Do you need a wakeboarding pole 2 jump?

[wakerman]

hi im a fairly new wakeboarder and want 2 start jumping, but our boat doesnt have a wakeboard pole or ski pole we are just hooking it onto the metal catching things at end of boat. If i do need a ski pole or wakeboard pole 2 jump can u please tell me the best one 2 buy plz. ty

[nickl011]

you dont need a pylon or tower, there just to take that much further, I wakeboard behind the stock catching on the back and can get as much air as people behind mastercrafts

[jjaszkow]

LP's got it covered. This is one of those questions that is covered a lot on this forum, so you should be able to find a lot of information on this. You can progress quite from just the tow hook. Spend time on the technique, especially getting your progressive edge down.

[frymantcu]

wakerman, there's something ur gonna need to learn to use, the Search function!

Is it just me or are people so bored they have been making random profiles to asks stupid ass questions?

[HHI Dave]

Is that what's up with all the revived threads and such too?

Well, if its a legit questions, I'll give my legit answer. wakerman, when I first started wakeboarding last summer, I used the ski ring on the back of my boat. After the first couple of months of riding 2-3 times per week, I reached a point where not having a tower was definitely affecting my height and distance. I could tell because I also rode behind my friend's boat with a 7' parasail pylon that we used as a wake tower. I was getting way more air behind his boat. And it wasn't about the size of the wake either. I recently installed a Monster on my boat and, though I've only ridden it once so far, I definitely love it and loved riding off of my boat.

So, long story short...for brand-new-newbies...a ski ring is just fine to learn the basics. Once you actually start trying for some tricks and some bigger air...you're probably going to want a tower.

That's my experience anyway.

[wake_quake]

[Blake]

[HHI Dave]

[Blake]

HHI Dave, NO!!! They are very nice to have. And they make a boat look clean. I am not saying dont get one, as I love mine. NVS speakers, the lights are nice for loading at night, they keep boards off the boat, and they get the rope out of the way too. I am simply saying that too many people are under the conception that they are a night and day difference, and by some act of God, makes anyone ready to throw any trick they wish. I am all for getting one... After you get your sacks first, dial in the wake, find a good prop, and add GPS speedo.

[HHI Dave]

Blake, I've done all that (except for the GPS). I posted a thread about modding my I/O with a tower, 600 lb sac, hydrofoil, and a 19p stainless prop. It was like riding behind a completely new and different boat.

Don't misunderstand me. I'm certainly not saying that a tower is the key to turning a noob boarder into a pro. But I am absolutely convinced that for an intermediate rider, it makes a discernible difference. Obviously there's a reason why the experts and the pros all ride off of towers. Yeah, if you can't go W2W on a ski ring, then a tower won't magically launch you 10 feeet high and into the flats. But I'm convinced that if the rider does his part, the tower is a definite aid.

Plus, like you said, I love having all the boards up off the floor of the boat. (Unfortunately my skate won't fit in the racks though. )

[Justin 25]

Towers generally give you more hangtime and distance. A pylon really isn't going to affect your that much.

[Blake]

Justin 25, artard says what?

HHI Dave, boat looks swank. However, I will dispute this:

[hal2814]

The only place a pylon or tower will make a night and day difference is when you initially get up. Teching newbies behind a pylon is SO much easier than teaching them behind the ski eye. The pylon has a tendency to pull you up out of the water much earlier so you don't have to worry about a new rider getting impatient and doing something ill-advised while getting pulled up.

[Blake]

hal2814, dock starts help too.

[Waking up the World]

no<<<<plain and simple

[HHI Dave]

Blake, thanks for the compliment on the boat. As soon as I catch a break with the weather around here, I'll be posting some pics of it with the speakers and lights installed.

[Blake]

HHI Dave, I wish my cd player had an mp3 jack... However, I like everything that comes on XM Ethel and Lucy, so I am good. That, and I run a camp, so I truly have to hear DIFFERENT play lists while I drive or coaching... Just imagine being on your boat for a week strait, (1 week on, 1 week off), and hearing the same tunes over and over again. Thats why I invested in it.

Back to the tower and pros argument. I am saying that a pro would rip behind anything with a wake. They are also trying to sell them for companies. But, with the newer boats, and the ballast they run, towers are truly key for double ups. I am not saying they dont help, but they really dont "help" as much as people would think... Unless they are going huge. And then you have to think, they are pros and need every edge they can get. A tenth of a second means hoisting gold, or going home empty handed.

Use this pic as an example:



This is from a few years ago on a buddy of mines Cobalt i/o, no tower, no ballast, washy wake, ski rope, with just a driver and a passenger in the boat. The board, which is an 04 CWB SOL with Mobe bindings, was a board that I was trying to sell. The passenger didnt want it because he thought since it was a beginner board, it had no pop. I took a 5 foot cut or so, and that is what I got as far as pop. Now, its nothing great at all. However, behind a small wake, with a small cut like that, I had well enough air to throw just about any trick I wanted to. Notice how I let my legs hang down so I wouldnt manipulate the height up the jump. All I am saying is that good form will take someone further than a tower will. Now, add some weight to the boat, and hit a double up, I would have maxed out that line for sure... I am tired of ranting on this, so I will leave it at this. Technique over technology any day.


What kind of speakers did you go with? PM me the link if you can. I post in spurts on this board, and chances are I will miss your thread.

[HHI Dave]

I agree 100% about good form counting for more than a tower will. In fact, I'm pretty sure that is what I was saying a few posts up.

Either way, nice pic. I sure wasn't arguing that a good rider can't get big air off a ski ring.

I'll PM you on the speakers.

[rukuswake]

umm i can jump and clear a good size wake without a tower r a pole.so yeah to jump and do some simple tricks u dont need a tower but once u start to do inverts and bigger spins u need a tower to stay in the air longer.... your are is limited on a ski ring its all fun though

[nickl011]

hal2814, I dont think you know what the h e double hockey sticks your talking about, my first time was behind a normal ski eye, popped up faster than Michael Jackson at the orphanage.wake_quake, you apparently missunderstood me, I SAID MOST PEOPLE, not the Bonifay's or others, dummy.
Blake, Amen

[WakeBoarder44]