Modify My Launch Angle ???

howabouttheiris · Addict Joined: 16 Jun 2005 Posts: 677 City: Austin, TX

Without going down the path of progressive edge and straight legs..... it has been done too many times and I would like to start an different thread....

Is there anything that can be done to trade distance for height?

Is the only option a short approach with an extremely quick and powerful line load? (Does this even work?)

Can you get more height if you put more weight on you trailing foot (thickening the bottom of the wake and changing it's shape)? You may need to assume the wake is not a perfectly solid Nautique wake, but a POS run-about wake.

Any ideas? Any suggestions?

What do you do if you want to throw a trick really high, but not fly clean thru to the other wake's wash?

J_DOGG · Posted: Jun 28, 2005 8:04 am Post subject:

I might not understand exactly what you are asking but it does sound like you are asking two different questions.

The Approach angle and release angles can and are usually different. For instance you can approach the wake with a real mellow progressive edge and at the wake load the line hard to do a HS Backroll for instance. You left the wake at or very close to 90 but approached the wake more at a 45. Classic load and release mechanics. You could do the same mellow approach and just ride up the wake in a progressive manner to get real high for a 3 or 540. You left the wake close to the same angle you approached the wake so you have less line load, more height and for me an easier method for spins FS or BS.

Approach angle, a hard 90 will generate lots of line load and send you out to the flats...Beneficial for some tricks detrimental for others.
A more mellow approach will put you in a better position to go up and not out.

We have not even gotten into the trip flip approach which is different from trick to trick.

When in doubt stay on the progressive path.... few tricks require the hard Raley cut and you will know when it's needed.

howabouttheiris · Addict Joined: 16 Jun 2005 Posts: 677 City: Austin, TX

Thanks J_DOGG,

, but you did miss my question a bit.

I am not concerned with the angle between the board and the wake. (although I appreciate the info)

I am looking at the other dimension..... The angle formed by the bottom of my board with respect to the surface plane of the water.

ie how rapidly I gain jump height vs jump distance.

Let's say that I can jump 20' W2W at an angle that puts me 5' high when directly behind the boat. Is there a body position, or approach change that could get you to a 15' jump that has you go 7' high?

I think of it like a high jumper, is there a way to more effeciently convert the speed to line load, or do you always get both?

I probably should have listened more in high school physics.... :)

Wake_Turner · Outlaw Joined: 28 Feb 2004 Posts: 244 City: kelowna

You are looking for the difference between a 3 stage and a continuous rocker, if you edgeing is proper and aside from the wake shape the biggest contributor to making more of an upward pop would be gettina board with an agressive 3-stage rocker. that is going to be the easiest solution

J_DOGG · Posted: Jun 29, 2005 7:25 am Post subject:

Squat down on the approach and pump the wake on the way up.
Like you would for a spin trick.

I think I see what you are getting at.
The board is at the same angle, taking the same progressive edge at the wake.
If you squat down and pump the wake at the right time you go up higher than if you held that same angle and just extended from your normal position.

This is were some people get that Ollie, mentality going.
You are not really tryn to Ollie but more so tryn to harness the wakes pop with the momentum of pumping the wake to take you up that extra 3 feet or so.

Doing this too early will cause you to flatten out, doing it too late and you lose pop.
It take timing.

Am I with you?????