Moan and groan (clearing the wake)

derek_lukasik · Newbie Joined: 09 Jun 2004 Posts: 44 City: Fort Collins

Hey,

I just want to rant about the fact that I can't clear the wake. Just started boarding the summer. My goal was to clear the wake by the end of the season (coming up pretty soon here). I just can't seem to make it. I've done the searches on progressive edge and pop and read volumes of posts. I've watched Higher Education several times. I think I understand the concepts of progressive edging and standing tall for pop.

The problem must be in my execution. I think I need to cut harder initially. Though everything I've seen and heard suggests that the cut should begin mildly. When I cut harder, I gain speed (obviously) and come closer to clearing the wake. Is this wrong?

The other thing I really have trouble with is the standing tall part. I can't seem to stand tall without coming off my edge. When do you stand tall? Is it at the very last second before you reach the crest of the wake? So that it's an abrubt transition from knees bent to knees straight? Or is it a gradual motion that begins in the trough and finishes near the crest of the wake?

Derek

Blindside_137 · Posted: Sep 13, 2004 11:53 am Post subject:

what boat do you have?

i rode behind an X2 last week and took a few warm up jumps edging 1/4 of what im capable of and was launched atleast 4 feet up and cleared the wake. once i was warmed up i cut as hard as i could and thought i would try a raley since i was going so big. i was atleast 8 feet up. but i didnt couldnt pull the board back and i still have a headache

with my boat i have to cut as hard as i can and barely make W2W

you might want to consider getting somthing to make your wake bigger

derek_lukasik · Newbie Joined: 09 Jun 2004 Posts: 44 City: Fort Collins

I'm riding behind a Mobius LSV. Plate is 1/2 up, 2 rear bags and 1 forward bag all full. Don't think the wake is the problem. It's me and my technique.

Derek

Blindside_137 · Posted: Sep 13, 2004 1:11 pm Post subject:

nice boat,

i dont really know what to say, you sound like youre doing everything right, just watch some videos. that helped me

derek_lukasik · Newbie Joined: 09 Jun 2004 Posts: 44 City: Fort Collins

Blindside_137 · Posted: Sep 13, 2004 4:09 pm Post subject:

well, on videos it looks like they flatten out, but they maintain the edge.

just sort of squat down as low as you can and explode up as hit the wake.

D-GOOSE · Addict Joined: 09 Aug 2004 Posts: 750 City: Antelope

I don't know that much about jumping but what kind of board do you have. I have heared 3 stage rocker is the best, to help with your pop.

I'm just putting in my two cents Embarassed

derek_lukasik · Newbie Joined: 09 Jun 2004 Posts: 44 City: Fort Collins

wakeboarder_dude22 · Soul Rider Joined: 28 Mar 2003 Posts: 409 City: Australia

Check out my post on the trick tips forum about how to clear the wake.

derek_lukasik · Newbie Joined: 09 Jun 2004 Posts: 44 City: Fort Collins

wakeboarder_dude22 · Soul Rider Joined: 28 Mar 2003 Posts: 409 City: Australia

Yep, wait till you are at the very top of the wake and really push down on the wake, don't jump up. If the line is tight and you push down on the wake, you will get sliungshot into the air.

Bruky · Guest

derek_lukasik, thank you very much for not blaming it on your equipment. You're a big man for that.

Anyways, one thing I notice a lot of newer riders doing is cutting in before they have tension in the rope. Cut as far away from the wake as possible, and then hold that position for a good 4 seconds until the rope becomes as tight as it can get, then hold that line tension and start charging: cut hard at first (enough to make you believe your @$$ is gonna slap the water), then start releasing as you get to the wake (don't forget to hold your legs stiff though whatever stance you may be in) and you should be going into it fast enough that it will give you the "I think I'm gonna bail this one" feeling (once you get used to it, that feeling will go away). Once you get this, the key will be to just hang onto the rope and not let go as you land. Hope that helps...I tought my youngest bro (almost 9 years old) a few months back and that advice seemed to work. Now hes almost got it on the wakeskate Laughing

Good luck!

savage3221 · Posted: Sep 17, 2004 9:42 pm Post subject:

I know you may already know this, but what rope length are you riding at..it could be too long.

derek_lukasik · Newbie Joined: 09 Jun 2004 Posts: 44 City: Fort Collins

Thanks Bruky and savage3221 for the tips. Bruky, I know the feeling you're describing. I do seem to get that "oh $hit" when I'm charging hard. Just gotta pull it all together. Hard cut and stand tall. And no, it's definitely not my equipment. All me and my lack of skill at this point.

Savage, I'm riding at 65' right now. I could shorten it up to make it easier, but that would just be cheating. I'd rather learn it right the first time. Besides, my wake gets pretty turbulent the closer I get to the boat.

I actually did clear the wake one time today. But I promptly fell. I was bracing myself for the usual rough landing when I case the wake. When it didn't happen, I wasn't prepared. If it's not one thing, it's another. Oh well. I'll get it.

Derek

shanda · Outlaw Joined: 11 Jul 2003 Posts: 132 City: Nampa

IMO, it's not cheating to shorten the rope... Do what it takes to pull it all together. Once you get the feel of all the techniques coming together, slowly let out the line back to where you are comfortable... I finally went W2W for the first time this weekend and I did it with a shortened rope. Now that I know what it feels like to have the correct technique, it's like riding a bike, something I wont forget... It doesn't matter how long (or short) the rope is if your technique is solid.

karkid · Soul Rider Joined: 10 Sep 2004 Posts: 327 City: Tempe

good stuff here, can't wait to do some boarding tomorrow nigth and keep tryiing for that w2w

Ladythump · Posted: Sep 23, 2004 6:07 am Post subject:

So does everyone agree that you cut hard and go in fast and then slow up as you get to the wake? I can't clear it and i'm starting out slow and getting real fast right at the wake .... Should I be doing the opposite??

wesgardner · Posted: Sep 23, 2004 7:03 am Post subject:

Hey Ladythump,

I think you cut gently and then increase your edge/cut progressively until you've built line tension and then release all of that at the top of the wake by standing tall...easier said than done...

As far as fast, as you're pulled back in toward the boat, your speed will increase naturally so I'm not sure that it's all about flyin' in toward the wake - in many cases that screws up your timing and you just end up riding over the wake rather than getting popped up....

Technique, technique, technique...practice, practice, practice - what I've noticed is when you're doing it right, it FEELS right

Wes

Blindside_137 · Posted: Sep 23, 2004 11:40 am Post subject:

watching other people helps a lot too

elyse · Posted: Sep 24, 2004 7:54 pm Post subject:

i would say shorten up ur rope to 60, go about 20, and STAY ON YOUR EDGE ALL THE WAY THROUGH THE WAKE, EVEN WHEN YOU ARE STANDING TALL!! i used to flatten out rite b4 i got to the wake and i wouldnt get any air, all you have to do is stay on ur edge, bring the rope into ur waist, and look up. as long as you stay in your edge, you barely even have to cut in.

waverider* · Outlaw Joined: 02 Aug 2004 Posts: 145 City: Pickwick,Tn

Do you think i can clear the wake, with out a tower on my boat??

DavidHoff · Posted: Sep 24, 2004 9:04 pm Post subject:

waverider*, Yes, It's very possible to clear the wake without a tower.

WhirlyBird5 · Soul Rider Joined: 27 Jun 2004 Posts: 261 City: Belmont

waverider*, very possible. I was clearing the wake my very first day after i started jumping, not the right way but still clearing it. This was when i was 12, riding behind an unweighted i/o, strechy rope, no tower not even a ski pylon, and on a 7 year old set up (at the time).

colt45 · Criminal Joined: 10 Oct 2004 Posts: 58 City: dallas

just go to the trick tip, it will help you out alot....and just know to stand tall and keep tha rope in tight up to you hips, and when you come up to the wake you will just shoot up in the air......but remember have no fear (its just water) lol

roundbaywakeboard · Posted: Oct 11, 2004 6:13 pm Post subject:

thank you derek_lukasik, a newb who knows his stuff. Don't get upset yet, It's your first season! You have the right attitude and, amazingly, arent putting the blame on the boat. Your technique will come with time. In the meantime-watch vids, draw pictures of yourself wakeboarding, visualize everywhere you go. You'll get it!

wawakechic · Soul Rider Joined: 30 Mar 2004 Posts: 413

Get someone to video you if you can, it might show you that you are doing of oppitite you think you are. One thing I was told was knees behind the ankles, butt behind the knees, shoulders behind the butt.

wakedad1 · Addict Joined: 19 Sep 2003 Posts: 667 City: Discovery Bay

derek_lukasik, Keep trying..... I've been riding for about 6 or 7 years and at the start of every season I have to get my timing and everthing dialed in before I get my w2w's back. It's all about practice and timing.

derek_lukasik · Newbie Joined: 09 Jun 2004 Posts: 44 City: Fort Collins

Thanks for all your input gang. We're coming to the end of the season here in Colorado (if we're not there already). So, I'll probably have to wait until next year to get my w2w down. Actually, the last time I went out, I did pretty well. I actually cleared the wake once. By maybe a millimeter or so. But I guess that counts. Most of my jumps were pretty close to clearing it. I think I'm starting to get the "feel" of the pop.

On the other hand, my Tantrum attempts have gone way downhill. And yes, I have tried a few tantrums even though I can't clear the wake. I needed something new and exciting. And they don't really hurt that much. On the first few days I tried, I was able to get around 1/2 to 3/4 the way around. The last couple of times I've gone out, they were mostly overblown backflops. My problem here is the same as with my w2w, not enough pop and/or air. Now I'm refocusing on getting w2w down with only a couple of Tantrum attempts for fun...

Thanks again everyone,

Derek