brand new wakeboarder

Howserman4 · Newbie Joined: 13 Jun 2004 Posts: 3

Hello folks.
I have never wake boarded in my life. infact i dont know a single person who has or has any idea how it is done. I just happend upon this site and thought that the community on here might be able to give me some idea of what kind of board i should get. and bindings. How to get up. How to move back and forth on the water. and how to olie.i have very little ski experience i hope that is not a big deal. THanks for all the help guys.

chaz28o · Posted: Jun 13, 2004 8:25 pm Post subject:

Welcome

One secret to new wakeboarders is you don't need a big hit to get up

In fact.... If you're able to keep the handle close to your chest - then a nice soft slow hit is an excelent way to get up (assuming you have some balance)

Simply.... Keep the handle close to your chest - stay scrunched up - don't stand up too soon - if you fall... Try, Try again

It's like riding a bike. Once you're successful... It's a piece o cake

Massive Matt · Posted: Jun 13, 2004 8:38 pm Post subject:

also, another idea is to use the "Search" button on the top. It will have all the answears to your question in full details.

P.S. welcome to the addicting sport of wakeboarding.

Mister C · Posted: Jun 13, 2004 8:38 pm Post subject:

Well thats a lot of stuff, but I'll see what I can to help you here...

Board - Boards are generally dependent on the preference of the rider, but you would probably be better off in getting a nice, mellow, forgiving beginner board. Now as far as those go, there are a ton, but just to get some input from you: how tall are you and how much do you weigh? These things are important in selecting the right board size. Get back to me with your height and weight and I'll give you some of my recommendations.

Bindings - Another component of wakeboarding that is dependent on the riders preference. Do you prefer something that is stiff with a lot of support or would you rather have something that would allow you to have more mobility with your bindings? Also, do you think you would ride better with an esaggerated knees bent forward lean or would you be more on your heels? Think of any injuries you've had with your back/legs/neck/shoulders and whatnot to see if you'll need more support for those areas. Also, we'll need your shoe size to see what size binding you'll need. Then I'll make some recommendations for bindings too.

How to get up - Basically, you sit in the water (you'll have a life vest to float of course) with board floating in front of you perpendicular to your body. You hold onto the rope and the boat will start pulling you up. The key here is patience. If you try and force the process you'll just fall to the side or faceplant. Make sure to keep your weight back on your heels and as the boat starts to pull you up all the way out of the water move the board sideways into your stance (either regular or goofy) and your up. This will take a while and there will be some falling, but it all comes with time. Also, if this explanation is a little hazy I'm sorry, and just ask for clarification.

Moving back and forth - This is pretty straightforward. You can move either by turning your board and then fins will allow you to turn and move. However, you will find that you will need to edge as you start to get more comfortable riding around. This is basically achieved by keeping your weight either on your toes or your heels which causes pressure on the board and it will edge to the side you want to go to. If you dont understand, just ask and I'll see if I can give a better explanation or point you out to someone who can.

Ollying - This might be one misconception you have about wakeboarding. In order to get air, you dont ollie at all. In fact, its almost the complete opposite. As you become more comfortble with your edging and balance, you'll want to start jumping using the wake to get air. There are two keys here. The first is the progressive edge. This is extremely important. What you want to do is move outside the wake between 15 - 20 feet. Then turn back to the wake and get on edge as you approach the wake. As you get closer you want to progressively edge harder so that you are edging the hardest as you hit the wake. You DONT want to edge hard in the beginning and then slack off. Once you get to the wake, you must stand tall. This is the opposite of ollieing. If you try to olly off the wake your knees will absorb all the pop and you wont get much air. Rather, you'll want to 'stand tall' by straightening out your knees. This will allow the wake to propel you to the air and you have your jump. For your landings, you want to land with your knees bent and on balance. This will all come with practice.

Also, the other type of olly you cuold be thinking of could be out in the flats (ollying without using the wake). This is really not very necessary, but if you want to go switch or mess around you can olly by pushing down and then popping back up and using that tension. Its really not that big a deal.

I hope I answered all your questions, even if it was a little long. Just be sure to tell me what I asked you and then I can recommend some boards/bindings.

Welcome to wb.com, and feel free to ask me anything else. Smile

Pat McCarthy · Posted: Jun 13, 2004 9:02 pm Post subject:

Welcome to the sport and Wakeboarder.com!

Monkey Ninja is obviously the man and just said everything I was about to say. Feel free to private message me with questions or ask here in the Newbie forum. You should get some great answers like the one above.

The Board Finder at http://www.boardstop.com/ is also a helpful way to get some board suggestions based on your height/weight/riding style/experience level. Or, answer those questions and we can all recommend some things.

Howserman4 · Newbie Joined: 13 Jun 2004 Posts: 3

I am 6'3 220lbs. I have no injuries. as for style of ridding i have no idea what would be best for me. Bindings i dont know wether i would like tight or loose maybe you could explain the pros and cons to the various methods of ridding regular or goofy, Heels or toes, and lose or tight bindings. Lets see also i've read a couple of pages about fins versus no fins. I would imagine that fins would be the best for me due to me be a complete beginner but as for the long run what are the pros and cons of fins versus no fins. Thanks for all the info guys.

Pat McCarthy · Posted: Jun 13, 2004 9:22 pm Post subject:

Howserman4, We're of a similar size and weight. You're going to want a board in the 140 cm to 145 cm range.

For bindings, it's really safer to have them tight on you so they stay on the majority of the time. It's also quicker to not have to get your bindings on again after every wreck.

Regarding regular or goofy, you should naturally prefer one stance over the other. Try running and sliding on a slick floor. Which foot do you put forward?

You'll want fins being a beginner. As you get better you can use smaller fins. It helps keep the board stable in the water to have fins.

Here's a link to the Board Finder with settings that fit you:

http://www.boardstop.com/index.php?listing_type=search&height_ft=6&height_in=3&weight=220&gender=M&submit=Find+Boards&rocker_type=&riding_style=&riders_level=

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

Its best to keep your arms extended than close to your chest. If you keep them close to your chest you try to fight the boat and usually lean back, where if you keep your arms out the boat will pull you forward and into the correct position to get out of the water. ARMS OUT

elyse · Posted: Jun 14, 2004 6:50 am Post subject:

getting up- to get up this is what i do and i usually pop rite up, no i dont have a wakeboard boat. u r sitting in the water holding the handle. pull ur nees into ur chest so that they r almost touching ur ears. like wut wakbrad said, have ur arms extended so that when the boat pulls u up 1. u r not fighting to keep ur arms bent 2. u will gete up faster because the boat wont have to extend ur arms 4 U Wink

now u dont want to stand up to soon or u will faceplant. Puppy Eyes

but if u dont stand up then u wont get up at all. so wait until u feel the boat starting to lift u and then stand up. turn ur hips so that the board is perpandicular to the bak of the boat

to find if u r goofy or regular, have a friend push u from behind and see wut foot u put out to maintain balance. this is most likely ur front foot

Mister C · Posted: Jun 15, 2004 10:25 am Post subject:

Sorry for the delay, but I've been busy/lazy lately. Well there are a few boards that could fit yur preference, so lets get crackin...

These are the boards I think would fit into your size and skill level.

Hyperlite
-Vero 143
-Motive 144

Double Up
-Soul 145

CWB
-Absolute 141

O'Brien
-Custom 142
-Oasis 142
-Science 143

Liquid Force
-Search 143
-Evo 142

I think any of these boards would work for you, but it depends on what your looking for. Also, if price is a factor there are a lot of options in that list. You can look up more info about those boards at the Gear Guide (on this site), at other wb sites (such as buywake.com), at the website of the manufacturer (i.e. hyperlite.com), or you can google it if you want.

ll have bindings later...

MrDave · Outlaw Joined: 13 Jun 2004 Posts: 116

might i suggest a Hyperlite board...with some hmm mobe bindings or just some hyperlite ones with high back for ankle support...my step brother has one kinda like that...it works well for him

Howserman4 · Newbie Joined: 13 Jun 2004 Posts: 3

Thanks for all the info I really appreciate it. Right now my only question is would a wakeboard package such as the ones offerd on buywake or boardstop. be good or should i get the board and bindings seperetly. Like are thoose packages good packages or are the board and or bindings usually bad in thoose.

DavidHoff · Posted: Jun 16, 2004 10:36 am Post subject:

The packages are good beginner packages. The main reason some are put together are so beginner wakeboarders can buy a good complete setup without having to pay a ton. No boards and bindings are really "bad" but its just what you or the buyer in general would prefer. As you get better at wakeboarding, then its time to hand select the everything and put together your own package. After experience, you know what you want and how you want it so it makes it easier for you to decide the board, bindings, etc. For now though, package deals would be a good way to go.