Fins or no fins/short or long rope?

snugglebear · Newbie Joined: 02 Aug 2011 Posts: 8

Just tried my first time to get up on a wakeboard last weekend. No luck, yet I feel it will be accomplished this coming weekend. Power of positive thinking! Anyway, I am 52, 6' and 250lbs and still very young at heart. I am an avid snowboarder and I water skied for 20 some years. That I think was my down fall in not getting up, I tried to utilize water skiing methods for getting up. This forum has given me some fresh thoughts on getting up and board placement in the water. So thanks for all the info.

To my question, when learning, is it better to have a shorter rope, say 30-40 feet versus 60 or 70', at least the driver can hear you, who is my wife, she is a good driver though. And secondly, do you always utilize the fins when wakeboarding...and learning, sorry if it sounds like I have a slow learning curve. Just the thought of the fins turned sideways and dragging in the water makes me ask. Thanks for all the great info Folks.

GnarShredd · Posted: Aug 03, 2011 5:28 am Post subject:

As far as getting up, the rope length really doesn't matter that much. If you have a tower then in theory it will be a smidge easier (since the tow point relative to you is higher) but not enough to be that magic trick that will get you out of the water. 55-60 feet is probably a good starting point.

As far as water skiing translating to wakeboarding, it can actually be pretty helpful. I've had success teaching people like this: Just imaging you're getting up on a pair of skiis but keep your knees really bent (like you're in a low chair). Count calmly to 5 and then move the handle to your front hip while standing up.

The most common problem I saw with skiers is that they would try to stand up too quckly and either plow through the water or stuff the board underwater. Can you explain how you're falling when you try to get up?

Wakebrad · Ladies Man Joined: 11 Dec 2003 Posts: 12257 City: Dallas

GnarShredd hit it.

As for fins, it is helpful for beginners to have rather large fins. As you get better you are better at using your edges and don't need the fins for staying straight and cutting.

ABoba · Newbie Joined: 26 Jul 2011 Posts: 12 City: Victoria

Fins on when starting for sure, I put my quad (1") fins on and wow did it ever help.

Not sure on the getting up, it took me 6 tries (painful tries) to figure it out, now the driver can't even feel me come out of the water because I do it so fast (I'm a lightweight) The crouch is the key, arms on the outside of the knees and let the boat pull you, don't pull on the boat.

snugglebear · Newbie Joined: 02 Aug 2011 Posts: 8

I am falling to one side or the other, and I am flowing a heck of a lot of water with the board. That is why I feel the water skiing techniques are quite as useful with a wakeboard. With skiing, you pull with your arms and push with your legs and I never had a problem of getting up on skies. From reading the forums and watching some You Tube videos, I feel I need to squat more like a frog and as the boat begins to pull me allow the board togo under the water slightly so it will begin to plain. I left it to upright which made me plow a lot of water and made my arms work to hard. It was a real struggle I have to say. Watching the videos, it looks like it should be a lot easier getting up, maybe not staying up right away but at least getting up should be a lot easier and then go from their. Any suggestions on body and board position when the boat begins to pull would be greatly appreciated. Thanks all for the help!

Stazi · Newbie Joined: 01 Feb 2010 Posts: 39 City: Livonia

The key is to squat as much as you can, like your going to do a clean and jerk. Keep your elbows outside of your knees and point your toes towards the boat so that the board is angled looking at it from side on, so it kinda slides up the water as you are getting pulled. If you dig you heels it will do the opposite and bury the board and you won't win that tug of war. Also use a double overhand grip, not a switch grip like a skier. As the boat pulls you and you start to push water, concentrate on pointing your toes and getting the board to glide up on top of the water and STAY SQUATTED. Naturally your lead foot should edge flare and the board will turn, at that point the board should be on top of the water, only then do you begin to stand and keep the handle low and level with your hip.

snugglebear · Newbie Joined: 02 Aug 2011 Posts: 8

So is the board actually below the water 3-4" or more when the boat begins to pull you. I guess I am visualizing my heels touching my butt or squatting like a frog as some have said would force the board below the water line and pointed upwards at a slight angle. And how does the driver(my wife) handle the boat from start to when I am actually wakeboarding, speeds and so forth, that would be so important for her and would greatly appreciate any help in this area! Thanks everyone!

WhackedRampage · Criminal Joined: 22 Jun 2010 Posts: 70

I have helped many people get up on wakeboards, even my brother who has autism wakeboards now Very Happy

. I tell people who have a hard time getting up that all they have to do is flex their abs and try and keep their chest out of the water as much as they can. After that, it takes around 1-2 tries before they get up. Don't try and stand up, just let the boat pull you up.

As for driving, a steady speed increase for when you're getting up and once you are actually riding, it's really personal preference. I like to ride at 21-23 mph.

Stazi · Newbie Joined: 01 Feb 2010 Posts: 39 City: Livonia

Your wife needs to go fast out of the hole to yank you up, you can't ease into it as you will fight the water the hole time. The board should be out in front of you, sticking out of the water half it's width or so, between you and the boat. The rope in the middle of the board and the board parallel to the transom.

If you try to get up like a ski with the board sideways you'll be fighting it forever and I dare say you won't ever get up that way.

Let the boat pull you up and get the board sliding on top of the water. ONLY THEN try to stand up and straighten your legs. If you try and stand up as soon as the boat starts pulling you, then you will flop to one side and get a face full of water.

cubbies017 · Posted: Aug 04, 2011 3:49 am Post subject:

I would definitely use fins and I used a longer rope when I first got started so I would say go longer. But, different strokes for different folks.

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

Here's how I tell people to get up.

In the water have your knees bent board parallel to the back of the boat. Dont bend the knees too much, just like you're sitting in a chair.

Signal the drive when you're ready. When the driver starts to go the water pressure will push your knees into your chest.

When your knees hit your chest stay in this squatted position and bring the back of the board down to your ass. Basically trying to point your toes forward but because the boots will likely be too tight on the ankles to simply twist them it's a hinge motion on the knees.

With your toes down the board should simply glide onto the top of the water. you can stay in the squatted sliding position if you want to or if you actually want to ride then simply stand up and put whatever foot forward you feel comfy with.

Note that with big fins on the board you will NOT be able to slide sideways very easily and the motion from being in the water to being up will have to be 1 fluid motion. I personally teach people on fin less or just small fins on the board. Especially if it's a 3 stage rocker the board wont feel like it wants to slide out anyways.