Another Backroll thread!

Rocket · Outlaw Joined: 11 Jun 2004 Posts: 127

Sorry for another backroll thread but I have a query that I could not find an answer for.

I am just slightly under rotating my backroll. The nose of the board is going into the water first causing a face plant.

Would more speed into the wake help me to get more height and consequently more time for the end of the rotation?
I don't tend to cut out all that far when setting up for a backroll, I think this is due to the fear of pain!

I am keeping the handle in tight and my rotation speed is good but I just don't think I'm getting enough height.

Thanks for all your help.

Amy · Criminal Joined: 27 Apr 2004 Posts: 92 City: State College

Always go for the trick like you've done it 100 times before, never "baby" A trick---take it from me, it could cause an injury and possibly bad habits may develop...
I think if you just take a little more of a cut, then cut away from the boat , put your chin on your lead shoulder and think UP AND AWAY.......
hope this helps you...sounds like you are close to landing the trick!

midwest wake · Addict Joined: 13 Oct 2003 Posts: 629 City: Middleton

acctully if your already edging like mad for the rotation you need, lay off the edge, you will get more pop, just as long as the line is tight you can do the trick. also try cutting out a bit farther and keeping your edge, try it both ways see what works for you.

afxsguy · Criminal Joined: 01 Jun 2004 Posts: 63 City: P-ville

your right, you aren't getting enough height. im still just trying to stomp my backrolls. i keep landing on my butt now and the handle gets ripped out of my hands. before i wasn't getting enough height either. now im getting plenty of height, and sometimes over-rotating. this is what helped me...

1) Practice your progressive edge... but only start from about 8 feet outside the wake. Some people think that the further out they go, the higher they will jump. For me this was not the case. If you start out further, you gain so much speed that it can scare some riders, and in turn, they will let up at the wake. If you let up on your edge, it doesn't matter how fast you are going... you will lose all your pop. SO... if you start only 8 feet outside the wake, and concentrate on that progressive edge (NOT letting up at the wake) then you will get plenty of height for the backroll!

2) Don't try to jump at the wake... if you do it right, the wake will throw you up. Also, don't try to rotate! Turning your head over your lead shoulder WILL rotate you all the way. What I have learned in the last few weeks is that the rotation comes naturally... it's effortless. The key to the backroll is all in that pop off the wake!

3) Make sure you have already left the wake when you throw your head over your lead shoulder! If you are trying to rotate AS you leave the wake, you will lose your pop.

And as Amy said, do it balls out. Starting only 8 feet out helped it become less scary for me. Anyways, good luck! Remember... pop first, then rotate.

EDIT... haha, between my advice and midwest's advice, things could get confusing lol. try and see what works for you. for me, starting closer to the wake helped.

midwest wake · Addict Joined: 13 Oct 2003 Posts: 629 City: Middleton

whoops where i said lay off the edge, i ment in total, never do it right at the end. yeah everyone will tell you a different way to do a backroll, it's a trick that looks different from everyone elses, i just happen to take a mellow approach to the wake and look at the sky over my front shoulder

afxsguy · Criminal Joined: 01 Jun 2004 Posts: 63 City: P-ville

its a trick that can be done pretty sloppy... so many people have different ways of doing it. im notn saying mine is right though... its just what worked for me.

good luck!

Rocket · Outlaw Joined: 11 Jun 2004 Posts: 127

Cheers guys,

I'll have a go on Saturday and let you know how it goes.

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

if you're not getting enough height you're probably either rotating it too early or not popping off hard enough with your legs. You shouldn't have to do a balls the wall cut if you pop and wait correctly.

afxsguy · Criminal Joined: 01 Jun 2004 Posts: 63 City: P-ville

brad is right, thats why i said try it from 8 ft from the wake. you dont need to crazy speed, just good pop. what i meant by balls to the walla is dont get scared and bail. remember each step (especially waiting through the wake) and go through with it

colefooter · Posted: Jul 29, 2004 8:06 am Post subject:

Ride up the wake like its a wall or something, what i mean is the most important thing is to ride all the way up the wake. If you do this.. everything else is easy. Just gotta look over leading shoulder to spot your landing

savage3221 · Posted: Jul 29, 2004 10:27 am Post subject:

make sure your cut is VERY progressive. I have talked about the progressive in two other backroll forums in the past 2 days so they should be there if you want those, but it also looks like other peeps are already telling you to do this.

midwest wake · Addict Joined: 13 Oct 2003 Posts: 629 City: Middleton

savage3221, yeah it's gotta be progressive, but not like a raley progressive. you don't need a hard edge, ti's just like a wake jump to like a foot or two into the flats, you'll go alot farther than you think you will. if i had to rate my edge being 0 is still and 9 is a raley, i take about a 3 or so. as long as the rope is tight your fine.

simland · Posted: Jul 29, 2004 3:32 pm Post subject:

Are you guys actually able to see anything when you do this trick? When I try it I come around so fast and I can't spot my landing or anything.

midwest wake · Addict Joined: 13 Oct 2003 Posts: 629 City: Middleton

yeah spotting your landing on this trick is a b atch, at least for me. it's a split second just eneough to tell if your over/ under roating and fs/bs rotating. the longer you've done em the slower they seem

Rocket · Outlaw Joined: 11 Jun 2004 Posts: 127

simland, I'm with you man. I hit the water and I don't know if my eyes are closed or something but I haven't got a clue where I am!!!!

colefooter · Posted: Jul 30, 2004 4:46 pm Post subject:

look over front shoulder then! keep eyes open and look for the water

simland · Posted: Jul 30, 2004 9:54 pm Post subject:

Dude, I've tried keeping them open but everything spins so fast. (I also am throwing this trick so I am doing it improper) My brain doesn't have the time to focus or make sense of what it sees. I just feel when the water hits the board and hang on for dear life. Same goes for my crappy tantrum attempts.

STALEFISH79 · Outlaw Joined: 19 Jun 2003 Posts: 200 City: CAPE CORAL

if you watch some of my video clips you will see the exact same problem over and over again.. i ride off a tiny wake.. i found that emphasizing your pop and a bit more speed help.. still havnt rode away yet but rotation is better... just a thought...