Progressive edging technique help...what to focus on?

[Zito]

I'm still working on my W2W jumps (heelside, havent tried toeside yet), and mostly working just to increase my height. I don't exactly ride behind anything close to a wakeboarding boat, but my friends get enough height to do 360s and one of them can get all the way around on a backroll.

I ride behind a Boston Whaler 17' Outrage with a 115 HP engine...We have a small pylon, but that doesn't take much pressure off the boat when I go out for a cut. I weigh a bit more than the rest of my friends, and I can feel myself slowing the boat down, but I still don't see that to be the main problem behind my wakeboarding.

I'm pretty sure I can identify what I am doing wrong, but have no idea what to work on to fix it.

Sometimes I'll put all my focus on keeping my edge all the way through the wake, but I when I do this, I go incredibly slow in order to stay in control, and end up getting little height and distance. Or sometimes when I manage to hold an edge through the wake, I can't get the momentum to stand up before I reach the top of the wake. When I try to edge harder, I think I start off way too hard, and end up flattening out and losing my edge right before I hit the wake in order to gain control - and once again, maybe get more distance, but still no height.

So right now I'm trying to figure out what I can focus on to fix my edging...One thing I've come up with to try is focusing on the angle my board is with the water (not the wake) - putting more and more pressure on my heels without leaning back that far. Does that make sense to anyone?

Thanks for the help!


Oh, and I'm looking for input on the Hyperlite Byerly board, for those that have ridden it. It seems to fit my style, compared to the evo. Unfortunately, there is no shop within the state of Connecticut (as far as I know) that allows boards to be demoed. So telling me to demo it won't do any good

[Blake]

Zito, A new board is not the answer in my opinion... Everyone believes that some miracle pill, golf club, or wakeboard, whichever applies will cure all their problems... Wehn in reality, just practicing will do wonders, Not matter how strange it feels, you are going to have to charge the wake. Your wake isnt the best to give you a solid pop, so you have to comensate with riding a bit harder. Of course, it is going to feel like you are out of control at first, however, the more you do it the more comfortable it will feel. The same goes for when you start getting air and working on tricks... For instance, I have been working on a 900 off a double up all summer and have landed it once, and it wasnt clean at all. It is one of those deal that you just have to work on. To recap, charge the wake, practice on standing tall, and dont fear the fall!

[wakeman61972]

practice makes perfect

[Zito]

Blake, thanks for the input. Believe me, I do realize that getting a new wakeboard isn't going to suddenly make me a pro. Rather than making a new topic, I decided to throw that question in the thread. In no way does my desire for a new board have anything to do with the rest of the thread. I apologize if that gave you the wrong impression.

[GuitsBoy]

You know how the harder you cut, the faster you accelerate? Well simply use that acceleration to launch you up the wake. If youre doing it right, you cant possibly go slow.

[Blindside_137]

its not a hard cut with speed, thats what i had been doing all last year and some of this year and i was getting maybe 6 inches of air but going so fast it was hard to land some of them...

then i had lessons with adam fields and he really explained the concept of line tension, handle position, and a progressive edge.

just slowy get in position, turn to the wake and begin to dig your heels in harder and harder. keep the edge as you stand tall and you will preobably get lots more air o ya, and get in the seated position for heelside w2w (legs at 90degrees)

[DMX9907]

to answer your question about the board...dude its tight i love it...i got the 04 and its sweet...i feel more in control with it especially in rough water...but its honestly one of those boards where you either love it or hate it

[Zito]

DMX9907, one of the reasons I want it is because I ride in such rough conditions...there is never such a thing as "glass" where I wakeboard, sadly.

[QNev]

Zito: For progressive edges lean hard on your heelside (for you) and use your backfoot and just come in hard. When you hit the wake make sure your legs are relatively straight and kind of pop a little ollie. Try that

[Blake]

[aceyx]

Blake has it right.

the right progressive edge is a feel. while people can teach you all the technique, you really won't get it until you actually do it so get out there and practice.

after that, it's like riding a bike. just a matter of cleaning it up and making it look pretty.


where are you in ct? there is a board shop near candlewood that demos for $25/day, as well as the online shop that does demos. you'll have to run a search here for that though, as i don't recall which shop.

[Dillard]

what seems to work for me is putting the rope low, and actually look at the rope, and focus on just building pressure on the rope, just think about that and dont even think about the wake for now, once you get that down, you can start thinking about straightening your legs at just the right time to go huge

[Blake]

Dillard, That doesnt sound correct though... That will create a problem later on with doing that the entire time... I really think you guys think about it too much. You know what to do, but just need to charge it and do it... I tell you what, next time before you ride, think about it... And once you are on the water just let it rip!

[jp14]

progressive edge: keep your weight balanced evenly on both feet. start cutting. keep cutting harder and harder until you get to the wake. you should be cutting at 100% and when your at the wake extend your legs and you will pop off.