Proggressive edging?

[Chad H]

What is it i hear all the time on here but don't know what it is

[DavidHoff]

Alright. When you see pros going huge, most of the time tha fast cut their using into the wake is called a progressive edge. Cut as far out as possible. A when you cut in progress into the wake getting a little faster each time and as you hit the wake you should be at your fastest possible speed. You want to point your board straight into the wake, lean back, have the handle in (line tension), and make sure you don't flatten out until you pop off the wake. It's pretty much just making a hard cut and starting slow and progressing to fast speeds into the wake.

[aloharodeo]

you start out a little on edge, and get more and more on edge as you go.

[show_boy08]

slowly edge harder until your at the wake. should be at full edge at the wake

[elyse]

to get a good description of it, go to begginer tricks and look up progreffive edge.

[elyse]

sry i meant progressive

[MinnDizzyG]

Wakeboarddrumma

OK, this post is partly for you and partly for myself to lay out what it means to me to do a progressive edge. Thanks to salmon_tacos for a lot of this info, plus the host of other posters who have given their explanations, and to Pat McCarthy for the description in the Trick Tips section of this site. This is a compilation of everything I've gathered from reading this site plus what I've picked up boarding myself.

Edging is using the rails of your board to generate speed, stability, and when hitting the wake, pop. Technically, I think it may use Bernoulli's Principle or some derivative thereof, but someone well-versed in physics and/or hydrodynamics could comment on that for sure.
Progressive edging refers to gradually increasing the amount of edge used in a cut toward the wake with intent to jump. The purpose is to keep slack out of the line, which in turn builds up tension on the line. When your board leaves the wake, that tension is released causing the famous "pop" that we're all after. Think of edge on a scale from 1 to 10, where 1 is standing nearly flat on the board (No edge) and 10 is as much edge as you can control.

1. Cut out 10-15 feet. Ease up, chill for a sec and wait for the boat to start pulling you toward the wake.
2. Begin slowly pressuring your heels evenly (1-3), keep handle low, back straight, eyes up.
3. Bend knees, more even pressure on your heels (4-6), handle low, back straight, eyes up. Spot the wake.
4. Just before you hit the wake, slowly/steadily push your legs straight while keeping your back straight (this is what's called "standing tall"). Keep the handle in low, get your eyes up or out. Do not let off your edge, which should be in the 7-10 range.
5. Maintain step 4 position and technique (i.e. continue to straighten & edge) up & through the wake into the air.
6. In the air prep for absorbing the landing, eyes up, handle low. Both keep you in better control.
7. At the landing bend your knees to absorb the shock, but stay on your heels for stability.

Notes:
> Notice you don't necessarily have to be at a 10 every time you hit the wake.
> The straightening of your legs & back - "standing tall" - is designed so your legs don't inadvertently absorb the upward force of the wake by you bending at the knees or waist or both. Theoretically you could try to hold your legs rigid with your knees slightly bent. If you can hold that position at the wake more power to you, I'm impressed. But you'll still get more air by being in a dynamic straightening action rather than a static held position.
> Yes it's a 7 step description, but understand that it all happens very quickly. The shorter your initial cut out is, the less time you have for a set up, but note that this can all be done from 5 feet out. A short rope will also cause you to have less time to set up and proceed through these steps.
> Note that you edge through the wake - keep the handle low and your eyes up for stability. A recent post assured that if you edge through but stand tall, keep the handle centered, and keep eyes up you won't slip out & land on your butt.
> A poster a while back mentioned rediscovering how smooth wakeboarding really is. I agree; yes, the steps I describe happen in pretty rapid succession but it feels like it all blends into a single long smooth action when done right. Smooth and steady.
> As you take off so you tend to land. Look down at the water in the air and you travel downward, or you'll bend at the waist on the landing and crash. Keeping your eyes up helps with this. Do you have to actually focus on the shore or boat or something? No, just look out, not down.
> As you take off so you tend to land (again). Notice I said "even" pressure. Too much weight on one foot or another can throw off your balance in the air. Nose of the board popping up? Too much back-foot weight. Nose of the board burying itself on the landing? Too much front-foot weight.
> Behind a Mastercraft, Four Winns, or SeaDoo this should stay the same.

There you have it. Anybody have corrections to make? I'm not an expert by any means, & like I said this is partly so I could get it straight in my own head. How close am I?

[Chad H]

Thank you that was a great description saturday it should be done

[MinnDizzyG]

Wakeboarddrumma,

Excellent - let us know how it goes!

[simland]

Yes, great description.