Switch Riding

briguy18241 · Newbie Joined: 01 Aug 2004 Posts: 9

Today, I spent the whole day trying to learn to ride switch. I tried for around 3 hours. I ride regular, and I was able to get the surface 180's down no problem. However, once I was in the goofy stance, I was totally out of control. I would fall back, have no balance, and go to the right side no matter how hard I tried to go to the left. I couldnt stay up for anymore than 5 seconds

Any tips, anyone?

Also, both boots on my board are pointed at around 6-10 degrees to the outside.

pooser · Wakeboarder.com Freak Joined: 13 Jan 2003 Posts: 4738

get up switch and just stay behind the boat and cruise around. make some cuts back and forth inside the wake then go outside the wake carve around some more surf the wake a little. Just get comfortable with it. its like having to relearn to wakeboard.

aloharodeo · Posted: Aug 01, 2004 7:15 pm Post subject:

I was really uncomfortable with it to start with too (most of us are I guess). When you're riding regular take note of these things: weight distribution on each leg, how much your body is turned (upper body from lower), how much your arms and knees are bent. Then when you go to ride switch reverse it all.

When you say that you keep going to the right side it makes me think you are doing one of these things: not standing straight enough, putting your weight in your back or heels, not bending your back arm enough, or bending one knee and keeping the other straight.

Just pay attention to the things I said in my first paragraph and it should get easier. And if you have a skateboard trying to skate switch can help you feel more comfortable with it, or just pratice standing on the floor, so you can map out you weight distribution and the other things I said from regular to switch, just by thinking about how you ride regular and reversing it.

briguy18241 · Newbie Joined: 01 Aug 2004 Posts: 9

Yeah, I wasnt really standing up very straight, but that was because I was so out of balance. I do have a skateboard, and I can ride switch really easily on it, but this is so much different.

aloharodeo · Posted: Aug 01, 2004 7:33 pm Post subject:

well the skateboard is also good for just standing on like you would a wakeboard, practicing the things I said and reversing them, and just leaning back a forth as if you were edging, I know it made me feel more comfortable with it when I was learning switch.

Shifter · Newbie Joined: 30 Jul 2004 Posts: 37

This may be a really stupid newbie question, but are you switching your rope to the leading hip? Someone in here posted a picture of them doing one handed, but using the trailing hand to do it. Seems a little unstable to me.

briguy18241 · Newbie Joined: 01 Aug 2004 Posts: 9

When I switch, I hold it one-handed with the leading hand.

hyperrider · Addict Joined: 06 Aug 2003 Posts: 613 City: Edmonton

when i ride switch i ride with both hands or one hand. you just have to get used to it. trust me just relax and dont try to make it such a big thing. i could barely ride switch and now i can clear the wake switch....it just takes practice

MattM · Newbie Joined: 18 Jun 2004 Posts: 17

just try to relax

colefooter · Posted: Aug 04, 2004 7:05 pm Post subject:

I think good ole viva la mike posted that pic of the great one hander. I thought the same. Ride it just like your surfing or something, you wouldn't have your arm across your body.

It is very important to learn how to ride switch, so make sure you learn it. Don't give up on it.