Wakeboard Virgin - Not for Long

gruntingfrog · Newbie Joined: 29 Aug 2006 Posts: 8 City: Dallas

This weekend will be my first time out. I've done a lot of reading and watched the Detention Vol. 1 and Rider's Edge - Beginner videos. Unfortunately, I don't know any wakeboarders to help me out, but I do have a good boat driver.

Are there any tips that you guys can give me? Things that you may have done wrong your first time out that maybe I could avoid.

I appreciate any help you guys can give me.
I can't wait.

Justin 25 · Addict Joined: 29 Aug 2006 Posts: 797

Sometimes it tends to be trial and error, because there are a lot of people who do different things to get up.

One thing i learned though, don't fight the boat.

Hypnotoad · Criminal Joined: 26 Jul 2006 Posts: 61 City: Wilmington

the most helpful advice I got my first day out was to let the boat pull you up, dont try and pull urself up. A good way of remembering this is to always keep ur arms extended between ur bent knees. Also, when the boat starts pulling...tilt ur toes forward...kinda like if the board was a gas or brake pedal. And lastly...the boat may be stronger than you think so hold on tight and dont let go.

I am a complete noob, but I can get up and I went through this not too long at all...and those are three things that really helped me.

wake_time · Newbie Joined: 28 Aug 2006 Posts: 9 City: langely

im pretty new at wakeboarding(ive been doing it for about a year) and my very first time was really fun. i thought that getting up was going to be really hard but it wasnt that bad. like everyone else has said keep your arm extended and just let the boat pull you up. once your up you can try crossing the wake! i love wakeboarding!! once you start you cant stop. you'll love it! Very Happy

Rhawn · Posted: Aug 31, 2006 5:12 am Post subject:

Enjoy yo-sef!

Fast351 · Outlaw Joined: 08 Sep 2003 Posts: 133 City: Dayton, MN

Start with your ass as close to the board as you can get it. Bring your knees up to your chest as close as possible. Hands between your knees on the rope handle, a stacked start (like a water skier, hands on top of eachother) works best for me. Tip the board forward just slightly with your toes to get the lift going in the right direction when the boat starts pulling.

Now here's the big thing: Spin the board so your lead foot (usually your left) is higher than your right as soon as you start feeling pressure. This was huge for me, it makes getting up easier (I can do it now without spinning the board, but not when I was first starting). Keep the weight on your back foot.

If you have a set of ski gloves or can borrow some, your hands will last much longer as failed start attempts are hard on the hands.

Don't get discouraged. Once you figure it out, you will wonder why you ever thought it was hard.

-Mike

gruntingfrog · Newbie Joined: 29 Aug 2006 Posts: 8 City: Dallas

:Edited because the original post was way too long:

OK, I'm not going to make any excuses but I want to set the stage for you guys.

My wakeboarding adventure got put off all weekend until 3 hours before we had to leave (not my choice, believe me).

My brother-in-law said that he could drive the boat, "no big deal." I was slipping into the bindings when he told me that he had never towed anybody before. He owns a boat and drives it a lot, but he's never actually towed anything, not a tube, not a water-skier, and definitely not a wakeboard. "That's OK," I thought, "let's just give it a shot."

I came close a couple of times, then the rope just jerked and threw me on my face. I was letting the boat do the work, letting the board come up under me until my butt was over my feet, pushing down on my toes just a bit to get it to plane upward. The board would plane up, but never got all the way on top of the water. 6 attempts to get up and I couldn't do it. At this point, my wife pointed out that it was time to leave. I'm not going to let this discourage me. I will go again and I will get up and mobile, I just need to figure out what happened.

My wife videotaped the whole fiasco, but I haven't had a chance to transfer the video to my computer yet, so I'll post it when I get the chance.

What do you guys think? Combination of inexperienced rider and driver maybe? Could it also be an issue with my board not being big enough? I'm 6'3" and an athletic 225 lbs and have a Hyperlite Factor 140 which says that it's rated for up to 225 lbs.

Thanks for any input you may have.

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

gfrog,
It took me a lot more than 6 attempts to get up and learn to do it consistently. And that was behind a Malibu Wakesetter driven by a pro wakeboarder. So have some patience and it will come to you. Also, don't worry about the board, it'll do fine for you. It's all about technique and you just need some water time. If there is a local pro who you can take a lesson from that will greatly accelerate your learning curve too. Good Luck!

kind · Outlaw Joined: 03 May 2006 Posts: 118

dont fret.. it takes a 100 tries before it seems natural.

boarder_boy · Outlaw Joined: 15 Jul 2006 Posts: 210 City: Morgan hill

As soon as you get up try and keep your balance and dont do anything fancy. The second time you get up should be a breeze

biglouie · Outlaw Joined: 02 Aug 2006 Posts: 135

I've only once not gotten up on a wakeboard in about 35 tries or more? I am 6'5' 220LBS. I start with my right foot forward (Goofy foot), keep the knees bent board perpendicular to the boat. When the driver goes, instead of trying to get up going straight, I always get up kind of like your cutting out of the wake to the right. If that makes sense? I usually am outside the wake without ever going over it by the time I'm up. Make sense. That's the way someone taught me and it seemed to work well.