19 Jun 2009 Posts: 150 City: Searcy

Yeah I have some experience, I usually get up every time.

http://forums.wakeboarder.com/viewtopic.php?t=82556

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

It may be the speed the boat is accelerating. Make sure the driver knows to ease into it. If you're used to getting up, I would try standing up earlier than you think you should. we've had our boat weighted down so badly before that we couldn't take off fast enough to pull us up like it should. We started standing as soon as there was tension on the line, and we planed out very fast that way. It also saves your arms and legs. As for the tower, I wouldn't know because I've never had the opportunity to use one.

kimokalihi · Newbie Joined: 22 May 2009 Posts: 48 City: Tenino

Do you start off with the board in front of you or under water below you?

Sounds like you're pretty new at it so under the water below you may be difficult but once you figure it out you pop up so much quicker that way. I always start off by pushing the board underneath me in a crouched position with the front angled upward a bit (probably about 45 degree angle) and rest the outside of my forearms on the insides off my knees.

Pops me up in a split second every time. You could try this and if you can't get it, don't worry it may take a while before you're good enough to start this way. But to me, starting off with the board floating on the surface in front of you is so much more work to get up. I do understand though from trying to teach my friends who are rookies (not that I'm that good or anything) that it is difficult for a beginner to do.

kimokalihi · Newbie Joined: 22 May 2009 Posts: 48 City: Tenino

I think when you're starting out it's also easier to have the boat driver pull you slowly at first until you're steady and then give them the signal (vocally) to gun it once you're stable.

But now that I've mastered getting up I am able to reel in the rope, grab the handle, shove the board down under the water and be ready without ever even stopping the boat. I just tell him to go as soon as the rope slack is gone. Sometimes he even goes before the slack is gone and I still have no problem getting up.

You'll get it. Just takes a little practice. You should catch on quick if you're doing it right. It helps to have someone who's good at it watching you and telling you what you need to do and what you're doing wrong.

I remember getting into wakeboarding at first I didn't want to wakeboard at all. I just wanted to go tubing. My step dad kept egging me on about it and I kept trying it and couldn't get up. It was because I was doing it all wrong. There was no one there who had wakeboarded before to tell me how.

Regardless of which way you start off, keep your knees bent and crouched to where your knees are basically touching your elbows or right below your elbows. Keep you legs flexed strong and the boat will do all the work.

JeffreyCH · Posted: Jul 03, 2009 7:16 am Post subject:

I started riding from the ski hook on my i/o and added a tower this spring and it does make a world of difference. Try having your driver roll into the throttle rather then hitting it hard, point your toes towards the boat and squat like a frog on the board. I use an over-under grip to get out of the water, gives a stronger grip, but if you do that get in the habit of changing to over-over as soon as you get out of the water.