Help getting more air. Vid included

Mr Mufakka · Newbie Joined: 21 Jul 2009 Posts: 6 City: Fleming Island

Here's some shots of me this afternoon. I've been wakeboarding now for the last 2 months or so and love it. Feel real comfortable regular but need to put some more time in on goofy. Anyway, please share your comments/tips on things I should be doing different and what I can do to get more air.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bM2RBmvLwmY

skinny99 · Outlaw Joined: 27 Jun 2009 Posts: 119 City: Deland

Progressive edge and straight leg pop! You are pretty comfy but you are not aggresive towards the wake!

Mr Mufakka · Newbie Joined: 21 Jul 2009 Posts: 6 City: Fleming Island

Yeah, I figured I need to be more aggressive when coming into the wake. Guess I just need to bite the bullet. I've watched a few videos that explain progressive edge but I have a question about it. You start out flat and put more and more weight on your heels, correct? (for a heelside jump). I just can't get over the mental block I guess that my weight needs to be centered when I hit the wake. I guess leaning on your heels when you hit the wake, you'll be fine?

Also, the leg pop. I guess just keep my legs stiffer? Sometimes I feel like I'm trying to ollie off the wake. Bad thing right?

One other thing. A friend has given me the wakeboard I've been learning on. I had no idea anything about it. It's a Liquid Force Superfly 44. I imagine it's got some years on it but it does pretty good (I think??). It's got 2.4 fins on it right now although I've been thinking about getting some slightly smaller as I can't do surface 180s without having the boat slow down. Thinking maybe the smaller fins would slide a bit more.

WilsonH · Posted: Jul 26, 2009 1:31 pm Post subject:

You for sure need to do a progressive edge and not just charge the wake as fast as you can. You want to edge out hard, flatten off (stop edging) and bend your knees, coast until the boat starts to pull you twords the wake, THEN you want to put weight on your heels and start edging hard. Once you get to the wake straigten your legs (been described as trying to push your feet through the ground) and you'll get more pop. If you do any other sports it's kind of the same preloading feeling. It IS a similar feeling to ollies but definatly not the same thing. If your legs are straight as you hit the top (which is your goal) your knees wont absorb the jump and you can harness rope tension, speed, and the wake.

Progressive edge needs some time to get used to, but I find it easier to practice if you know why you're doing it. The reason progressive edge will help you is because it keeps tension in the line all the way through your jump. Without tension you might be able to get in the air but you'll have 0 control.

Practice makes perfect. Good luck.

Mr Mufakka · Newbie Joined: 21 Jul 2009 Posts: 6 City: Fleming Island

Ah ok. Good tip on the tension part. Hopefully get out again soon and give it a whirl.

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

You know, you're really not doing that bad. But, you just completely give up on your edge once you hit the spray. When you hit the wake, you should be digging your heels in as hard as you can. Same applies for your toes. Try it with a short cut (10' out) and you'll see the difference the first time you do it right. Then just take it out a little further each time and get a harder edge when you hit the wake, just make sure you keep your weight back the entire time from just jump to landing.