Any of you experianced boarders wanna help me?

mikeakatex5 · Newbie Joined: 10 May 2006 Posts: 21 City: NOR*CAL

OK so I went out today and had a good time despite the choppy water. I had quite a few spills trying to get closer to W2W and have a few questions. First off when I edge to the wake (and I've read a million progressive edge threads) it feels like I'm rushing into a hard edge, so any tips on how to concentrate on keeping it "progressive"? Also when I get a good pop off the wake I almost immediately loose control in the air. Then once I land half the time my board breaks loose and I go down unable to get it under control. A guy I rode with said the crappy water was part of my problem, but as you can tell I was just having problems with all aspects. I'll be at the delta all weekend so I should get good water and hopefully get closer to W2W.

mikeakatex5 · Newbie Joined: 10 May 2006 Posts: 21 City: NOR*CAL

If it matters I'm 5'8 168 riding 06 absolute 141 and LF sphynx towed by stars and stripes MC w/ tower

Pettieo · Criminal Joined: 13 Apr 2006 Posts: 61 City: Bellignham

I am not really sure what to say besides...Are you trying to "jump" when you hit the wake? I used to do that and it really makes you feel off balance in the air. About the progressive edge...one guy on here said make your turn look like a halfpipe, which is exactly what you want to do...your beginning speed is no where near what you will end up with so be patient. Crappy water can mess up your landings somtimes and your timing for the progressive edge..so if it was a bad day dont worry bout it, if not then try to work on it (riding in crappy water really helps your stability and your technique for when you ride on glass Razz

)
Hope this helps!
-Mark

typeRider · Criminal Joined: 02 Jun 2003 Posts: 99 City: austin

a friend of mine has a stars and stripes edt. master craft with a pylon we used to ride behind i have a little knowledge of that thing and i've been riding to like 8 years or something god awful like that now. i ride behind the boat in my avatar pic now. but heres some advice. throw all that magazine b/s out the window its confusing wording. cut out 10 - 15 feet. slowly turn and carve in. get into good position as if you were sitting in a chair. back straight up knees bent handle at ur waist about 6 inches out. hold that as you ride up the wake and voila you should clear it. make sure you have a good amount of speed. every person i've taught to ride never gets enough speed into the wake. thats probably the problem you are having as well. i know it feels like ur goin fast but trust me you'll know when you do it right. you'll land really soft on the other side of the wake just right. you dont' want uncontrolable g-force speed just a nice "PROGRESSIVE" hahah a.k.a. more and more speed as you go towards the wake to clear it. try that.

mikeakatex5 · Newbie Joined: 10 May 2006 Posts: 21 City: NOR*CAL

Ok so it sonds like I need to cut out the standing up at the wake to get pop. I think that is making me try and jump but its what I have been reading.

typeRider · Criminal Joined: 02 Jun 2003 Posts: 99 City: austin

i think you are either standing up too fast at the wake and making the board lose its hold of the water which would get you all out of control in the air or you might be standing too soon which would make you lose too much speed you built up during the middle part of ur cut and stops you from crossing the wakes. if you wanna stand up like that its fine to do it'll get you a better pop to come down on the opposite wake which makes for the softest landings. you said you get WBM so check this out it'll help a ton. look at page 119. pic of kevin henshaw right. he has perfect cutting position. and an expensive watson board... bastard!.. anywhoo... where he's at is about 10 feet out from the wake he's into the hard cutting part now. thats the position you'll want for building a bunch of speed. in that pic he's probably haulin ass and still gaining speed. then about 5 feet from the wake he's gonna flatten just a little bit imagine if you took that pic cut it out and rolled him forward about an inch. thats what you'd wanna look like when you are about 5 feet from hittin the wake. a little flatter but still that same position. try that if it makes any sense whatsoever. you should get huge pop with enough speed to land on the other wake cleanly.

mikeakatex5 · Newbie Joined: 10 May 2006 Posts: 21 City: NOR*CAL

Well I just got back from the delta this weekend and w/ the advice from you guys and some more good coaching in the boat I was consistantly going W2W with some good pop. Thanks