Help, serious consistency problems

LFADAM · Posted: Apr 15, 2006 4:48 pm Post subject: Help, serious consistency problems

I LOVE wakeboarding. I am no natural though. For most tricks I have learned it took me from 10-50 tries to land it. Ive been riding 6 years and can only occasionally (keep reading) land HS 3s. My problems started last July...I had HS 3s down like wake jumps. I even had TS 3s just as good. I went to wakeboard camp and they had me try TS 540s. First one I got close but slid out, the second I caught my front edge on the landing. It was the worst fall of my life. I was a little scared to try spins again but I did and I kept falling hard on the side of my head on both HS and TS 3s so I got more and more scared of trying them and gave them up all together. It took me 2 months to start trying them again and to land them. They werent nearly as consistent though, about 1 of 3 and only HS...Ive only tried a couple TS 3s since last year and land on my face. This season I started about 1 for 3 but 2 weeks ago they started to click. 5 for 10, then next day 4 for 5. Last weekend I think I was 9 for 10 or so. The only time I would fall would be popping the handle. They seemed so easy. This weekend I go to do a 360 and I rotate it but fall on my butt and pop the handle. From there they just got worse and worse, starting to get off axis. Ive landed I believe 1 for 15 this weekend when I had them down just 6 days ago. Heres the video, first two were last weekend, the last two were this weekend. What am I doing wrong? I cant figure it out. I go off axis after the first 180 of the trick. http://www.wakepics.com/view_single.php?medid=18934

So besides the 360 issue, Ive been trying my first invert. I tried backrolls; they looked like off balance wake jumps. The best I did was landed on my head. Mostly I wouldnt even get 1/4 around. I tried tantrums; I wouldnt get 1/4 around either, just fall on my butt. I tried frontrolls. I got 3/4 around my first try and started to land on my butt. I even landed on my board once or twice but I always fall back. Ive tried every tip I have seen and still get the same result. Ive tried over 50 of them. People say scarecrows are easier but I just cant picture the rotation in my head, my TS 180s arent perfect, and Ive endured too many fireballs and bruised butts to not land a frontroll.

If any of you have any tips, encouragement, or advice PLEASE post it. I want to get out of this slump/inconsistency more than anything.

nickdakoolkat · Posted: Apr 15, 2006 5:12 pm Post subject:

I don't know what to tell you, except just keep riding and try to really concentrate on mechanics. I think everybody goes through slumps, just ride your way through it...

BTW: Were you tired on the last 2 attempts? Fatigue often times plays a factor for me when I am trying to stick something, if I keep falling it takes energy out of me, but it pisses me off more and more so i keep trying even though I am dead tired...

LFADAM · Posted: Apr 15, 2006 5:19 pm Post subject:

A little bit but Im used to it. I take 45 minute sets regularly and do all the hard stuff (360s that I actually land and frontrolls) at the end. Thats a good thought though...frontrolls might be easier if I have more energy to pop but my 3s are plenty big so I dont think thats it.

pooser · Wakeboarder.com Freak Joined: 13 Jan 2003 Posts: 4738

LFADAM, dont worry about it. youll get em back. losing tricks happens. Its still REALLy early in the season so just go out and have fun, dont worry too much about progression right now. try a couple front rolls and 3's each set. if youre doing good on that particular day keep working on them to build muscle memory, if its not happening move on to something else, work on adding some extra steeze to your 180s.

Phil · Addict Joined: 14 Jan 2003 Posts: 636 City: Chattanooga

Yeah best thing to do is just not frustrated. Just get basics really solid again. All 4 180s w2w well except maybe switch t/s but it wouldnt hurt. On the 360, your trying to spin with your head and shoulders and its making the line tight and pulling you over. So pop up pull the 180 with BOTH hands ( thats another thing making it harder ) and you'll get it. Your just rushing stuff slow it down alittle.

As far as the backroll and tantrum go if your only getting 1/4 the way your probably just not commitenting. On the back roll take a nice progressive edge, load at the wake and punch up the wake with back leg to start the rotation. Then just keep the handle in and spot your landing.
If your just landing on your butt on the tantrum theres no way your even throwing your head back. So come in pretty agressive. Don't really think about letting off your edge and trying to square your board up, but just think about squaring your shoulders up and push straight up and look for the water.
For the frontroll you want to almost overrotate it. Come in hard, like the tantrum, starting getting tall but still carrying somewhat an edge up the wake. Be as tall as you can at the top on the wake. Thats where all your pop is coming from. That and holding alittle edge to keep line tension. Then find the shore and take your rear hand off the handle and get over your toes. You might feel like your going to land on your face but it will work I promise haha.

LFADAM · Posted: Apr 15, 2006 7:04 pm Post subject:

thanks for the advice guys...ill let you know how tomorrows riding goes. Maybe Ill try some tantrums. Ill just take it set by set and see what happens.

goinbig143 · Addict Joined: 20 Feb 2005 Posts: 659 City: Wonder lake

It looks like you just lost the handle on the last one....
You seem to pop and spin really well on the first 2, your back is to the boat with both hands on the handle at the peak of your jump.
On the third attemt, you do not pass the handle as soon and you do not have time to finish the spin and get your bearings before landing. You look a little tired.
What rope length do you ride at? 5 feet back may give you enough time to finish the sketchy ones, and turn the good ones into 540's. Twisted Evil

As for inverts, you sind like you have already had some brutal wipeouts while trying, so there is nothing to be scared about.
If you are clearing the wake well on your tantrum attempts and just under rotating, you could try the tuck style. as soon as you pop off the wake and tilt your head back, bring your knees quickly to your chest. That may get you some rotation.
Get some video of your tries.... or your successes!

LFADAM · Posted: Apr 16, 2006 11:12 am Post subject:

Well today I decided to give 360s a rest for one set so
a) I dont get pissed off from falling on them
b) I dont get hurt
c)I dont build more bad habits and
d) so I can hopefully forget my wrong way of doing them from the last 2 days and do them right tonight.

But! I was still very productive today. I decided to do lots of switch practice. I relearned switch HS w2w and HS half cabs and I learned switch TS w2w and TS half cabs! I know a wake jump and a 180 are pretty laughable tricks but its a big accomplishment in my book. Although theyre pretty ugly now, if I keep working on them, ill start linking grabbed 180s together regular and switch and start doing switch 3s maybe. Not to mention it will help my control in landing regular 180s and 540s, scarecrows, r2rs, etc.
At the end I thought about a backroll or tantrum and practiced an aggressive prgressive cut for the backroll and a trip flip cut for the tantrum but it didnt feel right so I decided it would wait for another set. Tonight I think ill go back to 360s, keep doing switch stuff, and who knows; if im riding well a HS 5 off the dumper or more invert attempts arent out of the question.

LFADAM · Posted: Apr 16, 2006 4:01 pm Post subject:

well I spoke too soon, Im definetely still in my slump. Ate it on 3 Hs 360s in a row this set, one felt good though, just missed handle. On the last one I chickened out and did a HS o/a 180 to retarded raley. Laughing

Im so frustrated but being frustrated wont get me anywhere so Im just gonna keep riding and hope it goes away.

SKINAUTIQUECWB · Newbie Joined: 16 Apr 2006 Posts: 4 City: jacksoville

Hey man i know just how you feel. One day i landed pretty may hs 3's and then a couple days later they just weren't working out for me.Then just yesterday i got them back.I know its hard but i think alot of it is just going out and trying to have fun.Everything just seems to go better.And thats good that your getting ts jumps down.Im just now starting to try and jump ts.Any pointers on just getting comfortable with jumping ts?Thanks and good luck.

LFADAM · Posted: Apr 16, 2006 5:17 pm Post subject:

When I learned regular TS jumps last year, it helped to keep the handle touching my front hip. For switch TS I didnt do that, IDK why just didnt need to. Instead I just cut really hard. Just remember to take a nice progressive edge and extend at the top of the wake. It helps to let go with your back hand once your in the air.

darty · Addict Joined: 18 Mar 2003 Posts: 522 City: Lexington

it sounds like you're more comfortable w/ the front roll rotation...given that you're actually rotating them. Make sure you're going out pretty far & drifting back in, you really don't need a lot of speed, just momentum. square up at the top of the wake & push the handle down to your lead hip. Keep it there through the rotation. Make sure you keep it in close to your lead hip when you land...that's all it is...good luck.

SKINAUTIQUECWB · Newbie Joined: 16 Apr 2006 Posts: 4 City: jacksoville

^ alright thanks man, i will have to give it a try next time im out.

Wake On My Mind · Criminal Joined: 10 Apr 2006 Posts: 52 City: Oshawa

For the 3's id say stop trying so hard, and quit keeping track of how many you've landed or bailed on. I always ride my best when im having fun, get some crazy music going and just rip around and do the tricks you like ,and throw grabs into them. because once you learn somthing harder than a 3 ex. grab 3, doing regular 3s wont seem so hard. You can do them very consistant you know that already you just have to loose the nerves, have fun and let your muscle memory take over.

For learning inverts id definitly take a lesson or to it really helps to have someone there telling you whats right and whats wrong.

awakeat816 · Criminal Joined: 13 Sep 2004 Posts: 53 City: Norman

Yea definitely just try to stay positive and dont stress yourself out when you ride. I know that when I get frustrated out there I end up riding shitty. On those 3's try to set up your axis a little better by breaking at the waist when you pull the handle to the small of your back this can help you from getting pulled off axis

LFADAM · Posted: Apr 22, 2006 10:04 am Post subject:

Thanks for all the advice guys. I think Im back. Today I landed my first HS 3 in about 5 sets and it was clean and on axis not that weird o/a one I did a week ago. I landed 3 of 4 ollie BS 180s which I learned yesterday and started trying HS BS 180s w2w. Didnt land one yet (got rotation but missed handle both times) but maybe tonight. I just decided to put the inverts on hold. Ill try them whenever my brain says Im ready, who knows when thatll be.

Cameron · Outlaw Joined: 28 Aug 2003 Posts: 180 City: Down Under

Hey dude try taking like two 20min sets with at least 15mins rest inbetween where you drink heaps of water and maybe have something to eat.. Without sounding too up myself im a very fit individual and i find that after about 20 minutes of hard riding (spins, flips, grabs) im pretty well done and things start to get sloppy you stop thinking and you start wasting fuel..

Also the other point.. do you find that you get thirsty when riding because being dehydrated can affect your performance up to 10% (textbook fact - im a personal trainer).. I always make sure i drink half to a litre of water before i ride (i drink a lot of water normally) and it gets your concentration at peak level.. also riding hungry or with no carbohydrate will cause a serious lack of energy to be able to keep your moves together..

I used to regularly ride 45 min sets like you say until i found how much more productive shorter sets can be.. it stops you getting in ruts and you can catch your breath and stop and think about what your doing.. fix up your problems and get back into it.. Plus its a great time to go up to the house and watch the book for some tips Wink

J_DOGG · Posted: Apr 24, 2006 8:28 am Post subject:

Board2die · Outlaw Joined: 10 Jan 2005 Posts: 244 City: Sacramento

It seemed like on the last two jump attempts you under rotated, and you did not have you head up during the landing (spot your landing). Maybe it is a law of physics or something, but when you spot your landing and keep your head up you tend to land more tricks.

kyle · Guest

LFADAM, when i was first trying toeside off 5's a few years ago, i tore all the ligaments in my ankle on my second try. If you think those 360 falls gives you a mental block, wait till you actually get hurt. I don't think I will ever try ts o/a 5's again and that was from a long time ago. I'll try one every once in a while but i always do ole 5's (and land them) but im afraid to pass the handle on that trick none the less. Also wait till you start trying some mobes, you don't know what a bad fall is until then.

Lyle · Posted: Apr 25, 2006 1:22 pm Post subject:

If you have access to trampoline you might give that a shot. I know on 3s it isn't exactly the same but it usually helps me right before riding to practice them on the tramp and focus on my form. Same thing for the front roll if you are under rotating on the water there is a good chance the same thing will happen on the trampoline. When I finally stuck a front roll it was all about tucking hard with a snap. Use the ole 6 pack to throw your body into a tuck.