Beginner but I have water Skied before uhhhh 25YRS AGO!!

Malishka · Newbie Joined: 22 Aug 2005 Posts: 1 City: Seattle

I'm small 5'2 never wake board before.I'll be renting a board for now. Is it easier then skis I wasn't great but I did OK (I was 13)? The boat is pretty fast (Mirage w/454) so I have no idea if that will make a difference. I'm pretty sure I can get up if I do it the same way as skis?

DunDunDun · Posted: Aug 22, 2005 4:07 pm Post subject:

you will wanna turn the board sideways, so you will look like a snowboarder sitting down, and then when the boat pulls you, it wil be like you are sitting down and someone is pulling you by your arms up and your feet arent moving, keep your arms in, dont extend them, and then turn the board 90 degrees so its riding like a snowboard

PeeDeeRider · Criminal Joined: 31 Jul 2005 Posts: 77

Malishka, you said the boat is pretty fast... that's fine but you don't want to go too fast when wakeboarding. For learning I would recommend keeping the speed between 18-20 mph. As far as wakeboarding being like skiing... I don't think it's very similiar. The drag you experience when being pulled up is similiar but that's about the extent of it.

surfersarah · Posted: Aug 23, 2005 2:02 pm Post subject:

http://www.cwbwakeboards.com/new/video/Basic_Start.wmvn this is a great vid to show you what to do, i think its much better than some1 trying to explain it.

wesgardner · Posted: Aug 24, 2005 9:30 am Post subject:

Hey Malishka,

Watch the vid surfersarah, referenced....notice the pull is NOT hard and fast but slow and controlled...a wakeboard planes on the water's surface quite easily so you don't need to get popped out of the water - a good steady continuous hand on the throttle is what the driver needs.

Don't try to stand up immediately, stay crouched for a bit then stand up slowly...once riding try to stand up (not hunched forward and not too much weight on the rear leg)

Wes

QNev · Posted: Aug 24, 2005 2:07 pm Post subject:

Okay if you don't know your stance (which foot is forward) stand still and get someone to push you and whichever foot moves first is the foot in front when you ride. Try riding with some deep fins and those may help get you sideways.

It isn't quite like sitting in a chair. Keep your backleg bent and your front leg fairly straight. and yes, wes has some good advice for getting up.

bigboarder · Posted: Aug 25, 2005 8:58 am Post subject:

I had skied years ago when I first learned to wakeboard. My friend and I, without any instruction tried for hours to get up, and the rope kept getting yanked out of our hands. I later learned that it was because we were trying to "keep the tip up" as you're taught to do in skiing. When I was told to let the board go completely underwater and slowly stand as the boat pulled you up, it was a piece of cake