Switching Footing/Directions

Obad · Newbie Joined: 03 Oct 2004 Posts: 5

Just started wakeboarding the summer before last and I'm stuck only going one direction (right foot first). I can start going left foot first, but I can only stay up for about 2-3 secs before it just gets too wobbly/squirely and I bail and or crash. I can stay up the other direction(right foot first) fine, but thats about all I can do...just cruise and go back and forth over the wakes (no jumps yet). I want to learn how to do a 180 on the water, but I need to learn how to control the board going both ways first. Any tips? Don't know what my problem is. Sad

Thanks.

savage3221 · Posted: Oct 03, 2004 8:36 pm Post subject:

You are just having to relearn everything completley. keep working at it, and you'll get it. It is very challenging at first.

bluefish86 · Posted: Oct 04, 2004 7:25 am Post subject:

Just keep trying. All it takes is practice. I had the same problem, but after a bunch of tries, all of a sudden it just clicked and I could go for entire rides switch.

Also, remember to face the boat when riding switch like you would normal. Don't ride like you're going backwards, ride like a mirror image of how you normally ride.

Good job practicing riding switch early on. Don't give up, and you'll be thankful later.

89 skier · Addict Joined: 30 Jun 2004 Posts: 729 City: Dallas

You might want to take a look at your feet position on the board. Some people change their setup to allow them to feel more comfortable riding switch. You can try setting it up with both feet angled out (equally) towards the tips of the board, so it feels the same whether riding regular or switch.

Obad · Newbie Joined: 03 Oct 2004 Posts: 5

Alright, thanks for the encouraging words. Guess I'll just keep going at it. And ya, I may mess with the footing a little bit, that might help.

Here's to trying! I'll let ya know how it goes Smile

colt45 · Criminal Joined: 10 Oct 2004 Posts: 58 City: dallas

get a skateboard or if your friends have a skateboard....and just ride around on that....its an easy way to learn the balance of switch, out of the water than goin in it and wadin it every second.....so just grab a board a cruise around your driveway ridin it switch and you will get the balance down....

jayp · Criminal Joined: 13 Aug 2004 Posts: 69 City: Portland

I just started wakeboarding this summer and had the same problem. You definately need to learn to ride switch. There are basicaly two ways to get there. Either get up that way or switch while riding with a 180. You should be able to do both. Practice riding slow. It helps to ride at around 16 mph to get the feel. Go slow until you are able to control your direction. It is mostly mental. Going slower at first helps. Once you get the feel for riding switch, do some surface 180's back and forth. Cross the wake switch and just do what you feel comfortable with. Basically just do it.

The more you think about it the harder it is.

brianseymore · Newbie Joined: 15 Oct 2004 Posts: 41 City: Clear Lake

i sometimes switch my hand positioning and it seems to help a little