Bad Habits

ohdoor · Soul Rider Joined: 02 Mar 2005 Posts: 281 City: OKC

So this afternoon I was given the opportunity to wakeboard with someone much better then me. It was only the second time I've been able to wakeboard with someone better then me who could offer me some advice.

Well he tore my HS W2W jumps apart. I guess I learned it way wrong and am now having to relearn how to do the whole thing correctly. Before, I could get W2W no problem with a decent amount of pop and even land pretty far out into the flats. However, I was always so uncontrolled in the air because of how I was doing it that grabs and simple 180s were way harder then they should. Basically, I'd start my edge with barely any weight on my front foot, leaned way to far back, didn't crouch enough from the beginning, and cut in way to fast. All of this caused me to launch off the wake with the nose of the board shooting straight up and a ton of tension on the line causing me to lean way forward in the air. I'd gotten so used to this that I had no problem landing that way and after doing it for 3 summers straight without anyone to tell me I was doing it way wrong I've got myself one hard habit to fix.

Any tips on how to make it easier to fix this? I feel so awkward cutting in now. I already noticed a big difference doing the things he told me to do differently, but according to him I still have quite a bit more room to adjust.

Here are some pictures from before today. The one on the Substance is from last summer, the Lyman is early this summer. No videos Sad

In this one the nose isn't shooting straight up as much, but you can still tell that I am a bit uncontrolled from how forward I am leaning.

Maybe this is why Backrolls are so easy for me. I'm usually fighting not to rotate when not doing one Rolling Eyes

. I guess I could do one hell of a nose grab if I started trying Confused

.

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

I think the Japan Air would be right up your alley. Wink

Don't feel bad though, I found out about a week ago that I've never gotten up, or taught anyone to get up correctly a day in my life, and I was one of the people who did it first try.

You're not that far off though. You said the things he told you felt awkward, and they certainly will at first. But, I know that if you stick with it and do it right every time, or not at all, you will feel comfortable doing it correctly after only a weekend of riding. The bad news is, and what is hardest for me, is that you have to start all over. Slow the boat down and make yourself edge correctly every time. Speed back up, and cut through the wakes back and forth without jumping. Then start small making sure you have the right body position and a good progressive edge only jumping one wake. Until you get to where you don't have to think about doing it right, and you do it automatically, don't worry about wake to wake because once you get to that point, wake to wake will be no problem.

I had learned FS 180s before I could do an ollie 180. I ended up having to tell myself that it would be better to go back now and learn it right, even if I lose a week of what I would consider fun riding, or riding in your comfort zone. It would be better for me to be able to do every 180 before I try anything else, because it gives me a solid foundation to build off of. Plus, for such a simple trick, you can make it look really good with all kinds of different variation, but not if you have the wrong technique.

Good luck.

ohdoor · Soul Rider Joined: 02 Mar 2005 Posts: 281 City: OKC

Thanks Chris. Unfortunately it looks like I won't be able to get back on the water for a few weeks. I have this feeling I'm going to go out there after not having been since this week and forget everything I was taught to do differently and fall back into my comfort zone. We'll see I guess... The guys wife took pictures the whole time and is supposed to be emailing them to me. Hopefully there will be a few "before and after" that will help me see the difference.

pet575 · Posted: Jul 14, 2009 8:08 am Post subject:

I have two bad habits:

1. Breaking at the waist sometimes when going w2w to try any trick. Ruins my pop, throws me off balance, and I case the wake.

2. Being a candy-ass and being scared to try new stuff at times.

curtblanchette · Posted: Jul 14, 2009 8:40 am Post subject:

I have a habbit of getting high. Drinking beer. and flailing on the dock.

WHOS WITH ME!! Mr. Green

lol

STANG KILLA SS · Posted: Jul 14, 2009 10:58 am Post subject:

were you previously a skier?

pet575 · Posted: Jul 14, 2009 11:32 am Post subject:

STANG KILLA SS, are you talking to me or curt?

STANG KILLA SS · Posted: Jul 14, 2009 12:09 pm Post subject:

they guy that made the thread Laughing

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

This being the first year that I could make it past mid day before I was too intoxicated to continue riding, I've broken MANY of my bad habits and brought back a few of my long lost abs.

curtblanchette · Posted: Jul 14, 2009 2:06 pm Post subject:

Christobull's with me.

hahaha. i tried that trick last summer. Dialed it first try.
Way to go bro.

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

curtblanchette, that's some liquid talent right there. haha

JeffreyCH · Posted: Jul 14, 2009 2:49 pm Post subject:

Christobull, NIIIIICCCEE!!!! LMFAO What's that one called?

curtblanchette · Posted: Jul 14, 2009 3:41 pm Post subject:

I'm rather impressed with the whole lead hand drinking deal. That's not an easy task

ohdoor · Soul Rider Joined: 02 Mar 2005 Posts: 281 City: OKC

WilsonH · Posted: Jul 19, 2009 12:40 am Post subject:

That second one is MUCH better. It might just be your technique. Whenever I want to improve mine I watch "The Book" a couple times and then focus on just that next time I'm in the water. Good luck!

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

JeffreyCH, I call that the frat boy. Sometime, I'd like to do it in combination with the playboy, and call it the rock star. Unfortunately it takes close to a case before you actually act on these things. One time we wasted a tank of gas and a six pack trying to throw a beer from the boat to the rider.

ohdoor, without seeing a video, I'm led to think you're absorbing the wake with your rear leg. I have that problem off and on with my toeside jumps. What he's trying to impress on you is applying equal pressure off both feet extending hard at the wake. The other thing might be that you're leaning back at the wake. Like maybe you think it's going to trip you or something if you don't. Trust your edge and keep your weight even. The only leaning should be against the rope.

JeffreyCH · Posted: Jul 20, 2009 1:02 am Post subject:

Christobull, LMAO.....some how I got a mental image of being beaned in the melon with a beer can.

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

JeffreyCH, lol, well, my friends couldn't throw it far enough to make it to me, and they couldn't catch when I threw it to them. We used to ride with our hats on back then, and one of my friends tried catching it with his captain's hat, but we never hit each other with it. That would have been a better video though. Our plan was to post it up on YouTube anyway.