First ride today!!!

[airboarder]

Last Friday (which happened to be my birthday) my LF Diva 134 arrived in the mail along with the Element bindings. I was so proud of it and I couldn't wait to try it out. I would sit in my room, just staring at it and admiring it.

And today, Sunday, I finally did try it out. I'm comfortable with water skiing, and I wasn't in for this. I have been so use to just popping up, no problem. On my frist day of water skiing, I stood for a few seconds the very first time. The third time, I was on for about 10 minutes. But wakeboarding was different.

I expected it to be just as easy. Oh, no. Knowing absolutely nothing about this, I put both fins on and adjusted the binding pretty far apart. I got in the water and my first problem came; I couldn't get the bindings on! How pathetic is that, lol? But I got them as loose as I could and after 20 minutes of struggling, I got them on.

Excited, I signaled my dad to go...and I wiped out. 10 times I wiped out. Now, I'm not use to this, so I'm here on the verge of crying. Oh yeah, I forgot to mention that I left my wetsuit at home, so I was going numb from the cold water (I just had a bikini and a jacket on, brrrrr). I'm not use to failure at all. Grrrr.

Then, the wierdest thing happened on my 11th try. I easly, somehow, popped right out of the water and, although 90% out-of-control, I rode for at least 30 seconds before I lost my footing and fell. But it was okay; I did it!

Then I tried more, about ten more times. Each time was total wipe out, not even standing up. I couldn't remember what I did different on that 11th try, and I was very tired and very cold and very mentally wore out. Plus I had a bunch of little injuries, like water in my ear (which still hurts like I have an acorn in there or something), busting my thumb between the handle and the edge of the board, and some more small things like that.

So I took a break to let my brother try the wakeboard on it. He didn't have anymore success than I did, and he gave up after only 5 tries and traded the wakeboard for the kneeboard. Somehow, he confuses 'falling face-first' with 'standing'. So he sticks in in my face later: "I stood before you did!" He's 12 and such a brat.

But anyway, after he was done, I went back in the water. On the boat I was so warm and dry, and jumping into that cold water nearly made me scream. So, after finding a binding-putting-on strategy, I tried 5 more times, despite being tired and cold. I sucked each time.

I guess I didn't do too bad, being since I'm teaching myself and going my internet instructions. When I got home, I reasearched and realize what my problem was. I never swinged my front foot forward. I thought it would automatically do that. Plus, I always pushed against the pressure of the water.

Now I can't wait to try again tomorrow

[airboarder]

Oh, and btw, I know that a Diva 134 isn't the best board for beginners, and I know it's suppose to feel loose, and I'm willing to put up with that. It's pretty, I can tell you that.

And I took the front fin off of the board and moved the bindings closer together, which seemed to help more and feel much more comfortable, but being to cold, I still wiped out, lol.

[marcuskg]

congrats airboarder, if you need any help or tips, just ask and you will find that there are some really helpful people on this site, and some complete a$$holes.

[airboarder]

eh he, thanks, and I surprised someone read all of that.

Just for the record, guys, don't swallow when you think there's water in your ear. I did, and I'm still dealing with it.

[ballywho]

[airboarder]

lol, thank you, and about the ear thing, swallowing made my ear pop somehow and it hurt so bad, but it's fine now. But I think I'm going out again tonight, yay!

[Vampyre]

Congrats airboarder, !
What I found helpful was to roll your toes, forcing the board up on plane..and don't fight it.
Anyhow, I know what you are feeling.. I have just taught my wife and best friend to get up on the board, and carve around.

So you wearing only a bikini and a vest? I am surprised it stayed on after being dragged around like that!
Anyhow, you might want to get Waketrix instructional DVD, very good for learning, and should help satisfy your cravings for more wakeboarding!

[airboarder]

lol, I was suprised, but glad, they did stay on.

A few days after my first time, I went out on the lake again and did much better. I quickly became very comfortable on the water (probably because I waterskied) but taking off is still a challenge. I'm going out again today and there is no way I'm going to forget my wetsuit; there's a cold front in. I'm going to get sick one of these days...

[Vampyre]

Yeah, I am wearing my wetsuit now here in Chattanooga, TN.
It is only like 60 today

[airboarder]

The high for here is 80, so it's not that bad. But the lake always ends up being colder than the air in the winter/fall, and uncomfortably warmers than the air in the summer. I'll just pack my sweater.

[Foote]

Awesome won't be long before your doing whirlybirds and scarecrows lol no but seriously glad to hear your doing good!

[airboarder]

lol, thank you! I went out today and I made myself speechless, lol.

I am finally able to start off without any problem, almost automatically. It was very windy today, but I managed. Actually, those waves pounding at me abled me to unintentionally pull off some fun manuvers (times when I was suppose to fall, but I caught my balance when my body nearly skimmed the water). I did switchstance a few times, and there is this one thing I did alot, but I don't know the correct term for it, but to call it anything, I did some grinds on the wakes.

I felt so eager to jump around and do a bunch of tricks I probably couldn't pull off, but I contained myself enough.

Eeeeee, I can't wait to go out again!

[Anthony Csogor]

i feel your pain, my first time was only this summer.. it didnt quite take me 10 times to get up, but it was very annoying, and i was wakeboarding in weeds.. which made it all the better so when i fell id get a face full of it

[airboarder]

lol, there are weeds at the edge of the lake so I have to watch out for those. But sometimes I'll be sitting in the water searching for the handle, when something itchy and pokey rubs up against my arm, and I freak out. That feel weird, I tell you. And my brother saw a fish swimming around me, which doesn't feel like a time at the beach either.

[Vampyre]

LOL...
Yes, I imagine it would be creepy to feel something touching you under water!
You going boarding today?
I am.. focking 10 mph winds, and liek 60 degree air.. but fock it..need to try my new Absolute

[airboarder]

No, not today. I became sick this morning and I don't know what I have, but it's not the prettiest thing in the world, he he. On average, I can only go boarding about 3 days a week; my dad is the one who takes me and he has work today and Sunday. I'll bug him to go on Monday.

And yes, it is creepy. I felt it on top of my arm and jerked my hand out of the water and squealed, until I saw it was grass. I thought it was a big spider or something...

[fuk_all_this@hotmail.com]

Just for the record, guys, don't swallow when you think there's water in your ear. I did, and I'm still dealing with it.


wtf??? LOL WAT DIFF WOUDL IT MAKE??????

[airboarder]

It gives you a major ear ache! It's almost unbearable and it lasts for hours. Sorry if I didn't make that clear enough.

[HO-rider]

i was excited too when i first rode.. and when my brother gave me my board i also spended all day admiring my board lol..
(srry if i u dont understand.. i usually dont speak english i speak spanish and french srry.. jaja)

[ballywho]

[HO-rider]

its good to hear that

[ccameselle]

Hey airboarder, Glad to see that you are doing better on your wakeboarding quest. I started a couple of months ago and I can hardly do the Surface 180. Where in Florida are you? I am looking for people to ride down here. I haven't found one yet that has the patiance to teach a rockie like me.