Wakeboarding/Skiing

Pigskincoach · Newbie Joined: 31 Mar 2007 Posts: 2

I can ski slalolm, how different is getting up on a wake board? And is there anything you guys can tell me to make the learning curve quicker? Thanks

spyd4r · Addict Joined: 22 Apr 2006 Posts: 701

you ever snowboarded? That'll help a lot. Other then that, just read how-to's and make sure you don't let the driver pull your arms off!

HHI Dave · Posted: Apr 04, 2007 10:48 pm Post subject:

I always tell people if you can get up on skis then you can get up on a wakeboard.

Of course, what you do once you get up is a whole different ball game. Laughing

ripperchick · Outlaw Joined: 16 May 2006 Posts: 158 City: Atlanta

Getting up on a slalolm ski is A LOT different than getting up on a wakeboard.

For slalolming you push really hard with your back foot against the ski, in wakeboarding when you get up you really shouldn't be pushing against the board at all. Matter of fact, try to keep as much weight off the board as possible by pressing your knees as close to your chest as you can, and let your weight "roll" on top of the board once its flat.

Whatever you do DO NOT push against the board!

Death · Newbie Joined: 11 Jul 2006 Posts: 5

ripperchick · Outlaw Joined: 16 May 2006 Posts: 158 City: Atlanta

Hmm, never heard of that. How do you keep your balance with your weight on just one foot?

edrex · Posted: Apr 05, 2007 3:21 pm Post subject:

Death, keep your elbows at your knees and don't stand up too early.

Death · Newbie Joined: 11 Jul 2006 Posts: 5

ripperchick, lol I don't know, its how I learned to do it so it works for me.

edrex, heh I've been wakeboarding for ~3 years or so, I think that advice was meant for Pigskincoach.

nickl011 · Posted: Apr 06, 2007 11:02 am Post subject:

ripperchick, try using two skis and drop on and just balance on one foot for a while.

Back on topic, like ripperckick said keep your elbows on the outsid of you knees and use the resistance of the water to stand up. Also, you dont have to have the driver gun it like you do in slolaming. You can take it slow, then when your standing tall and spin you board around, have them speed up, you dont have to go 25-30 mph either. Sometimes going alittle slower will help with a bigger wake, all depends on what kind of boat your using. Go at a speed you feel comfortable with too.

spyd4r · Addict Joined: 22 Apr 2006 Posts: 701

Start up slow (Not too slow realistically though) until your actually floating on top of the the water then bring it up to 22-24.

Pigskincoach · Newbie Joined: 31 Mar 2007 Posts: 2

The Boat is an 07 Malibu 247 LSV, i appreciate the advice i would have pressed with my back foot alot i think.....

nickl011 · Posted: Apr 09, 2007 7:44 am Post subject:

BTW, you dont start with the board going the long way out of the water (like this: _l_) the board has to be laying on edge like this: _--_

ripperchick · Outlaw Joined: 16 May 2006 Posts: 158 City: Atlanta

abrider · Criminal Joined: 07 Mar 2006 Posts: 98

I have seen this basic getting up issue come up a number of times.

Every time it seems people have the answer about how to do it. I claim that everyone is different. We can all suggest how to do it, but individual riders will have individual styles.

For slalom skiing, I have heard of the foot dragging method as the way to go, but for me this was after I had already learned the jam the back foot in and hang on method.

I had also read here the idea of putting the wake board perpendicular to the travel of the boat as the way to go. Almost everyone claims this is the answer. I have found that getting up much like a slalom ski works better for me. After a couple of falls the suggested way, I have never, ever failed using my way.

One suggestion I do have is to let the boat do the work and keep leaning back and also stay fairly low. Most beginners on the water get pulled over the front on their first try.

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

dont try and fight the boat just let it pull u up

that was my problem when i was learning

wakespeak · Newbie Joined: 10 Apr 2007 Posts: 42 City: Austin

Newbie here also. So are you guys saying start with the board perpendicular to the boat? Ie, you start out in a sideways skid? Seems like it would be easy to catch the "front" edge.

Also a long time slalom skier. I actually follow the "don't fight the boat". Pull your knees to your chest and let the boat plane the ski (just takes a while sometimes).

HHI Dave · Posted: Apr 11, 2007 2:26 pm Post subject:

pet575 · Posted: Apr 11, 2007 2:40 pm Post subject:

Wakespeak, you won't catch that front edge if you let your knees bend up to your chest and keep your weight balanced by keeping your hips behind your feet. The board and the boat will do the rest. Like HHI Dave says, you could ride squatted down or standing up with the board sideways all day once you figure out where your weight needs to be behind the board.

The important thing is to not think that the following two things are the same:
1. keeping your hips behind your feet
2. straightening your legs, pulling on the rope, and "fighting" against the boat

It is possible to keep your knees bent and still accomplish #1 while also NOT doing #2.

HHI Dave · Posted: Apr 11, 2007 5:22 pm Post subject:

wakespeak, Go here http://www.ridecwb.com/2007/videos.php and scroll down to "basic start".

There's an excellent video of Zane Schwenk explaining how to get up on a wakeboard.

Also, check out some of the pro-rider videos like Andrew Adkison and Gabe Lucas if you want to get pumped up about wakeboarding. Cool

wakespeak · Newbie Joined: 10 Apr 2007 Posts: 42 City: Austin

A lot of help guys. The video was great too. Thanks!

Follow up question:

On stance, I am left foot forward when water skiing. I assume same for wakeboarding. Should I:

1. angle the bindings evenly with both feet angled slightly outward,
2. or start out with left foot angled toward the outside and right (rear) foot straight, ie perpendicular to the board.

?

abrider · Criminal Joined: 07 Mar 2006 Posts: 98

I think it is recommended to angle the front foot a little to the front and the back foot a little to the back, evenly and symmetrically placed. That is, put your feet in a slight V shape about shoulder width apart. This way, riding switch will be somewhat less difficult and feel more natural.

HHI Dave · Posted: Apr 13, 2007 9:44 am Post subject:

I was told to stand in one place and jump straight up in the air. When you land, the position your feet are in should be how you position your bindings.

I can't guarantee that that's good advice so take it for what its worth. Laughing

pet575 · Posted: Apr 13, 2007 10:30 am Post subject:

Another way to do it is to stand in one place, have someone give you a push forward, and whichever foot you put forward first in order to catch your balance is the one that should be in front on the board. abrider is correct on the V thing, but only you can decide how much you should angle your feet out. Some people like their toes pointing way out, but I like mine only one or two notches away from straight. Just a matter of preference, but I have heard that the more you point them out, the harder it is on your ACL's.

ripperchick · Outlaw Joined: 16 May 2006 Posts: 158 City: Atlanta

pet575, Are you sure its not the foot you use first goes in the back? I thought most people put their "dominate foot" back?

pet575 · Posted: Apr 13, 2007 11:03 am Post subject:

I thought I had it right, but maybe I'm f'ed in the head. Wouldn't be the first time. Wakespeak if you do a search in the newbie forum, there are some threads on this very question. That will clear up any confusion.

pet575 · Posted: Apr 13, 2007 11:12 am Post subject:

Here is a thread discussing it- I thought I had it right. Stronger foot forward:

http://forums.wakeboarder.com/viewtopic.php?t=48312&highlight=stance+foot+front

ripperchick · Outlaw Joined: 16 May 2006 Posts: 158 City: Atlanta

Some people say stronger in back, others say put it front. I guess it comes down to mostly preference.

nickl011 · Posted: Apr 13, 2007 5:59 pm Post subject:

Dominate foot back, it is your strongest foot and will be used alot when carving like in slaloming.

HHI Dave · Posted: Apr 14, 2007 12:29 am Post subject:

My strong foot is in the back. I'm left handed (and left footed Smile

) and I ride goofy.

pet575 · Posted: Apr 16, 2007 5:23 am Post subject:

I have to sort of retract my previous statement. When I thought about which foot went forward when I did this deal, it was my left foot. I'm right handed, but I ride goofy, though, so that means I put my strongest foot in back as well. Sorry for confusing anyone.

abrider · Criminal Joined: 07 Mar 2006 Posts: 98

As a long-time slalom skier, I feel way, way more comfortable with my strong foot forward. I applaud those who learn with strong foot back as I think it will make riding switch a whole lot easier.

LakeIolaLuke · Posted: Apr 16, 2007 2:54 pm Post subject:

abrider, do people really ride slalom switch?

ripperchick · Outlaw Joined: 16 May 2006 Posts: 158 City: Atlanta

I thought he was talking about wakeboarding switch?

I've never heard it called "switch" for skiing, but when my back foot gets tired I just fall, and change my feet. Its harder for me to get up that way, but doesn't make a difference once I'm up.

abrider · Criminal Joined: 07 Mar 2006 Posts: 98

I found that once you get comfortable with your strong foot forward on slalom, then riding switch in wakeboard feels very strange.

I applaud those who can ride slalom with either foot forward, this seems essentially impossible to me.

spyd4r · Addict Joined: 22 Apr 2006 Posts: 701

if you were to run and slide across a tile floor... what foot would you put forward Mr. Green