How to fall?

rmarion · Newbie Joined: 03 May 2004 Posts: 37 City: Anaheim

This fat old man needs some advice on how to fall properly. I've seen the other side going wake to wake but have not rode it out, without a crash.
My problem here lies on falling. I've had too many concussions during all my sport activity’s, normally when I fall wakeboarding I go in HEAD first. Over the weekend, I rung my bell again. I only have a few more crashes/spills, before they put me in the padded room.
Explain to me the best way to fall and how?

My Goal is to achieve hs & ts 180's and I will be pleased.

Thanks
Rick Marion

rybassett17 · Addict Joined: 11 May 2004 Posts: 562 City: Cadillac

just try and look where you wanna go.... I dunno just try and pull your head towards your chest and almost curl up into a ball but I guess that would on;ly work in certain situations

Mister C · Posted: Jun 08, 2004 4:23 pm Post subject:

I guess if you know you're gonna fall and theres no way to save it then your best bet would be just to let go of the rope so you dont get pulled into the water. Have you considered wearing a helmet since you have had problems with concussions in the past? They've got some pretty decent looking helmets out there on the market so you wouldnt look like a retard or anything. Just a thought.

jryoung · Ladies Man Joined: 19 Mar 2004 Posts: 7664 City: Man Jose

Get a helmet, but before the fall try and avoid it. Make sure the handle is close to your hips, since you fall face first I'm guessing you're letting it get away from your body consequently pulling you forward. Stand tall at the top of the wake and keep the handle close. This should help, but definately get a helmet, I'm in the same boat, I get headaches after a concussion a few years back, its a brain bucket for me!

rmarion · Newbie Joined: 03 May 2004 Posts: 37 City: Anaheim

Helmet......+ Old (43) + Fat (220#) = my boy's won't let me in the boat with them........lol

actually a helmet sounds like a good idea..........my neck is cracking now as I type. It's HELL getting OLD. Sad

jryoung · Ladies Man Joined: 19 Mar 2004 Posts: 7664 City: Man Jose

rmarion, check your local shop, or send a PM to K-Dub, I got mine from him (Ultimate Watersport/Boarders Paradise).

PS your boys won't let you get in the boat with them??? If they complain tell them helmets are cool and more importantly who paid for the boat Laughing

Mister C · Posted: Jun 08, 2004 5:00 pm Post subject:

Yeah, go snag a helmet and just pick out a cool one - at least as cool as helmets get anyways...

As for as your boys go, you're the one that owns the boat...you could figure out the rest Very Happy

jryoung · Ladies Man Joined: 19 Mar 2004 Posts: 7664 City: Man Jose

The Monkey Ninja, are you trying to say helmets make you look bad. I didn't know wakeboarding was a fashion show Wink

Mister C · Posted: Jun 08, 2004 5:08 pm Post subject:

I never said helmets look bad, this is what I said.

jryoung · Ladies Man Joined: 19 Mar 2004 Posts: 7664 City: Man Jose

The Monkey Ninja, positive well maybe, why the "so you wouldn't look like a retard" and "at least as cool as helmets get anyways"

How far can helmets get on the "cool" scale? Razz

uspap · Outlaw Joined: 18 Jul 2003 Posts: 163

I am 43 also and around 200. I bought a helmet for the same reason. I have rung my bell so many times it's not funny. I had dizzy spells for two weeks one time after a hard fall. I then got the helmet. I use it to learn new tricks, then when I feel confident I don't wear it. Who cares how you look in it. We old farts have enough problems without worrying about smashing our mellon.

Mister C · Posted: Jun 08, 2004 5:35 pm Post subject:

jryoung, man, they are waaaaaay up there on the cool scale, i thought you knew??? Razz

hyperrider · Addict Joined: 06 Aug 2003 Posts: 613 City: Edmonton

i may not be the oldest person but i also use a helmet. i only use it when im learning new tricks and then when i get them i dont wear it anymore. who cares what you look like in a helmet...would you rather get hurt or look cool?

Alan C · Soul Rider Joined: 26 Jan 2004 Posts: 329 City: Calgary

ya there are some rad helmets on the market now and they will help out soo much... i dont wear one wakeboarding but i do snowboarding and it gives me a lot more confidence... i think it helps me improve faster just because im not afraid to fall!!

wakeboardpro10 · Outlaw Joined: 05 Feb 2004 Posts: 218 City: OC

i say that you just dont fall and land your tricks the first time Laughing

vetndan · Criminal Joined: 25 Jan 2004 Posts: 58

Helmet = Good. Sportchalet has them on sale right now for only $39. bucks. This is the good pro-tech one that normally runs $50.

J_DOGG · Posted: Jun 09, 2004 8:27 am Post subject:

Face plants = classic problem of chasing the handle.

Keep the handle in tight and stay strong at the wake. most people keep the handle in tight only to let it all the way out while in the air. Stay firm and keep the handle in close. It truly is your life line behind the boat. Also looking down = going down, head up and stay in a balanced position.

I'm not a believer in the helmet thing and I'm 33 so, to each his own on that one.

uspap · Outlaw Joined: 18 Jul 2003 Posts: 163

J Dogg,

I didn't start wearing a helmet till I was 41. Those last few years were brutal. We may be old at 43 but at least we're still trying new tricks. Ten years makes a diffrence in how much abuse you are able to take. Ah to be 33 again.

rmarion · Newbie Joined: 03 May 2004 Posts: 37 City: Anaheim

Hey Guy’s

Thanks for all the responses. I defiantly will be purchasing a (crash) helmet soon. Also major thanks about keeping the rope close to the body; I’ll try to remember that tip (that is TRY to remember, Oldman Idous). You also hit the nail on the head, regarding approaching the wake with speed. It’s almost like you’ve been watching. I’m old school (skiing), I’ve been cutting hard to the wake to clear it, my approach is way to FAST = crash = headache. I’ll post some pic’s it hilarious.
We have rented a houseboat on Mead for a week; I should be PRO when I return (LOL).
Pro = w2w. Laughing

Again thanks for all the tips. Cool

Rick

studlystud08 · Criminal Joined: 01 Jun 2003 Posts: 87

What the heck is wrong with ur boys???? more weight=bigger weight

studlystud08 · Criminal Joined: 01 Jun 2003 Posts: 87

wake***sorry guys

Bruky · Guest

studlystud08, that gets a good "haha"...clever Laughing

I got a helmet for sliders. It's pretty cool...looks like a baseball helmet. It also gives you a place to bust out those extra stickers and shizit...I got this crazy foam Sideshow Bob wig...that's cool too Mr. Green

roundbaywakeboard · Posted: Jun 10, 2004 1:00 am Post subject:

Concussions from wakeboarding? The only time I actually got a concussion from this particular sport was when the board actually came off my feet and hit me in the head. I would recomend getting "Higher Education vol.1"...they teach you progressive edging techniques and the like. Also-make sure that your rope isn't stretching. If it is, it's pulling you off axis and that's......not good. (nylon is a stretchy rope. Invest in a kevlar or other static material rope).

leslisa · Posted: Jun 10, 2004 3:38 am Post subject:

Just a little thing from me, I don't head first anymore because I try to not lean towards the boat so much and play more "tug of war" with the boat (if that makes any sense at all!!) so that the rope is taunt. I think this is similar to what was said above.

Lisa

Jane · Criminal Joined: 25 Sep 2003 Posts: 84 City: NL

One more advice which helped me a lot: Don't look at the wake you want to cross... try to keep your head up, look at the shore or just in the direction you want to go... Where your head goes, your body follows...!

(And by the way... I really don't think a helmet will avoid the pain of face plants... )

LFADAM · Posted: Jun 10, 2004 6:41 am Post subject:

if ur buying a helmet, pro tech helmets are really good. comfortable, good padding. They are like 70 bucks but I think in ur situation its worth it.

k9fxr · Outlaw Joined: 07 Mar 2003 Posts: 199 City: MI

The helmet will give you more confidence, and lessen the pain of impact,
you will be more likely to ride aggressively.
Soon you'll forget you are wearing it.

I got one after a concussion last yr, best thing I did.

Now I ride the short bus, but at least I'm riding

colefooter · Posted: Jun 11, 2004 5:29 am Post subject:

When you crash you really dont have a choice of how you want to fall, but falling back is normally less painful than a faceplant.

wakeguy2008 · Addict Joined: 16 Jul 2003 Posts: 847 City: Ft. Myers

yeah that normally it what happens Rolling Eyes