New to wakeboarding.......Need some help

raketball · Outlaw Joined: 12 Jun 2004 Posts: 159 City: Dublin

Hi All,
My wife and I just got a ski boat (she is a really good single skier) and we had a nice tower put on it so we can start wakeboarding. I have never been up on a wakeboard (I've already tried a few times). I have a question: While in the water, before the driver accelerates, whould your board be up and out of the water or just under the surface? I've been told both. I got up once last weekend with my board up out of the water, but then I fell down.
Any help/tips on helping this beginner out would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks in advance for your responses.

Tim

colefooter · Posted: Jun 12, 2004 8:14 am Post subject:

Well you can really start either way. I see most people just let the board float , and they curl up with their arms around their knees. Let the boat do the work, dont try to get up yourself. Eventually with some practice you will be getting up in no time. Good Luck! Mr. Green

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

i just let my board float there i dont put it under the water. i suppose i could but it works just fine with it floating. do what colefooter said...dont force it or it wont work. you have to stay relaxed and let the boat pull you up.as for knowing the timing for when to stand up its hard to explain so i think your just going to have to experiment with it and eventually you will catch on. after you get up once...and stay up, i gaurantee you will never fail to get up again.

Mister C · Posted: Jun 13, 2004 3:21 pm Post subject:

Its definetly easier to let the board float out of the water. If you hold it under water you're just creating more work for yourself when you get up and since you're just starting out more work = bad.

Massive Matt · Posted: Jun 13, 2004 3:41 pm Post subject:

if you have a dock around use that. It is so easy with one. Just sit on the edge and let the boat do all the work. when I tried in the water I did it a good 10 times and failed. I tried off the dock and was up the first time, and after that I could get out of the water. I guess I just neeed a feel for the board?

Mister C · Posted: Jun 13, 2004 4:13 pm Post subject:

It'll generally take a while to get up. If you get up the first time and manage to ride around a while without falling then you're in the minority. Just be patient and soon gettting up will come as second nature.

raketball · Outlaw Joined: 12 Jun 2004 Posts: 159 City: Dublin

Hi Guys,
Thanks for all your input! We went out to the Delta today and I was able to get up for the first time. I look forward to visiting this forum in the future for more great info. Thanks again!

Tim

Massive Matt · Posted: Jun 13, 2004 7:57 pm Post subject:

congrats on getting up! next step is to bust out some moves. nothing big maybe even some surface tricks.

Sandell · Criminal Joined: 17 May 2004 Posts: 70 City: wellington

Both ways work fine, I like starting with my board under the water. I just sat on top of the water until the rope comes around, then I grap the rope and let it pull me forward so I am standing on the board heel heavy, keep tension on the line to keep the board down catch the handle and go. My bother-in-law saw me get up this way and so he tried it and got up first time and he's been up on a wakeboard maybe twice. Its a lot less strain on the lower back. congrats on getting up.