best way to get a beginner out of the water

eggo1973 · Newbie Joined: 16 Apr 2006 Posts: 15

had a mate that came out the other week that had never wakeboarded before.
whats the best advice to give as far as getting him out of the water? i.e. keep the board straight up or more horizontal in the water.
funny to say but when you have got that basic worked out its hard to tell someone how exactly to do it.
suggestions please

howabouttheiris · Addict Joined: 16 Jun 2005 Posts: 677 City: Austin, TX

1. Board horizontal.
2. Arms straight.
3. Knees bent.
4. DRIVER: Idle for a moment to let them get past the
initial wobble of the rope tension
5. DRIVER: Floor it.
6. Just as tension builds allow the board (still horizontal)
to pass under the surface of the water and get into
the same position as a catcher would in baseball.
YES underwater.
7. DO NOT fight the boat by keeping your board up and
blocking the water. The boat is not going to get tired
of ripping the handle out of your hands.
8. Keep your toes higher than you heels. As long as you
do this you will quickly plane up to the surface.
9. You can ride sideways (facing the boat) for as long
as you want, but most folks will want to turn into a
heelside cut as soon as the board is out of the water.
WAIT for the board to get out of the water or you will
be pulled over the front.

HOPE THIS HELPS!

phantom268 · Posted: Apr 28, 2006 5:35 am Post subject:

For the rider the bottom of the board needs to be pointed to the boat. So you will be pulled up in a slide position. I think it helps beginners to try to place or lock their arms/elbow either inside or outside their knees whichever is more comfortable for them. make sure they do not lock their legs or try to stand up too early. for that matter, tell them to not even worry about standing. make sure the rope is tight and pull them at idle for a second so they feel some resistance and can brace for it.

When they start to get pulled up let their ankles slide back to their butt, kinda like the board slides underneath them and get in a squat position. Hold that squat with a slight lean back to resist the pull, and the board will come up to the surface. For beginners just tell them to stay squatted for a good while and don't even think about standing until you signal them or something when you know they are on a good plane. that has worked for alot of my friends who had major problems getting up.

most common mistakes I've seen for beginners are probably locking their legs and plowing water. Standing up too early therefore pushing the board down into the water and wiping out. Breaking at the waist and being pulled out front over the board instead of resisting the pull of the boat. in general....trying to get up too much like a skier.

brath5 · Outlaw Joined: 06 Jul 2004 Posts: 222 City: Winnipeg

one thing i feel i need to correct...howabouttheiris....never floor it with a newbie...in no circumstance should u floor it pulling a wakeboarder...increase the throttle at a moderate speed upto the comfotable range...flooring it will rip the handle from the riders hands...and in my case whenever my buddy does it as a joke it hurts my back like hell.

pilot_ryder · Posted: Apr 28, 2006 3:22 pm Post subject:

if you know anyone with a barefoot boom ask them if you can use it, im sure that would help

wake_carver · Outlaw Joined: 04 Nov 2005 Posts: 157 City: sydney

i find when teaching beginers that i tell them to have the nose of the board slightly higher than the tail, this makes it easier to get up. and if you pull them up to slow they get draged through the water until there arms are too tirede so they let go,
so its best to get up fast cause itl only rip the handle out of your arms if theirs slack in the rope. Rolling Eyes

Blake · Posted: Apr 30, 2006 9:59 am Post subject:

pilot_ryder, CONGRATULATIONS... Your post are as useful as a penis flavored lolly pop! Well done!

onomado · Newbie Joined: 07 Sep 2005 Posts: 45

That is the funniest thing I have ever heard!!! Laughing

Truth is...there are about a hundred different ways to get a newbie up on top of the water...the principles are the same, though, put the rider and the board in a starting position to be able to transition through the water...some start with the board under water, some on top, some parallel to the boat, some perpendicular, etc. I agree, idle for a sec, dont floor it, try dragging the skier slowly so they can find out for their own style how to get out of the water...if you gradually increase speed, they will learn what the board is trying to do under them, and they will figure out how to steer it to the top of the water on their own. It is a tedious process, so the best thing you can give a first timer is encouragement. We have all been there, out on the water, so pissed that the water close to us starts to boil. Just keep them smiling, have fun, and help them figure out on their own what it is going to take to plane out for the first time. Wink

wakerider07 · Posted: May 04, 2006 3:13 pm Post subject:

Blake, ok, that is like the second time i have seen you say that in the last two days. you aint posted stuff so shut the hell up for God's sake unless you got something helpful to say.

i know lots of people who learned to board on the boom. it helps alot

wakeboardnut · Outlaw Joined: 02 May 2006 Posts: 213 City: Toronto

The one this I stress most with the newbie is to keep your heels as close to your butt as possible and the bottom of the board facing the boat but with your toes slightly pointed at the point...

but make sure those heels are as close to your butt as possible.

try it out on the dock first by pulling him up with your hand or somthing

kevthayer · Outlaw Joined: 12 Sep 2005 Posts: 231 City: Benicia

pilot_ryder, just a few more worthless comments and you will have the post count you have been working for. I commend you on your solicitous comments and insight regarding this sensational sport.Blake, Nice slam.

H20orSnowLetsGo · Posted: May 08, 2006 7:06 pm Post subject:

I teach snowboarding and have had a couple students ask on advice how to get up... mine was to have the boat driver do a slower start, and while keeping the nose of the board higher than the tail, keep the elbows in the thighs to be prevent the breaking at waist. This worked for me personally, any opinons out there if this was good advice?

H20orSnowLetsGo · Posted: May 08, 2006 7:10 pm Post subject:

Waterboy2971 · Newbie Joined: 13 May 2006 Posts: 12 City: Newport

wow its getting vicious in here! lol i was cracking up as i read this thread. Mr. Green

jennrumel · Newbie Joined: 08 May 2006 Posts: 16 City: tampa

H20orSnowLetsGo · Posted: May 19, 2006 5:46 pm Post subject:

kind · Outlaw Joined: 03 May 2006 Posts: 118

also. keep real low in a crouch position till your comfortable to stand.
you can ride around like a ninja facing the boat riding perfectly without being fully erect.. no pun attended.

also have the driver pull you up. SLOW.
SLOW SLOW SLOW. cant stress that enough.. i had the hardest time getting up and figured out we were going way to fast.. now we do it slow and i have no problems..... and no back pain!
i was getting ripped apart.. back would hurt for a week.

fatkidscanwakeboard · Criminal Joined: 20 Apr 2006 Posts: 56 City: Rossville

me and my dad have got alot of ppl up last summer

we throw them in the water with board on
throw out the rope
pull them up to the swim platform and pull on the rope
this teaches then the place of like the hinge on the wake

this helps them learn when is too early to stand up

and always tell them to follow the boat Laughing

WaKe NooB · Newbie Joined: 30 May 2006 Posts: 8

ok..... First of all, I think that this is a great sport..... My problem is that I cannot get out of the water for the life of me.... I am very determined though, I tried to get pulled up like 12 times yesterday until my forearms felt like they were RIPPED!!! I have the determination but not the skill....... I am good at feeling things out by the mental thoughts that I should be having, so if someone can tell me exactly what I should be focusing on doing while Im getting up I will be forever in DeBT...... C'MoN FLeX THat KNowLeDGE AND GET THIS NOOB FLYIN HIGH!!!!!!!!! Laughing

Rocket · Outlaw Joined: 11 Jun 2004 Posts: 127

WaKe NooB, knees bent right up to your chest and your arms out straight. These are the two most important things.

Keep your toes pushed away from you and front edge of your board just out of the water. Try to let the boat pull you up and over the top of your board. The first time you try it you will probably find you get pulled over the top and onto your face! THIS IS GOOD! It will not hurt and it will let you feel how it should be when you get pulled up.

Next time let the boat pull you up and over your board but you may now be able to hold it when the board is flat on top of the water.

I hope this works for you and doesn't get me too slated on this thread!!!! Shocked

WaKe NooB · Newbie Joined: 30 May 2006 Posts: 8

yo is it possible that my boat is not powerful enough to yank me out of the water, i mean its not a ski boat.... its more or less a glasstron cruiser.... Im not searchin for excuses though, I WILL BE VICTORIOUS!!!!!!!!!!! Mr. Green

kind · Outlaw Joined: 03 May 2006 Posts: 118

scar_11 · Newbie Joined: 31 May 2006 Posts: 16 City: Port Dover

make sure your knee are to your cheast and you are relaxed and have the boat driver slowly roll on the power
I also bought The Book DvD it is a instructional video and it was worth the money it has help me progess even faster because if i can figure it out the will step you through it i made my girl friend watch it before she tryed and she was up on her secound pull

WaKe NooB · Newbie Joined: 30 May 2006 Posts: 8

yo I GOT UP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Thanx Everyone...... Now i need to know how to ride once I get up???? I cant really control the board and I go straight outside the wake everytime and Faceplant!!! Tips?????

bigboarder · Posted: Jun 05, 2006 6:43 pm Post subject:

wakenoob, once you get up, hold the handle to you hip; right at the side of your hip, this will help you track straight ahead and not go outside the wake

macdaddy07 · Criminal Joined: 05 Jun 2006 Posts: 57 City: houston

ive heard useing like a 20ft rope also helps people get out of the wake, is that true?