got our boards, getting ready to go, some n00b questions

[billymac]

got my new board last night! bought a hyperlite state 145 with the state bindings and hooked my wife up with some double-up's on a new iconn best board that my neighbor gave me. it had never been ridden. we're stoked, but also a little nervous. so i've got some questions for y'all. we don't have the best boat by any means, but i think it will do the job. it's a new maxum 1800mx with a 3.0L 135HP motor. i couldn't spring for the 6 anyway, i have some questions.

1. what's the best way to ready yourself in open water? by that i mean, should you physically slip into your bindings on the back of the boat? i don't have a ton of room there, but there is a small deck. i guess that will have to work? what do you guys do? do you put both feet in and then just jump in? (i'm just a little worried about my wife hitting the outdrive and getting hurt)

2. what do you do when you're all done? i'm guessing it's a little difficult to get the bindings off in open water? or is it?

3. tips for boat speed and getting started? you guys think i've got enough power to do okay? we don't have a tower or anything yet so we'll just be using the tow ring.

4. last and most dumb, how do you tie to the toe ring?

tia for the help y'all

[nitewake]

1. put the board on in the boat. sooo much easier... jump out to the side. away from prop.

2. take it off in the water... hand it to the person in the boat...

3. getting up without a tower is rough. esspecially for beginers. get out of the hole quickly. but dont rip the rope out of there hands.

4. through big circle up behind the main ring. over the ring. hook onto hook. i think. its been sooo long since ive hooked to a tow ring.

[wesgardner]

Hey billymac,

I typically put my board on on the swim deck and then jump in standing pretty much straight up...if, when jumping feet first, please, you angle the board slightly down and away from the boat you'll sink down and away from the boat...practice, you'll get it...my daughter puts her board on in the water (I think her bindings are too loose)...either way just get ridin'

I can get my feet out of the bindings one at a time while I'm in the water - you'll be wearing a life vest with plenty of floatation, right....always I then drink a beer, sometimes

I had the same motor in my old boat, it did fine except we could not weight it down much...regardless...there's plenty of fun built right into what you have....you may want to get the video Higher Education or similar - they talk you thru everything from water starts to advanced tricks. You want to GO EASY on the throttle, DO NOT hit it...its a good consistant pull...wakeboarding is typically done around 20 mph, for learning new stuff go slower 12-15 mph...

Have a great time

Wes