Ronix Vault....remove fins or not.....

PARTSPHIL · Newbie Joined: 22 Jun 2012 Posts: 14 City: Mexia

I am new to the sport and didn't know much about buying a board. After some searching, I bought the best fit for myself and my boys. It was a Ronix Vault 144. It has worked great through the summer. This board has 2 solid fins down the outside edges, and two larger fins (one on each end) in the center. Towards the end of the summer, we finally got to ride someone elses board. It was waaaaay looser than ours. Our Ronix is very "sticky", meaning that it doesn't slide or spin. I removed the fins from the center of our board on my last run and it is very "slippery" without them. I was thinking about putting one of them back on and trying it with only one, but was afraid that it wouldn't work well. What are the thoughts of those that are more experienced in the sport about removeable fins? I am not sure about the difference in tracking well, and spinning, but I do know that the falls were much harder without the fins!!!! lol Maybe I just need to get used to it.

ediotism · Outlaw Joined: 14 Sep 2011 Posts: 124

personally i'd recommend you keep the current set up - centre fins out, outside small fins in. the reason is multifold:

1. it'll teach you to edge/control direction properly. the CORRECT way of controlling your turns/direction on the water shouldn't actually be done by turning your board and hoping you'll go the direction the nose of the board is pointed towards. with the centre fins in, the board WILL track water according to where the board is pointed, but you don't learn the actual technique.

the correct way to go about your direction is to lean on the edge of the board, the harder you lean, the harder the edge of the board cuts the water and the more pronounced you'll go in the direction the board is pointed.

e.g. if you ride naturally with your left foot in front (we call this "regular", see terminology below), it's easier for you to turn to your left as you turn the direction of the board a bit, and lean backwards so that the edge of the board cuts into the water and glides you to the direction the board is pointed. this is the easiest direction to go as a beginner, since you're facing the boat and leaning back against the rope as you do this. turning right will require you to turn the board towards the right and then lean into your toes, as the toeside edge of the board digs into water, it'll glide you to the right.

2. i'm imagining that your crashes are more severe at the moment as you get a taste of faceplants, what we call 'catching a toe edge'. basically when you're travelling forward, you try to go to your left by turning the board, but instead of leaning backwards onto your heelside edge, you lean too far forward - the toeside edge catches water and BOOSH catapults your face into water. it happens to the best of us. but as you progress and learn proper techniques you'll understand what should be done to avoid this from happening.

3. a 'loose' board can actually help beginners learn quicker, since you can ride with the board perpendicular to the board without as much resistance, and learn basic things such as heel/toe control, handle placement, surface spins (i.e. doing 360 spins with the board gliding on water the whole time). it's only 'too loose' when you need to hold an aggressive edge towards the wake for some rad jumps and it struggles to hold, but that's like 3 stages away from what you can learn at the moment.

4. when you get a little bit more used to the board with a slightly loose feel, riding is A LOT more fun. boards with big centre fins and strong tracking is like driving a train, it only goes the direction the rail dictates. whereas riding a looser board is like driving a sports car with drifting tires, you can drift and slide all you want yet it can track properly when needed. it takes more finesse and technique, but its a lot more fun than driving a train.

========================
TERMINOLOGY
the edge of the board that's closer to your heels is called 'heelside'
the edge of the board that's closer to your toes is called 'toeside'
if you naturally ride with your left foot in front, you're a 'regular' rider
if you naturally ride with your right foot in front, you're a 'goofy' rider

PARTSPHIL · Newbie Joined: 22 Jun 2012 Posts: 14 City: Mexia

Thanks for taking the time to explain that ediotism! My season is over for this year, but when I start again next spring, I will try it for a while without the center fins, and see if I can get used to it. I really wish I had tried this earlier last year so that I didnt have to wait all winter. It was such a difference, that I can hardly wait!

ediotism · Outlaw Joined: 14 Sep 2011 Posts: 124

don't forget, there's A LOT that you can do to prepare for the new season, so that when it starts you dont get knackered after the first 15min set and not being able to roll off your bed the next day Laughing

(please don't mind me if i sound like i'm talking to a little boy who knows nothing, i try to explain everything as much as i can so everyone can share/benefit from it and point out when/if i'm wrong about something)

1. wobble board/ indo board - anything that requires balancing on your feet helps your wakeboarding. google indo board and you'll see what i mean, but it doens't have to be that. anything make-shift can also work. snowboarding/ surfing is different but both really help, skateboard does too but less so in my opinion.

2. squats. stand straight, crouch down slowly until you can't go further (try to keep your heels ON THE GROUND). your butt should be very close to the ground between your heels. you'll have to bob your head forward and have your arms forward to counterbalance from falling backwards. it also helps if you stand in a shoulder width, duck feet position (i.e. toes pointing outwards instead of directly in front). once you crouch to the bottom, SLOWLY stand back up. repeat 10 times as a set. the first 5-6 will feel like no effort, and then you'll start to feel the strain. gradually work up to 15rep sets for 2-3 sets. you can add this onto option 1, i.e. doing squats on an indo board, which really helps your muscles AND balance.

3. hold out a dumbell in front of you at shoulder height with both arms (don't make it too heavy), arms straight. lower it to stomach height then slow raise it so your arms are at 45degree upwards, then back to shoulder height. repeat 8-10 reps, as a set. throw this onto exercise 1 and 2 above, so you do squats on an indo board with a dumbell in front, but just hold the dumbell at chest height and keep your elbows bent at 90 degrees. this will work your upper back and shoulders as an isometric technique while improving your sense of balance AND core muscle exercise.

4. crunches - put a thin towel under your tailbone, lay flat on the ground face up. breathe OUT while you bring your knees up and your head up at the same time so they meet, keep your back entirely straight the whole time. slowly go back down but come back up when your upper back has touched the ground, without you lying down to rest. build it from 10 reps gradually up to 30, which took me 6 months since i was lazy.

5. trampoline exercises - just jumpy bounce and get radical!

6. rowing machine

7. jogging, vary your speed so you do some leisure jogging and some fast pace rush, no need to sprint too much.

8. swim!

i'll stop here for now, these are just things you can do to make the next season begin much more enjoyable, try to get your hands on some Smile

personally i do 1-4 religiously, 5-8 when i feel like i'm lagging behind with fitness Laughing

GnarShredd · Posted: Nov 26, 2012 9:08 am Post subject:

ediotism, I agree with everything 100% Good posts!

PARTSPHIL · Newbie Joined: 22 Jun 2012 Posts: 14 City: Mexia

That sure seems like a lot of work for a 50 year old Very Happy

lol.

ediotism · Outlaw Joined: 14 Sep 2011 Posts: 124

do it

PARTSPHIL · Newbie Joined: 22 Jun 2012 Posts: 14 City: Mexia

I am in pretty good shape for an old guy, but after the holidays, I will need to start some sort of fitness routine for sure! I appreciate the advice. I really want to be able to keep up with my two boys this summer......or maybe even surpass them!

ediotism · Outlaw Joined: 14 Sep 2011 Posts: 124

i know what'd win me the most respect if my old man rode... if he landed an invert trick before i did

huck a tantrum or a backroll, doesn't even have to go wake-to-wake... as long as you rode away with the handle, you win everything Laughing

im just kidding, have fun and enjoy your riding next year Surprised

dbismyname · Posted: Nov 30, 2012 12:05 pm Post subject:

Phil, you're season shouldn't be over! I just rode in your neighborhood two weeks ago. Go up to BSR and ride, riding cable will give you a lot more time to work on your technique

PARTSPHIL · Newbie Joined: 22 Jun 2012 Posts: 14 City: Mexia

I am just not a cold weather water guy. I prefer my jeep and the outdoors during this time of year! I will be one of the first on the lake next year though. Let me know if you are still coming to this part of the world, and we will get together!

And ediotism, thanks for all the tips. I can assure you that I will be working towards an invert, but so will they!