Newbie questions. Need help!

drew97tbird · Newbie Joined: 14 Aug 2004 Posts: 3

Ok, I've only been wakeboarding about two weeks. I don't know if you can call what I've been doing "wakeboarding." I can get up very well almost every time, and the few times I don't get up I know instantly what I did wrong.....BUT.....all I can manage to do after I get up is to just ride in a 3/4 standing position...I try to ollie and I fall on the landing....I try to cross the wake and I fall either before I reach the wake or when I get over the wake. Any tips on how to keep your balance and how to carve and stuff. Also is this just something that comes with time. Also I thought of taking up skateboarding in the off-season to help me get used to getting my balance and stuff....would this help? One last question....I am using my friend's board that he bought at Dick's sporting goods....it's a Hyperslide Backlash....no ankle support on the bindings whatsoever....does a board with good bindings help...especially for a person like me with weak ankles? Thanks in advance Smile

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

your blanace will improve with time . try to relax and stand up straight so yournot all hunched over. also you can change the way your bindings are right now so your stance doesnt feel awkward. when i started my back foot binding was straight and my front was angled. once you start to get better you might want to duck them, but that comes later. i dont recommend trying to ollie or anything until you get comfortable riding around on your board. dont try to rush anything, ride around for a while and get a feel for it. then you can start slowly edging heelside and toeside to get a better feel. remember just relax when riding around.

jbjboc · Criminal Joined: 13 Jul 2004 Posts: 69 City: Lake Forest

Dude..... relax and enjoy it! Stand tall, weight even on both feet (maye slightly more on the back foot). Hold the handle about waist level, and bend the knees, not the waist. Learn to carve back and forth inside the wake before venturing outside. Whenm you do, just use your knees as "shock" to absorb the wake. Keep trying, keep having fun!

drew97tbird · Newbie Joined: 14 Aug 2004 Posts: 3

What about the skateboarding? Would that be a good thing to start doing to help with balance during school when I'm not able to go wakeboarding?

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

yes skateboarding is great cross-training. it helps you get comfortable at moving along standing sideways.

Hyperlite For Life · Criminal Joined: 08 Apr 2004 Posts: 89

Blindside_137 · Posted: Aug 15, 2004 4:55 pm Post subject:

yea, i practiced ollies on my buddies skateboard and i improved my wakeboard ollies 200%

just keep practicing and take it slow, im learning switch now and it feels like when i was first learning regular just get the feel and when you fall, figure out what you did wrong

jayp · Criminal Joined: 13 Aug 2004 Posts: 69 City: Portland

I had a heck of a time before I realized that I rode goofy foot. Make sure that's not the problem. Get up the other way. All my friends told me to get up the way they got up. Didn't work for me.

drew97tbird · Newbie Joined: 14 Aug 2004 Posts: 3

Forgive me for not already knowing....but what is goofy stance....I've heard it before but never did figure out what it was.

wesgardner · Posted: Aug 16, 2004 6:42 am Post subject:

Hey drew97tbird,

Right foot forward is goofy...however - my daughter rides her SKATEboard regular and her WAKEboard goofy...go figure.

About stance....

You can try this test but it's not "cast in stone" - the real determining factor is what feels "right" to you...try this - put some clean dry socks on, find a shiny linoleum floor (or hardwood) run and slide - don't think about it, just do it...whatever foot naturally comes out in front is going to be the foot that's in front when you're on your board...

Try it but once again - whatever feels the most comfortable to you

Oh yeah, another thing actually have the boat driver GO SLOW - wakeboarding is NOT done at 30 miles an hour....when you're learning, you can go maybe 15 or so...don't be too concerned with it though...just do what feels comfortable...don't know what kind of boat or who's driving but a consistant straight line is the best course to take, try to get out there early (or late) when the water is flat and there's no wind - this is the best time....you of course can go out anytime but other wakes and the wind driven chop will make you fall down...

Wes