How important do you think the driver is?

BaNe · Newbie Joined: 21 Jul 2003 Posts: 4

I am a Newb so this thread is by no means advice for anyone. But how important do you think the driver of the boat is? I see alot of threads in the archives about having trouble getting up, I started to have this problem then we switched drives and I got up the second try. Anyone Else Question

wakeboarder · Addict Joined: 24 Apr 2003 Posts: 702

the driver to very important. its good to have someone driving that is use to the boat also.

scott a · Ladies Man Joined: 13 Jan 2003 Posts: 9810

i'd say the driver is very important.

midwesty · Posted: Jul 21, 2003 6:02 pm Post subject:

very....not so much on getting up (important also) but by going straight and not turning very much so one side of the wake does not get washed out...not sure on the inboards as i have never riden behind one of them but with my i/o if the driver turns very much one way or the other it washes out one side...anyone else have this prob?

89comp · Posted: Jul 21, 2003 6:06 pm Post subject:

I just taught my gal how to drive this year (her first time ever driving a boat) and she is getting better. I can ride well behind anyone, but certain things make the ride behind the driver unbearable. things like when they are going down the lake and a wake is coming in from the side, most people continue to drive their straight line instead of figuring out which way the wake is coming from and turning to get through it faster so the rider can have more time to actually ride and not just ride through rollers.

I think reading the water is more important than keeping the boat at 22 instead of 21...etc.

nitrowake · Newbie Joined: 19 Jul 2003 Posts: 33 City: Kamas, UT

the driver is way important, i was with my friend who just barley got a new boat and his dad had never driven one before so like his 3rd time driving i was wakeboarding behind him and he kept turning and doing all of this stupid stuff and everytime he went to pick me up i had to swim for the rope. having a good driver an important part especially in learning how to wakeboard.

wakeboarder · Addict Joined: 24 Apr 2003 Posts: 702

midwesty, I have the same problem. also with an I/O

anti-shoobies · Posted: Jul 21, 2003 7:26 pm Post subject:

Driver is EXTREMELY important!

doubleupboarder10 · Outlaw Joined: 09 Mar 2003 Posts: 169 City: arizona

YES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! i hate how my dad drives. he is always turning and never holding good speed so when i cut it messes it up big time. so i just practice wake skating

Bogger · Outlaw Joined: 10 Apr 2003 Posts: 134 City: Augusta, Ga

ide say the driver is pretty important. i was out on the lake, and i always thought our boat made a crappy wake. then i switched to skiis for a little bit, and the wake was actually pretty nice. then i found out my dad had been driving way to slow when i was boarding.

FRANKIE · Guest

in my opinion, the driver is muy importante (even for a newbie).

(as a novice, what i have found is...)
- A GOOD DRIVER CAN "HELP" YOU GET UP. he/she won't "gun it" and try to yank you out of the water. he/she can slow down when you need it to try to find your control/center and then can speed up to get you out of a possible spill (due to hesitation).

- A GOOD DRIVER CAN MAKE THE WATER EASIER ON YOU & others. when you fall, a good driver will take the time to make an easy turn - back to you...NOT take that opportunity to whip the boat around (which creates rollers for everyone else on the river/lake...including YOU).

- A GOOD DRIVER WILL BE CONSISTENT WITH SPEED AND ANGLE. ie. they'll help find YOUR ideal speed and keep a nice straight line for you.

- A GOOD DRIVER WILL BE PATIENT WITH YOU. he/she will understand that you need time to find/position the rope and make sure that you and your board are ready before they hit the gas.

i ran out... Laughing

take care.
frankie

BillJ · Posted: Jul 21, 2003 11:22 pm Post subject:

The driver isn't as important if you have Perfect Pass - although they still have to be able to drive in a straight line and not run you over when turning around to pick you up.

I try to let everyone in my boat drive - it teaches them to drive and it teaches the rider how important it is to give a good pull.

red_dragon · Newbie Joined: 05 Jun 2003 Posts: 4 City: Lk Sammamish WA

The driver skill will be directly related to how we'll you can ride (not how well you DO ride) which then makes the driver's job ever so important. A good driver makes all the difference in the world. If they can't drive straight then good luck trying to learn tricks. Make sure your weight is even in the boat so that the wake does not wash out on either side.
Drivers should:
1. Drive straight - pick a point on the shore way in front and always keep the boat pointed it. When you turn, make quick turns and go straight as soon as possible.
2. Don't rip the rider's arms off when the get up. Easy on the throttle.
3. Drive at a constant speed.
4. When a rider falls ease up on the gas and slowly pick them up- NO POWER TURNS! You are only making more waves for yourself and others AND it's NOT cool.
5. Always circle the rider on the driver's side.
6. Look out for other boats and people in the water.

J_DOGG · Posted: Jul 22, 2003 9:00 am Post subject:

Try doing a jumping dock start with a guy that has never driven a boat before, chances are it wont work out to good.

Even with PP the driver is a very important piece of the equation.

You know the sayn "I've got the third now if only I could find a driver". blatantly insulting the people/person you already have with you by sayn they can't drive fo crap. I call him Kev....

chuck · Outlaw Joined: 22 Apr 2003 Posts: 170 City: Arlington Wa

The driver sets the stage......The rider performs

aussie_stu · Posted: Jul 22, 2003 4:27 pm Post subject:

I once heard a saying,

"a bad driver can make the best riders look like beginners"

Partyb · Posted: Jul 22, 2003 6:28 pm Post subject:

It is very hard to ride without a driver. If I could ride by myself, I'd be out there all the time.

On a more serious note, good quote aussie stu. Driver is very important, o/w boarding can get frustrating fast. PP does help A LOT.

fyse0 · Posted: Jul 22, 2003 7:32 pm Post subject:

haha scott i knew you were going to post.. dont worry next summer i will have a boat, life will be good ::trails off into praying::

edit: not because i thought he was bad..because you were tellin me Wink

doubleupboarder10 · Outlaw Joined: 09 Mar 2003 Posts: 169 City: arizona

fyse0, yea i know what you meant hahaha. it sucked i didn't get to bust anything big. not like i really can but i could have trired.

the main thing that pisses me off is when they drive at an angle so you can't hold your cut into the wake. it throws everything off and it is so frustrating. i hate it!!!!

UncleGianni · Posted: Jul 23, 2003 1:00 pm Post subject:

Other than you and the boat - the driver is next most important thing -
Took me a full season to break in my buddy, now we ride all the time with out any issues, just a few quick hand signals and we are set for a nice wake, straight runs - we are going to work on a double up this weekend!!!! -

jbelson · Guest

The driver is as important as your board! It's not easy either, you gotta pay a lot of attention. A good driver takes time to cultivate. Driving good also improves your boarding because it makes you more aware of everything.
As far as learning, the driver is key. If they don't understand the subtlies of the pull, then they're gonna drag you thru the water.
Everyone gets up on my boat...eventually.

mdshoes2 · Outlaw Joined: 17 May 2003 Posts: 145 City: FLORIDA

my dad drives great

wakedaddy69 · Newbie Joined: 23 Jul 2003 Posts: 11

the driver is really important cuz like if u drive bad like i did one time the rider starts yelling curse words at u wich pisses u off and then u end up driving even worse but i can drive good now real good but yea the driver is realling flippin important Cool