Entering our first contest, advice?

[leviwynnyk]

So I'm 33 and a few of my friends who are in their late 20's have all decided to enter our first wake contest this summer. It's just a small local contest (Alix lake in Alberta) but we think it will be fun. We can all do an invert or 3 and a couple spins, nothing great. We are just excited to just go out and have fun and meet other riders. I have a few questions for those who have competed.

1) If I'm over 30 do I go into the older guy (30-39) divisions or Intermediate or advanced? I can do 3 inverts, all grabs and a few spins. Hoping to get a few new tricks before then like a R2R (landed it twice last year).

2) This is a big one, how do I plan my run? How many jumps do you get? All advice would be great.

3) I have never ridden behind many boats other then my XLV with 2650lbs. I love the wake but I'm also used to it. How does it differ when you go out and ride a new boat for he first time? Advice for dealing with a different wake? Do people get a practice run before they ride?

4) Anyone on here going to this comp? Aug.7th at Alix lake.

[FlyZone CR]

I'd definitely try to ride behind some other boats. Loaded and without any ballast. If you're always riding on glass, go out in some chop and experience that. (Unless you know the comp site will be glass as well. But in that case it'll be good practice for another future comp). You do normally get a practice run btw.
I'd start with something you'll 100% sure will stick, no matter the wake size, shape, speed, etc. To get used to the wake and also to make sure you're not 'waisting' your first fall in the beginning.
I don't know the format of that comp of course but usually you'll get to do 5-6 jumps per pass. Do your hardest tricks at the end of both runs.
I'm sure I'm forgettign some things but others will chime in.
Make it smooth, make it stylish! And most importantly have fun! Good luck!

[LFADAM]

My best comp advice is to not think about it too much or take it too seriously. Just have fun, as cheesy as that is, its true. If you get worked up about it you wont do well and you wont have fun. As for actually preparing for it, my best advice is when you go out to take a normal set, do some of your hardest stuff right off the bat, no warm up at all. You want to be able to do your hammers in any situation, because a comp will have a new wake, no warm up time, pressure, and likely chop. Get as comfortable as you can doing your hard tricks when you dont want to/dont think you can land them (ie 1st trick of your run, into a stiff headwind, in some chop).

As for planning your run, I wouldnt worry about it too much. Its hard to tell just how many tricks youll fit in a pass. Just have a rough idea of what you want to do in your run, about how many tricks you can fit, and where in your run you want to do certain things. Id do 1 or 2 tricks that you have 100% first always, then do one harder trick at the end of your first pass (if its a 2 pass comp) so if you fall you dont lose any trick space. If you plan every trick out and are thinking about what you have to do out there and are stressing because you didnt get to your last trick of the pass youll be freaking out unnecessarily.

Good luck, have fun!

[Enygma]

[ORIGINryder]

the best comp runs i've had were the runs i winged. actually the first time i won a division was the morning after i pulled an all nighter partying and winching around town.. have an idea of what you want to throw and practice those while you free ride, i've only been to one comp that has allowed a warm up run. grab everything you possibly can, it will separate you from the rest of the riders that are focused on just landing tricks to get points.

[leviwynnyk]

Thanks for all the tips. Went out tnight and landed all of my tricks quick and in a the same set like i was doing a pass (Indy shifty, HS Backroll, Toe Side Indy, Tantrum, TS BR, HS Indy late 180, TS 180 Indy Grab. Thats about where I run out of tricks, or at least without repeating but with different grabs.

But tonight I stuck my second ever HS 360 and I tried 3 front Rolls and I FINALLY tried a Raley). I think there is something to be said for the feeling of overcoming the fear and just going for the trick. I can't wait to try raley's again. Gonna start with the wakeskate though. Hopefully I can get the 3's more dialed in the next month. Pop, Pull, Pass. So simple but it's the key to the trick (I've tried them for a long time always landing without the rope). I just focused on the triple P tonight and bam, landed it clean.

[Medina]

I did a few contests too, its fun! Just go for the fun and dont expect anything...

And most important let your first run be a SAFE run.

[Chocoholic]

Ahhh you'll have a blast - enjoy!

[core-rider]

1) Don't make a big deal of it, HAVE FUN!
2) Have an idea of tricks to throw, not a strict list.
3) If behind a boat/wake your not used to, make the first W2W an easy test just to get an idea for the wake like a fashion air or something. Believe it or not that trick always get props.
4) You probably won't get a practice pass.
5) If riding with your own rope, have it ready to toss to boat and know a speed to tell the driver. If using community rope, know a length to tell the boat. Talk with other riders that may have already made their pass to get a better idea on the wake, speed, etc.
6) Prepare for choppy water! I've never ridden in a contest with butter.
7) Try not to repeat tricks if at all possible. Grab/poke everything you can.
Try to link tricks so there's not too much switching edges while outside the wakes. (i.e. HS 180, Switch HS ?)
9) Most events I've been to have a "Masters" class (35+). If this contest is 30-39 then read the class rules. Looking at your set list above you have 2 inverts, 3 if you add the raley. That will bump you out of any intermediate comp I've been to and into advanced. If the "old floks" class allows more inverts I would ride in it.
10) Again... HAVE FUN!

[leviwynnyk]

Awesome advice all around, thanks.

It should be interesting. I can't wait.

[Chocoholic]

If it's a fun comp and they have the buoys either end, sometimes they'll give you extra points for slapping it as you go past at the end of your run. Just don't do what a friend of mine did - they had the huge Redbull inflatable ones - and go 'splatt' onto it, looking much like Garfield stuck to the back of a car window. Funniest thing I ever saw!

[latergutgert]

just remember, don't mess up or everyone will laugh at you and call you names

[Afrodeziak]

OP, I'm in Calgary... so just sayin' hi locally. Sounds like we're sorta at the same level of riding. You ever down to Calgary or just ride Sylvan?

I've entered a few comps over the years.. I think the best part of it is the experience to ride with other people that have different style/skills.

As others have said, stick your runs for the tricks you know. Last comp I was in I came 2nd I think? I thought a lot of the other people were better than me, but they didn't land some of their tricks. So I guess overall impression has a lot to do with it.

Just have fun with it. You'll get free shwag in the end anyways.
Enter the division you think you have a chance at doing well in, but aren't sandbagging.

"1) If I'm over 30 do I go into the older guy (30-39) divisions or Intermediate or advanced? I can do 3 inverts, all grabs and a few spins. Hoping to get a few new tricks before then like a R2R (landed it twice last year)."

If you mean intermediate or advanced open???

I'd probably just go into the older guy division. It was a few years back, but the last time I saw the "old guys" go out. Many had inverts and raleys in the bag.

I BS grabbed 180 will get a lot more than the same BS roll as the last guy. just sayin'.

Shoot me a PM if you need an extra rider on board.. It just occured to me, I work more than I wakeboard. somethings wrong here.