started today plz help!?!?!?

armed and dangerous · Newbie Joined: 30 Jul 2005 Posts: 22 City: milwaukee

hi i just started today and i could get up the third time i tryed but not for very long and i have some questions. when i did get up for about 15 secs i face planted Shocked

my board was very shaky, kept veering to heelside -any way i could stop that or is that normal for a first time? would a tower help keep my rope taut? two or four fins? thanx for the help and i hope to get better!! Very Happy

scubasteve1942 · Posted: Jul 31, 2005 3:47 pm Post subject:

The board being shaky is normal for your first time. It just takes some time to get used to. You shouldnt need a tower to keep your rope taut. It probably kept getting slack because you were moving your arms back and forth or the driver of the boat kept chopping the throttle ( thats what happened to me my first time).

shadowfox · Outlaw Joined: 28 Jun 2005 Posts: 156 City: N Tex

the slip and slid is a little natural. you might try putting a little more weight on ur back foot. That is what I have told people to do and it has helped them get used to it. Once they are comfortable i have them even out the weight. A tower would help with getting up for sure. We added a tower to our boat this year and people that were having issues getting up before said it made a huge difference, then again it could have been all in their head. You might also make sure you are not using a ski rope, it really does make a difference and you can get them cheap off ebay. Just stick with it bro and you will have it in no time.

jmac2173 · Outlaw Joined: 11 Jul 2005 Posts: 145 City: h-town

answers to ur ques.
1) yea its perfectly normal
2)a tower really wouldnt help to much with rope tension
3)well ride with 2 fins for good stability. idk of any board that has four removable fins(except for the o'brien valhalla which i doubt u are riding)but if it has 4 keep them all in it will def. help you.
and just keep practicing, you'll get it.

armed and dangerous · Newbie Joined: 30 Jul 2005 Posts: 22 City: milwaukee

k i saw some pepoles with a rod that went off the back of the boat strait up like a tower r those anygood?

armed and dangerous · Newbie Joined: 30 Jul 2005 Posts: 22 City: milwaukee

pylon rite

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

yeAH AND THEYRE OK..BUT TOWERS ARE USUALLY BETTER

armed and dangerous · Newbie Joined: 30 Jul 2005 Posts: 22 City: milwaukee

ok wat first trick remember i started on sunday the 31 and i can hold for 15 secs but my dad and i r goin on the lake on thursday wen its calm. i could probably hold a lot longer time but the waves were couple feet high Shocked

COURT123 · Newbie Joined: 02 Aug 2005 Posts: 2 City: Vancouver

I just started also. My board is shaky but thats not my problem. First of all its goes completly sideways alot, I think I'm keeping most of my weight on my back leg but I'm not really sure. The board I bought is an "Advanced" board and so are my bindings. Could that have something do do with it? On more problem when I try to cut the wake I ALWAYS do a face plant is that normal? Rolling Eyes

Any info would be GREAT!!!
Actaully anyone in NW Oregon/ SW Washington who would like to make some extra cash. I could really use some lessons!!! Laughing

PoRT · Criminal Joined: 14 Jul 2005 Posts: 81 City: New Orleans

I had the problem with the board naturally going heelside and this is how i fixed it. as soon as i got up, i concentrated on pulling the rope to my hip. this will force you to straighten out. after you do it once, you will get a feel for how you are suposed to be and you can relax your hands. you dont have to hold the rope on your hip after you straighten out. hope this helps, it worked for me

Vampyre · Addict Joined: 12 Oct 2004 Posts: 622 City: Ooltewah, TN

Yes, keep the rope at your hip or at hip level at least, not straight out in front of you. If your arms are straight out in front of you, like shoulder height, your balance will be off.
Also, very important is lean backwards slightly, chest out, knees slightly bent.
If you are faceplanting, you most likely are leaning forward. If you feel yourself leaning forward, make an effort to pull that handle in towards you, keep it at hip level, and lean back. Keep tension on the line at all times.

Also, how are your bindings set up? are they more towards the tail of the board? what about the angle?

sammie · Newbie Joined: 02 Aug 2005 Posts: 5

I just learned this year as well. I can feel your frustration. My board, however, didn't even have any fins. As a matter of fact I didn't even know they were supposed to have fins! I called the mfg. and they sent me fins which I just got today. Can't wait to try it WITH fins LOL Any I guess I learned the hard way.

Just don't give up. Keep trying. I know the others can give you tips that are technical but I can give you some support. I went through everything you are describing. I was able to cross over the wake on one side of the boat but not consistently. Honestly I ended up getting new bindings. I'm a small woman and my bindings were too big for me. So when I got the new bindings I think it boosted my confidence as well. You can't have fear. go big or go home! LOL I was then able to cross the wake on both sides and learned how to do it at a fast speed and am now even popping a little bit of air. I'll probably do worse when I go out next time as I am now not used to fins.

Good luck and keep trying! Very Happy

Johny_WA · Outlaw Joined: 12 Jul 2005 Posts: 231 City: Longview, Wa

hey court, I'll help you with your basic riding if you want. Only problem is I don't have, or know anyone with a boat.. Embarassed

btw.. I'm right up the river about 35 miles bro

DadKid · Outlaw Joined: 21 Jan 2005 Posts: 140 City: Ottawa

Another possible cause of sliding sideways/skidding out/being shaky is pulling the handle up to the chest. This is a natural panic reaction but it only makes things worse. Make sure that your arms are just an extension of the rope. Keep at it 'cause it gets a lot better

COURT123 · Newbie Joined: 02 Aug 2005 Posts: 2 City: Vancouver

Thanks for all of your help. I'm planing to go out this week, so I will use all of your tips.
One more question, how should my bindings be? I have great bindings but I really dont know if they are in the right spot.
Thanks again. Very Happy

Johny_WA · Outlaw Joined: 12 Jul 2005 Posts: 231 City: Longview, Wa

duck feet... basically \ __ /

check your natural stance and set it up like that..

jpk · Outlaw Joined: 07 Aug 2005 Posts: 215 City: Redmond

Dude, I feel ya. I think I've heard every bit of advice as I had a hell of a time just getting up and staying up. Most of the advice I got was not terribly helpful except for a few things:

1. Use your arms to pull against the rope in towards your hips when the boat starts to pull

2. Do not try turning the board or pushing your legs down at all until your body and the board are completely out of the water and you feel yourself gliding with no resistance. Again, do not try extending your legs with any effort. (This was my problem, and I kept sinking or faceplanting because I would stand up too soon) The boat and the board will naturally stand you up if you are pulling back on the rope.

3. Keep pulling back on that rope and rotate your hips and weight to the back foot as soon as you finish #2. The board will just magically straighten out if you are pulling back.