A Couple Beginner Questions

Jeff Hayden · Newbie Joined: 12 Jul 2007 Posts: 9

Hey all,

First of all, I'd like to say that this site and its members are awesome. This is my first season wakeboarding and I was able to get 100% of my newbie questions answered just by browsing the forum. Thanks for making it easy to start wakeboarding.

I am very comfortable riding regular and I just started riding switch last night. I'm able to surface 180 back and forth, but I've caught the front edge a few times and had some really nasty faceplants. I still have the fins on my board, and I thought that removing them might help, but I'm worried that it will be too slippery or whatever for me to learn switch well. Should I wait to take the fins off until I'm good enough at riding switch?

My second question has to do with a wake-to-wake jump; don't worry, I'm not beating the "HOW TO W2W!!??!?" dead horse. I've been getting good pop, but I consistently make it about 3/4 of the way across. I'm using a 75-foot rope behind a 17-foot outboard Four Winns going about 20 mph, but I don't have a tower or pylon so the rope is attached right above the water. I've watched some videos of W2W posted on the site and the wakes look a lot narrower than what I'm trying to clear. Can I realistically clear the wake with this situation or would I need to change some of these factors (speed, rope length, etc.)? I really want a pylon or tower but it's just not in the budget right now. Does that make a big difference?

Thanks!

Jeff

hurley · Criminal Joined: 04 Jul 2007 Posts: 79 City: Calgary

id shorten your rope 5-10 feet, then you should be able to clear the wake, and then lengthen it as you improve, and i wouldnt take off the fins, more stability while your riding and actually wont make much differnce when doing surface 180's

howabouttheiris · Addict Joined: 16 Jun 2005 Posts: 677 City: Austin, TX

#1: IMHO... Leave the fins on till you can ride switch. If you can get to 180, there is no need to do it easier. The balance will come.

#2: If you take your speed to 22 and your line length to 55-60, it will be a lot easier. (and narrower) The tower helps, but is really not required. It is possible to do that jump at 20 and 75', but it takes much better technique.

Make your rope shorter and shorter until you can go W2W. Then get better. Then lenghten the rope. Then get better........

Don't let peer pressure take your fins off until you are ready or ride a longer rope that you can w2w with. It is just hard on the body.

ontrider · Ladies Man Joined: 30 Jul 2003 Posts: 16491 City: Russia

I like this guy already... searches, reads and everything!

#1 - Leave the fins on... you'll probably have a tough time riding switch without them if you're learning, especially if the water is rough. If you have trouble catching fins on your surface 180's just cut out a bit harder and then let the board go flat, you'll slow down a bit and have some slack in the rope and won't get yanked that way.

#2 - Your wake might be wide, try shortening the rope. Hard to tell if your progressive edge needs work without seeing any pics/video, but realistically you should be able to start your cut from about 5-10 feet away from the wake and clear it with a good edge.

Welcome to the madness that is wakeboarder.com

tpj · Outlaw Joined: 31 Jan 2007 Posts: 158

jeff hayden-

this is off topic but do u really ride on duck lake?
im right near u on bear lake...if ur ever there pm me
ill be in the red and white maristar with a tower

Jeff Hayden · Newbie Joined: 12 Jul 2007 Posts: 9

Thanks for all of your advice. I'm not in a hurry to take the fins off so that's fine with me...I'll just have to get better at surface 180's so I don't knock myself out.

Once I get my camera fixed I'll put up some video...maybe I'll find out that rope length is the least of my worries Rolling Eyes

. I haven't been riding that long so I'm sure my progressive edge needs work.

One more question: I have a pretty standard ski rope, is there a big advantage in upgrading to an actual wakeboard rope (Spectra or whatever)?

howabouttheiris · Addict Joined: 16 Jun 2005 Posts: 677 City: Austin, TX

Yes, there is a big advantage.

The ski rope will stretch, and when you get in the air, it will contract. This will pull you over in the air. It will also make you "bounce" when you try to get on a strong edge.

I would ride a ski rope vs not riding, but believe it is well worth the investment early on.

oshensurfer · Posted: Jul 13, 2007 6:02 am Post subject:

Jeff Hayden, howabouttheiris is right. It makes a huge difference IMO. You can get a very cheap non-stretch on ebay.

Jeff Hayden · Newbie Joined: 12 Jul 2007 Posts: 9

Alright, I'll have to get one. Any brand recommendations or anything?

ontrider · Ladies Man Joined: 30 Jul 2003 Posts: 16491 City: Russia

This guy has cheap stuff
http://search.ebay.com/_W0QQsassZboarding007

Jeff Hayden · Newbie Joined: 12 Jul 2007 Posts: 9

Awesome, some really good deals there. Thanks a lot.

Chad H · Posted: Jul 14, 2007 5:40 pm Post subject:

Jeff Hayden,
Taking 5 feet off your length will help you make the W2W jump more consistent. I had this problem the past weekend, as i was behind a deckboat, with a wider wake. I took the line down a little, and BAM got the w2w