How do you carve?

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

OK, after I don't know how many attempts I have finally learned how to stand up on the board. (Man, did that ever suck!) Once standing, I can keep my balance and ride behind the boat.

But I can't really turn on command and if I get pulled out of the wake I just stay there and can't cut back in. I can shift my weight back and forth from my toes to my heels to make minor corrections if I start veering off, but I can't actually make any hard turns to the left or right without planting the edge hard and skidding onto my butt or my face.

How do you carve in and out of the wake?

ckligor · Soul Rider Joined: 18 Feb 2003 Posts: 454 City: A-town

its like a skate board in the way it turns, keep 60-70% of your weight on your back fook to keep the tip up and then trust the board to keep you up and lean in your toes or heels, dont just shift the weight , make an effor to push on the toes or lift them

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

You may be shifting pressure from toes to heels or vice versa too quickly and then losing your edge which causes an inadvertebnt powerslide followed by wipeout. Build your edge slowly. Hence the term "progressive edge". For more info check out the trick tips section of this website and search the terms progressive edge in the forums. If you're used to snowboarding it will take a while to adjust to the different feel of wakeboard edging. If you've never ridden sideways before it will take longer but it will happen.