Intro and Newb Question

Outdoorbum · Newbie Joined: 27 Jul 2010 Posts: 10

So I have only been wakeboarding a couple times and the first time I went was totally frustrating because everyone in my boat could get up but me. Last weekend I went out armed with some advice from the people in this forum (point toes, let the board go under, etc.) and now I get up every time!! So thanks to all the folks that take time to respond to beginners' questions.
But now when I am up I cant stay straight...my board is pointed left and I can ride that way for a while but cant seem to just point the nose of the board to the boat. When I try i eat it. Maybe I just need more time in the water to get more of a feel?

slidin_out · Soul Rider Joined: 05 Mar 2010 Posts: 353 City: Pearl

yep, you need more water time, you couldn't walk well after you took your first steps as child, couldn't ride far on a bike without training wheels, just give it time, and you don't turn the board to move around you lean on the edge to move, keep going and have fun with it

pet575 · Posted: Jul 27, 2010 12:08 pm Post subject:

Outdoorbum, to get your board to where it is "pointing forward" so that you are parallel to the boat you need to move the rope handle. Right now, you are probably either holding it with straight elbows out in front of you like you are skiing on two skis or you are holding it at your chest with a baseball bat grip like you are riding a slalom ski. both of these will cause the board to try to track sideways on you and then dig in so that you eat it.

You need to move the handle so that you are holding it against the hip that is closest to the boat (a/k/a your "lead hip"). If this is hard for you or you just can't do it, let go with your back hand. Either one of these techniques allows the rope to pull you in the same line the boat is traveling in. Should take care of those slide-outs.

Outdoorbum · Newbie Joined: 27 Jul 2010 Posts: 10

So you hold the handle close to your hip or arms mostly extended?

pet575 · Posted: Jul 27, 2010 1:20 pm Post subject:

Close. Try to keep the handle touching the leading hip.

Outdoorbum · Newbie Joined: 27 Jul 2010 Posts: 10

ok, got it. So will I always ride this way (handle close to the body) or are you just telling me to do this now so i get accustomed to holding the handle at the right angle?

JeffreyCH · Posted: Jul 27, 2010 2:36 pm Post subject:

Hold the handle in close all the time. Positioning it at your lead hip Like pet575 said is key to gaining control of your ride. Proper handle placement will play a big part in all aspects of progression. Also be sure you are twisting at the hips and not your shoulders. Getting into the proper stance, and handle position will feel awkward at first. Roll at your hips with most of your weight on your rear foot, your back leg should be bent, and front leg mostly strait. Square your shoulders to the boat, and pull that handle down to your hip. Once you get yourself straightened out you'll start to get a feel for how the board rides and be able to start carving around.

Outdoorbum · Newbie Joined: 27 Jul 2010 Posts: 10

Ok guys. thanks a ton, that makes a lot of sense and i can visualize everything you are saying. thanks for takin the time and i will let you know how this weekend goes.

Outdoorbum · Newbie Joined: 27 Jul 2010 Posts: 10

just wanted to say thanks to everyone for their help on this forum. I started out not being able to even get up when i first posted, and yesterday went out and started carving around, gettin outside the wake on both sides and trying to jump the wake. I am completely addicted now. Even had my first faceplant lol

Enygma · Soul Rider Joined: 26 Jul 2009 Posts: 356

So now what you want to do is just carve back and forth a lot, maybe do some surface tricks. To do a front side surface 180 simply pull the handle to your back hip, this will do the spin for you just make sure you keep your toes from dipping down or you faceplant.

Other bonus to doing some surface 180's is they put you into riding switch. Learn to ride switch right, get it out of the way and your future riding will show. People on the boat will be a little bored but who cares.

pet575 · Posted: Aug 18, 2010 9:09 am Post subject:

Great to hear Outdoorbum. Whether carving, riding regular, riding switch, or starting surface 180's building your riding around holding the handle in close on your front hip will be a GREAT fundamental for you. It took me nearly a season of riding to figure that out because nobody told me. Wish I'd known sooner.

Keep it up!

Outdoorbum · Newbie Joined: 27 Jul 2010 Posts: 10

thanks for the handle tip. I tried to surface 180 but could only get the board sideways, then went back to my normal stance. I will try to bring that sucker all the way to my back hip now! What about just jumping to get to riding switch? Am i asking for trouble before learning to do it on the surface first?

pet575 · Posted: Aug 18, 2010 11:03 am Post subject:

It might be a bit rough at first. I'd master surface 180's first because you will rely on the same fundamental shifting of the rope handle from front hip to back hip whether you're doing surface 180's or ollie 180's. I think people as a general rule start with surface 180's and then graduate to ollie 180's anyway.

Once get it sideways, really concentrate on getting that handle over pretty far to the back hip!

Outdoorbum · Newbie Joined: 27 Jul 2010 Posts: 10

ok. yeah i was just reading thru the trick forum and it looks like with ollie 180's i am biting off more than i can chew right now. Surface it is Very Happy