The n00biest question ever

[Hijacker]

Before I ask the n00biest question ever I will tell you some stuff first; My family just got a boat, tubes, skis, and wakeboard. The boat is not equipped with a wakeboarding tower, but the guy assured us that the normal ski/tube ring where you tie the rope off will be fine for recreational wakeboarding. Now for the noobiest question ever and a few slightly nooby ones aswell.

How do you get up?
We looked at a few webpages that generally told you to crouch up really tight, elbows outside you knees, then go. We went out today and tried it to no avail. Are we supposed to gun it immidiatly to 18-19 mph(what I read was the recomended speed) or slowly work our way up. All help is appriciated, I sound like suck a n00b I know but please help.

I ride goofy, rest of my family rides standard. We have two fins and only one slot for a fin on each end of the board. Is it okay to have both fins in all the time? One in front and one in back?

Bindings, we have weird bindings. They are boots but are secured with a weird series of purly velcro straps. Is that safe/effective?

Thanks, and any other tips for noob beginers

[Bruky]

We could go on and on and on trying to explain how to get up, but it won't do any good. You just have to figure it out yourself...you're already on the right track, so you're not telling yourself to do the wrong thing. Just keep at it, it takes time.

Fins are preference. You probably won't develope a preference until you can at least clear the wake.

I'd have to see the bindings. They're probably cheapo bindings, and you should probably upgrade if you plan on continuing with wakeboarding.

[DadKid]

Welcome to the sport and the forum. You can use the search function of this forum to get lots of tips. Buying an instructional video like Detention is helpful and entertaining. Finding a "coach" for the first time also helps.

My key "getting up" points are:
1) It's all technique and not strength or boat power; ease the throttle gently
2) Keep your arms straight
3) Let the boat pull you into a compressed ball with your butt to your heels
4) Only stand up when your centre of gravity is over the board
5) You can turn the board as you stand up.

Good luck! Don't get frustrated and stay away from tubing (I've heard it's not as much fun)

[ontrider]

I tell beginners when getting up to pretend like they're sitting in a chair, but on your back.. and bring your knees to your chest a bit. You don't have to gun it... just get up to speed gradually, the board has enough surface area that it will plane without any problem. Besides that just keep trying. Getting up on a wakeboard is easier than getting up on skis.

[Hijacker]

Alright, thank you all. I guess I wasn't specific on my problem but your tips should help anyways. When I lay in the water, bottom of the board to the boat, and the boat begins to slowly go forward, the board stays underwater and then I am standing up but the board is pushed down further and I fall forward painfully. I tried 4 times, my dad tried 8 or so. I got a pain in my chest from one time when after I fell I hung on for a second and it really hurt.

[ontrider]

The board has to be angled upward so it will come out of the water and plane. Think of it as you're sitting, digging your heels into the water. Doing that you should have no problem getting up.

[HyperRash]

if you can post a picture of your board/bindings

[downsideup]

Keep your back at about a 45 degree angle away from the boat, legs out in front of you. Keep your back strong. Your elbows should be outside your knees with your arms out straight. Do not pull the rope to your body, keep your arms straight the whole time. Your knees should be loose. As the boat starts to pull, the water will push your heels to your butt. As you start to pick up speed, your board will start to roll forward so that it is more parallel to the water surface. It may dip under water, but that's okay so long as you keep your toe edge higher than your heel edge. After a couple seconds, when the boat gets a little faster, the board will pop up on top of the water. At this point, you should still be sitting on your board, knees bent, back leaning away from the boat (not pulling away from the boat, but leaning against the pull of the rope), arms out straight. DO NOT try to stand up until the board is completely on top of the water. Once it is, you can stand up, turn your right foot a little forward (you said you were goofy, right?) and ride immediately outside the wake heelside. The water should be a little smoother out there. Just remember, the boat is a lot stronger than you, so don't fight it. Don't try to pull yourself up, the boat will do it for you.
Back strong.
Knees loose.
Arms straight.

Most people have the same fin layout on the front and back, so put both fins in and leave them.

Hope that helps.

[Insanetoast]

Like Bruky said figure it out for yourself. There are a lot of different ways to get up just find the one comforatable for you. As for the boat speed you want to accellerate quickly, just not 0-40 in 2 seconds. When you're in the water keep the board where it feels comforatable with your knees bent and arms strait. Keep the rope tight at all times and don't pull the rope towards you. The next part is just timing. Once the boat gets going keep the board above or just below the water at all times and keep it angled up. don't push your toeside into the water or you will just go under under and crash. Next You have to turn the board into the right stance at the right time. If you turn to soon you will sink because you don't have enough speed. Just figure out the right time to turn and it should be easy. Once your up you will probably fall right away but just keep at it and you'll get it.

[gilby00]

what everyone said, if you still have trouble with the board going down into the water, what ever foot is forward, tip that side up out of the water, gives you an advantage of getting up quicker, if the board doesn't turn swivel you hips. that should work

[WyLd_ChiLd]

Do you have any wakeboard buddies, Or even spend 30 bucks and go get some lessons...Helps alot and gets you on your feet with the sport.

[Bruky]

scott a. is offering internet lessons for $5/hour. You should hit him up on that.

[kdawg]

i always tell people to start with the board sideways and as soon as u feel pressure straighten the board. usually works for me but everybody is diffferent

[Fast351]