Overcoming the mental block on back roll

k9fxr · Outlaw Joined: 07 Mar 2003 Posts: 199 City: MI

Any one have a helpful method of overcoming a fear block on execution...
I have no trouble with toe or healside 3's and landing hard...but I can not approach the wake and go for a back roll.

Most ppl say I just have to go for it, but any other advice.
I am reviewing tapes, visuallizing, etc, but when I charge the wake...I just can't

Mybe I should approach it like a 3 and look a little up instead of back (as on a 360) and see how it goes...

any ideas? any success stories/

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

if youre doing threes you are definitely capable of landing a backroll. i was a little nervous trying a backroll this summer. every night id get out ready to try a backroll get out on the water and just take it easy and not try anything new. i got sick of it and told "the crew" dont let me back on the boat next time until i try a backroll. once you try one youll get comfortable with being upside down. just remember, keep a so;lid edge and keep the handle in at your hips.

david-d · Guest

k9fxr, I have the same exact problem. I know how to do 3's and 5's, but never tried a backroll because I just can't get myself to do it. But like The Headless Chicken says, once you try it once, you're gonna be like that wasn't bad, and get the hang of it.

pbfoot · Criminal Joined: 28 Jun 2005 Posts: 67 City: Grand Rapids

wakeboarding is all mental, just suck it up and go for it :p!

Cameron · Outlaw Joined: 28 Aug 2003 Posts: 180 City: Down Under

Dude backroll are the easiest trick once you get your 180s dialed. You just take a small progressive cut into the wake (maximum line tension in the trough without backing off) then you put your trailing ear on your trailing shoulder and lean away from the wake. Keeping the handle into your lead hip the trick does all the work itself.. adn its such a forgiving trick too you can pull out of the dodgiest backrolls and stay on your feet..

I've found a good way to get over the 'fear' barrier of a new 'type' of trick is to leave it till the end of your run when you wont be riding anymore for a while and when your coming into the shore just go for it and throw it... you most likely wont get anywhere, but after a few attempts at the end of your runs you'll get more comfortable with the rotation and then one day when you out make a decent crack of it..

nickdakoolkat · Posted: Jul 24, 2005 7:41 pm Post subject:

I just started trying backrolls (my first invert attempt) this weekend, my brother bet me 5 dollars that I wouldn't try one, so I half-seriously tried one just to see what would happen, and the invert feeling was the most awesome thing I have ever felt in wakeboarding. I didn't land it, and I tweeked my back on the first try but walked away pretty un-harmed. But after that the fear factor was gone and i ended up trying like 15 more this weekend and I have come real close to sticking it (board flat on the water but I lost the rope and my balance), i absolutely can't wait to get back out on the lake to land one. Just go out there and huck one!!!

USChyperliteBum · Newbie Joined: 22 Jul 2005 Posts: 9

Hey bro dont be scared! Backrolls have never seemed to hurt very badly when falling...i think i have had more painful falls trying 3s! get out there, throw it once and you will see that its not too bad!!

HatzicMotive140 · Soul Rider Joined: 18 Jul 2004 Posts: 261 City: abbotsford

Inverts are like nothing out there, you cannot visualise it, if you have never done it, there are no basics to the backroll except heelside progressive edge. you jsut have to go out there and huck it your first time, realise itsnot that bad and do some more. Last year U was boarding and there was a huge boat full of girls, so i was like...ok its time to impress, so i cut in as hard as i could and leaned back and tucked got almost all the way around and bailed....i wasn't afraid of it after that ever again. take the balls outta the purse and strap'em on and go for it.

mgrab915 · Criminal Joined: 20 Feb 2005 Posts: 58 City: Richmond

Let go of the rope in the air your first try and you will realize it isnt that bad and just hold on the next time

ben8473 · Criminal Joined: 17 Aug 2004 Posts: 86

The trick is this: Don't think about doing it while you are riding around else you will more than likely back out or confuse yourself by thinking TOO much. Just do a normal set, enjoy your riding and while you have a smile on your face take a small cut and throw it.

J_DOGG · Posted: Jul 25, 2005 10:47 am Post subject:

Spend some time on a tramp......

Getting hurt is no fun, but you need to try the trick in order land the trick.

Personally I would get out on the water and do nothing but HS backrolls. first thing you should say to yourself is I'm doing the HS backroll, get out there and do it. no warm-up wake jumps or messing around doing butta slides. Let the boat get up to speed and have at it. Make an honest effort and you just might land the 1st one.

Nothing is better than landing that first invert....you will spend the rest of your wakeboard life searching for the same feeling again.

5280HighButter · Soul Rider Joined: 16 Mar 2005 Posts: 258 City: Littleton

mgrab915, I have to disagree with you on that, I just tried my first Backroll this weekend and I say hold on to the handle. I gaurentee if you commit 100% take a nice size cut w/good progresive edge chances are you are going to rotate at least 90% of the way and land on your board. If I had to choose between Backroll falls and HS 180 falls I'd choose the Backroll, getting off axis and falling is much worse. So k9fxr, get out there and just huck it, you'll be glad you did because being upside down is a sweet feeling!

nickdakoolkat · Posted: Jul 25, 2005 10:50 am Post subject:

J_DOGG, said: Nothing is better than landing that first invert....I haven't landed one yet, but I am very close to landing a backroll, but just throwing it felt really awesome!!!

J_DOGG · Posted: Jul 25, 2005 10:50 am Post subject:

IMO- Never let go of the rope while you are upside down!!!!!

nickdakoolkat · Posted: Jul 25, 2005 10:52 am Post subject:

k9fxr · Outlaw Joined: 07 Mar 2003 Posts: 199 City: MI

I appreciate the imput
any other thoughts?

Enzoborder230 · Posted: Jul 27, 2005 7:11 pm Post subject:

try starting closer to the wake, thats how my friend got un scared, theres less time to think about it and hesistate, and you're forced to do a progressive edge

nickdakoolkat · Posted: Jul 27, 2005 7:15 pm Post subject:

To tell you the truth my Backroll falls haven't hurt that bad at all, compared to catching an edge when I first learned how to butterslide.....I'd chose a backroll bail over that anyday.....Just Go FOR IT!!!! Very Happy

w4k3b04rd3r57 · Outlaw Joined: 26 Jul 2005 Posts: 131 City: Boca

try it on a wakeskate a couple times to get the feel...they dont hurt at all on a wakeboard anyways

k9fxr · Outlaw Joined: 07 Mar 2003 Posts: 199 City: MI

Thanks again, great thoughts
w4k3b04rd3r57, why do ppeople suggest a wakeskate on some of the new tricks, is there less fear of the board being there to nail you?

w4k3b04rd3r57 · Outlaw Joined: 26 Jul 2005 Posts: 131 City: Boca

because you arent attached so u dont catch an edge or anything and the way yuo throw a backroll the wakeskate wouldnt be near you

bhamglassman · Soul Rider Joined: 21 Jun 2005 Posts: 338 City: Bellingham

newman79 · Newbie Joined: 13 Jul 2005 Posts: 21

bhamglassman, useful post..thanks for your encouragement...there's always one, or 100 of these people..

i'm trying backrolls and tantrums before i do 3's, i know it's weird..i just feel like i'm going to catch an edge and faceplant...just look at some vids, and go for it..the more you think, the more you'll psyche yourself out..

bhamglassman · Soul Rider Joined: 21 Jun 2005 Posts: 338 City: Bellingham

newman79, it had to be said. this is my first year riding and for about a month i was scared of taking bad falls but then i realized that you have to stop worrying about it all and go for it. this is my first year wakeboarding and now that i dont care if i take a burls fall, ive landed 3's, ts frontrolls, raleys, and krypts. but my point is that youre never going to progress if you dont try things that are intimidating. to me, thats one of the biggest parts of wakeboarding - conquering your fears.
i dont think you can progress very far as a rider if you dont accept that pain and fear are big parts in wakeboarding. so the bottom line is that you have to accept that bad things can happen, but good things arent going to happen (like stompin first backroll) unless you can get over your fears of what MIGHT happen.

distance09 · Guest

hey man just go for it. hit the wake with a nice progressive edge, and focus on getting alot of pop. just throw it once as high as you can get it and youll realize its not that bad. when i first tried it, i just told myself "i can already do this". it helped me to stay calm in the air and focus on the technical aspects of the trick, rather than the "oh god im upsidedown" mental part. try it, see if it works for you.

bhamglassman · Soul Rider Joined: 21 Jun 2005 Posts: 338 City: Bellingham

k9fxr · Outlaw Joined: 07 Mar 2003 Posts: 199 City: MI

distance
"just throw it once as high as you can get it"
what does that mean?

natxbrotha · Criminal Joined: 30 Jun 2005 Posts: 68

go outside and do a cartwheel? was that scary? now go do a reverse cartwheel with your wakeboard on while hitting the wake. the only way to get over the fear is to just start trying them. what you are afraid of really, is the air awarness. do some flips on trampolines or diving boards or something to get you accustomed to it.

k9fxr · Outlaw Joined: 07 Mar 2003 Posts: 199 City: MI

Today I tried a different angle,
at the end of our runs, I tried a toe side back roll, I didnt have the block on this invert,
did 3 attempts, and tho they were technically terrible, I inverted 3x and think it will help me move forward
thought I'd let you all in on it

HatzicMotive140 · Soul Rider Joined: 18 Jul 2004 Posts: 261 City: abbotsford

what?!? you tried a TS backroll before a HS backroll? man a HS back roll is totally different, a TS backroll is like doing a tantrum jsut the other way, a HA backroll is totally sideways to the boat.

SuperEt112345 · Newbie Joined: 20 Jun 2005 Posts: 26 City: LaCrosse

Inverts are hard to learn at first. I remember learning my tantrum i would cut out and then just not do it. Finally my friends wouldnt let me back in the boat. Just go for it! Itll be the best thing you can do.