Tips for Newbie Drivers?

[Peter]

Hi All, Despite the fact that I'm sure you've had this question a million times before...please try to help us out a little!

Our family is just starting into wakeboarding... kids are 10-12 years old, we've purchased a Hydroslide Smarty 122cm board.

A couple questions: should we leave the fins off the board when learning.. so far the kids are starting leaning back, board sideways, rope between the legs. They pop up then face plant without ever spinning into a 'running position'. I'm wondering if trying to slide the fins sideways is the problem.

Second, how much power to give? We're used to tubing and waterskiing, but we're unsure about how much power and speed are needed?

Last, for newbies, what angle should we set the bindings for easy learning? One of the kids is thinking, "set them up like a slalom ski and watch me get up".

Are there any online instructional sites?

Pete in the great Northwest (Southwest to the Canadians)

[savage3221]

-I think there is a link on how to get up on the home site under "trick tips" also there are some other threads on how to get up on here, they have some good stuff, you should check it out.

-your bindings should be a slightly ducked outward (however comfortable), rither equally or the front foot a little more (again how ever feel more comfortable)

- you do not need to gun the boat..a nice easy start (but not like just above idling or anything that is too slow), and work up to about 17-19 mph for a beginner, or slower if they want you to go slower, but if they get to slow they will sink or work too hard to not sink and not be able to ride at all.

-if you have been gunning the boat and puling them up like a slalom skiier that is probably why they have been just doing faceplants..but if not then they just need to turn the board earlier. it takes practice to get the timing down, but once you get it it is easy as pie to do over and over


GOOD LUCK!

[BrandonC]

I recommend people start turning the board as soon as they say hit it. If they are falling forward theres a few things to watch. Are their arms bent in a little? Are they bent over at the waist? They are probably not leaning back far enough. If you are bent forward with your arms extended, (which is a common stance for someone whos just learned to get up) and I pull you forward an inch, where are you going to go? Onto your face. By having arms bent in a bit, near the waist and the back straight you have room to counter surges of the boat by letting your arms forward a little, and leaning a little if needed until you're under control again.

I've pulled more people than I can count. Trim all the way down if you have it. I give decent throttle, little ones shouldnt take much to get up. Big folks 200+ lbs I usually nail it. I'm almost slowing down just as fast as I've sped up. As soon as the person is up Im already letting off throttle. You have to slow real steady or you'll dump the rider. You can probably pull the kids around 12-14mph for starters. People say you have to go faster to stay up but thats not true, I can stay up no problem at 14mph and I weigh 225lbs. Granted you can hardly see my board, but it is easy nonetheless.

I dont know how other boats are but mine doesnt show your speed until you've started to level off, and if you're gunning it you can be doing 30 before the speedo even starts to show anything at all. You'll know by the sheer look of terror in the kids eyes

Thats all I can think of for now! Good luck.

[BrandonC]

Oh yeah the bindings, experienced riders will set them in a duck stance usually identical on both sides, so its the same position whether they are riding switch or not.

If you ride left foot forward its called normal, right foot forward is goofy. For a normal stance beginner, the right binding would be at 0 degrees and the left one would be turned out left around 9 degrees. Once the kids are comfortable riding normal, set the bindings equally outward and have them try to get up goofy. Once they can ride both ways then they can worry about doing 180's and all that other fun stuff.

[joedirt00]

Definitely don't gun it like pulling a skier. When I got my first wakeboard, that is what I thought you had to do, so I got my a$$ kicked by the boat for about an hour and didn't even get up. Then I went out with a buddy of mine who knew how to drive and popped up the first shot...for about 15 seconds and lost it, but i got up.

[wesgardner]

Hey Peter,

All good advice from the other posters...another - get the video Higher Education - it'll take you from setting the board up thru the most advanced tricks...

Oh yeah, welcome...prepare to have some fun, you'll be needin' a board real soon!

Wes