definite first timer...

keerf · Newbie Joined: 01 Aug 2006 Posts: 34

Hello, I'm very new to these forums and very very new to wakeboarding. Wakeboarding looks like a blast but I'm yet to get the board planed up, I'm using an O Brien 133 and I'm 110 Lbs.

Now don't flame me for another getting up post I've read them all up until page 20 of posts on the newbie board. Nothing seems to help. I've also managed to pull a muscle in both arms (at least it feels like) attempting to get up.

How I've been trying is this (information I had compiled upon my first trying of wakeboarding): I'm in the water with the board in front, hanging onto the rope. I've tried with and without arms bent, I've tried with the board tilted forward and vertical. I dare say I've tried everything. The one thing I do accomplish is slingshotting the rope. As well as hurting my arms and hands. I keep my legs bent and to my chest when starting as well.

Can anyone explain why all I feel is board resistance and my fingers being squashed between the handle and the board?

Oasis137 · Addict Joined: 21 Aug 2005 Posts: 687 City: J-Town

Cant really tell what your situation is but is the rope tight and dragging you in the water slowly before you tell the driver to gun it>?

If so then once the driver goes drag your butt to your heels and keep the wait on your heels. Kepp your arms extended or whatever feels comfortble, once you get good it doesnt matter.

There is a website with a video of how to get up and it is much more thorough than my answer. If someone else posts then hopefully they can give you that site since i forgot it.

Chad H · Posted: Aug 04, 2006 7:39 pm Post subject:

Try to find someone to help you learn. Even if it's someone who sucks, long as they can get up, they can help.

keerf · Newbie Joined: 01 Aug 2006 Posts: 34

kind · Outlaw Joined: 03 May 2006 Posts: 118

it sounds like driver is pulling you way to fast.
have him go SUPER SLOW.. then once you stand then u gun it.

thekpan · Outlaw Joined: 11 Jun 2006 Posts: 168 City: Dallas

wakeboarder92 · Newbie Joined: 23 Jul 2006 Posts: 4 City: Seattle

does anyone have a link to this video? I am also just starting out and am having the same problems keerf is having.

keerf · Newbie Joined: 01 Aug 2006 Posts: 34

NitroXP · Newbie Joined: 05 Aug 2006 Posts: 1

Well, Ijust found this site today and have been going through it to see what else I can pick up. I've been boarding for a couple years, but am still very new to it. I think I know what your going through, that's pretty much how I felt the first time I ever tried. Here is what I do:

Lay back in the water completely relaxed, rope over the top (toe side) of the board, knees are slightly bent. Drive gets rope taught, and goes to neutral. If it's real choppy, it's hard for the rope to stay taught, but as long as it's calm, it should stay that way. It should only be a matter of seconds before you say go anyway, don't give the rope time to loosen. As soon as you say go and feel the boat start to pull you, turn the front of the board so it's coming out of the water and keep your weight back a bit. You should be able to pop out of the water. Don't put to much wieght on the front foot. Once you start to level out, start leveling out your wieght on both feet, with a slight bit more on the rear foot - very similiar to snow boarding if you've ever done that.

Now, my brothers are newer thatn I, they just started this year. They hold the rope with one hand and "paddle" with the other while holding the front of the board out of the water. It's harder to do this IMO, because you have to use your other hand to paddle to keep the board up, but it works for them.

Hope this helps if you didn't get up today.

keerf · Newbie Joined: 01 Aug 2006 Posts: 34

SlowRyder · Newbie Joined: 28 Jul 2006 Posts: 20 City: Charlotte

Keerf, I had the same problems you are describing in getting up. I had the same problem of fighting the boat and having the rope pulled out of my hands. What I didn't realize at the time was that A) the board is supposed to go under the water and B) you must be on top of the board to ride it. I was trying to keep the board in front of me which in hindsight seems really stupid. Have the driver start relatively slow so that it will be easier to keep your balance. Technically, once the board goes under the water and you are on top of it, you are wakeboarding. You just haven't come up out of the water yet. Just keep your position as everyone describes above and remember to keep your back straight and lean back just enough to balance the pull of the boat and you will come right up. Once you and your board pop up out of the water just pull the rope towards your left hip (or right hip if you ride goofy) and the board will come around naturally and then you are riding!

TonyDanza · Newbie Joined: 14 Jul 2006 Posts: 21 City: Minneapolis

My problem with getting up was knowing when to turn the board. As soon as you start to stand up even a little bit, turn the board to the riding stance. You should plane out immediately following. I think your problem is that you are waiting too long to turn the board, and the resistance adds up until you fall over.

grprahl · Newbie Joined: 07 Aug 2006 Posts: 32

I got up on my second try. Here's how it was explained to me:

Sit back in the water just like waterskiing, if you've ever done that.

Put your elbows outside your knees, and then straiten your arms out until your knees rest in the inside of your elbows.

The driver idles so that you're going really slow, that makes you lean back to maintain your position in the water.

When the driver hits it keep leaning back and point your toes. When you point your toes the board is now at an angle and planes right to the surface.

Once you're about planed up turn the board.

Don't focus on standing up, all that will acomplish is losing your balance and falling on your face. The board will stand you up.

I watched some kid on his first try get up, and he was riding on the surface with the board perpendicular to the boat for about 10 yards before he finally turned the board.

Some people turn the board and get up in one motion, (especially lighter boarders) and some get on plane and then turn.

keerf · Newbie Joined: 01 Aug 2006 Posts: 34

Thanks everyone I got up for the first time today, it was exhilerating, I didn't stay up log but I started staying up longer and longer. Anyway after I first got up I thre my older sister on there. I figured it would take her the same amount of tries that it took me. Nope. Stupid arse... I tell her, arms straight, knees bent lay back in the water. Nothing more, we start the fricking boat and she pops out of the water, with no prior wakeboarding experience. Evil or Very Mad

GRRRR. She made it look so easy after it had taken so long for me to get it figured out. grr...

Anyway my only problem now is STAYING up. I get up but then the board wants to wobble under me, I'm sure I'll get the balance figured out but right now the board feels REALLY loose, like the kneeboard did when I first tried it.

Again, thanks to everyone for their great advice and info. Props to TonyDanza, grprahl, NitroXp and anyone else I forgot. Razz

grprahl · Newbie Joined: 07 Aug 2006 Posts: 32

If you're feeling wobbly, you might need to shift your weight a little more to the front.

When I first got up, I used a 80/20 instead of a 60/40 weight distribution. I had absolutely no control and kept going right until I wiped out.

The guy told me to shift to the front a little more, and no problem.

keerf · Newbie Joined: 01 Aug 2006 Posts: 34