What about us fat guys?

BrandonC · Addict Joined: 25 Jul 2004 Posts: 539 City: Murrieta

I've read everything I could find on how to wakeboard, I've tried to apply it all, and I still havent been able to get up! Im about 230lbs 6ft tall, I have a 143 Hyperlite from Sport Chalet, I dont remember the model but it was about $300, can anyone give me any specific starting tips? Speed of the boat etc?

It seems Im either standing too early and sinking the board, or I get the nose under water which also sinks it, or I try to wait longer and end up getting the rope ripped from my fingers. Is there hope for me?

Thanks for any help!

pooser · Wakeboarder.com Freak Joined: 13 Jan 2003 Posts: 4738

umm pretty much search for anything or even just scroll down the first page on this forum youll find everything you need to know for speed you want to go 19-22. as far as getting up goes just relax and wait. like you already figured out standing up too soon doesnt work so wait. i havent taught someone to get up in a while so i forget what it means when the rope gets ripped out of your hands i think you need to relax your elbows and knees and lean back a little i think.

aloharodeo · Posted: Jul 25, 2004 9:28 pm Post subject:

the driver needs to pretty much gun it when you're ready. Keep your weight back, and don't turn the board till you're out of the water.

aceyx · Addict Joined: 30 Mar 2004 Posts: 770 City: dirty

BrandonC, you can never wait too long. check out the following article: http://www.wakeworld.com/Articles/2002/GettingUp.asp.

as far as the rope getting ripped out of your hands, you have to keep your elbows bent, holding the handle like your holding the reins of a horse. when the driver hits the throttle, you want to just try and keep the same position with your knees and elbows. it's kind of like stopping halfway through a pull-up and holding it there.

good luck, you'll get it soon. and once you get it, it's like riding a bike.

Kris10Gurl · Posted: Jul 26, 2004 6:27 pm Post subject:

My cousin came up and he brought his friend. me and my cousin got up fine but the friend couldnt get up. we know it was b/c he was a little over 200 pounds and our little boat couldnt pull him up. so it might b the boat is too small.
~kristen~

BrandonC · Addict Joined: 25 Jul 2004 Posts: 539 City: Murrieta

Well I doubt its the boat. I got a V8, it gets on plane in 2.2 and 0-30 in 5.4 seconds. I'm just thinking theres something maybe extra for the bigger fellows. My wife pops out of the water the instant after she says hit it. Maybe my window of opportunity is smaller than a little persons!

I dont plan on giving up yet!

wesgardner · Posted: Jul 27, 2004 4:33 am Post subject:

Hey BrandonC,

DON'T gun the boat, good progressive start is the ticket. If you can, get Higher Education, they take you thru water starts - basically sit in the water like in an easy chair, let the boat do the work, the board will be perpendicular to the water at first, keep your weight back, DON'T try to stand right away or what has been happening will continue to happen, get a little speen on and then slowly stand as the nose of the board comes around parallel to the water, you should be standing now with knees slightly bent, don't hunch over, try to stand on up. The first few times will kill your hands and fore-arms but you'll get used to it and after several rides over several days, the pain will ease up....

Just keep at it, it'll happen for you!

Wes

beasoldierprstn · Posted: Jul 28, 2004 7:42 am Post subject:

one other thing u might think about is, dont try to stay dircetly behind the boat. you may start to drift to one side of the wake. dont fight it.

jklein · Posted: Jul 28, 2004 2:53 pm Post subject:

You should checkout Jason Buffalow on the Delta Sessions DVD. He's a big guy... I'd estimate over 250 and he's pulling all kinds of inverts.

HatzicMotive140 · Soul Rider Joined: 18 Jul 2004 Posts: 261 City: abbotsford

yeh i am 205 and i find its just like if someone were to pull you up if you were sitting on the floor except try to turn the baord as the boat pulls you up and push your back leg down and lean back .

barrygtx · Newbie Joined: 08 Oct 2003 Posts: 30 City: Dayton, OH

I am about 230. I can get up fine. Have a friend that could ski that weighed about the same had trouble. What seemed to work best until you get the hang of it is have the boat driver go slow and get the board slowly planning. i angle the board some the way you are going to stand when you get up. just stay tucked and let it pull you up. dont stnad up to quick that drives the board back into the water. i always stay crouched to assure i am planeed good. when use to it you could stay like that as long as you wanted

BrandonC · Addict Joined: 25 Jul 2004 Posts: 539 City: Murrieta

I went out again today! Check out the pic! Theres many more but Im doing the same thing in them all... just different variations Smile

I did get further... just not up yet!

Next time, next time I feel it.

simland · Posted: Aug 01, 2004 7:59 pm Post subject:

haha, nice. If I were you I would focus on keeping my butt in the water. Keep in the sitting position and sideways till you feel like the rope is about to get yanked from you. Once that happens turn the board sideways and the boat will jsut ease ya on up.

BrandonC · Addict Joined: 25 Jul 2004 Posts: 539 City: Murrieta

hmm my picture disappeared, I guess noobs arent allowed to post pictures either!

AndyDeeJay · Outlaw Joined: 20 Jul 2004 Posts: 239 City: Belfast

Im am 16 stone (225LB) and can get up no problem.

Have you got a training boom? - this gives you complete stability. Once you manage that (and you will 100% guaranteed) get someone to feed you out a little rope until you are about 5 feet back from the boom and riding supported only by the water. This is how I learned.

I've pulled people half way to Iceland and back and thy cant get up behind the boat and I'm a qualified instructor! The boom gives people confidence of what to do when they get up. Then all they have to do is enjoy it.

My $0.02

Big T · Outlaw Joined: 03 Aug 2004 Posts: 106 City: Ft. Wayne

Brandonc,

I am 6' 220 and have no problem. Maybe you have too much weight on the front of the board. Just starting out maybe move the bindings all the way back. This will help stablize as well. Just keep trying, you'll get it.

www.azskateparks.com · Newbie Joined: 19 Jun 2004 Posts: 14

I'm 5'10" 225 I'm being pulled from a boat that has just a hook near water level. Bindings are both perpendicular to edge of the board.

1. I lay flat on my back, board facing the boat and about halfway out of the water.

2. Knees about halfway bent towards my arms straight out between my knees.

3. As the boat starts to pull my knees move towards my chest and I lean back back and force my legs down into a standing position.

4. The board is still under water at this point, I just keep leaning back and as the board begins to plane I turn it 90 so the nose is facing the boat. Then just relax and lean back a little bit.

My friends say I muscle my way up more than I should but they weigh 50-75 lbs less than me and pop out a lot quicker.