standing tall

JV · Posted: Oct 11, 2005 11:12 am Post subject: standing tall

i've been wakeboarding for a while, but just started taking it seriously a couple of months ago. i'm pretty comfortable edging, but i can't get any pop to save my life. i have "the book" and try to use all the things i learned from it (hold the rope in low and close, use a progressive edge, etc.), but i can never "stand tall" at the wake. even when it's the only thing i'm focused on, my knees still buckle when i hit the wake. any suggestions? i know you guys will tell me to search the 25,000 other threads asking an identical question, but the ones i've already read make it sound so easy just to stand tall, but yet i still can't do it. thanks for your help guys.
also, if anyone can tell me how to compress a video from a video camera i'll post a video of what i'm talking about.

Wakebrad · Ladies Man Joined: 11 Dec 2003 Posts: 12257 City: Dallas

JV, if your legs are buckling when you hit the wake you are probably cutting way too hard. Start off by taking easy cuts into the wake and work on standing tall. As you start coming up the wake start to extend your legs and time it so they are fully extended when you are at the top of the wake.

When you are starting to feel like you are getting some pop slowly increase your speed into the wake. If you come plowing in out of control you're not going to have balance enough to stand tall.

ballywho · Wakeboarder.Commie Joined: 05 Feb 2005 Posts: 1725

Wakebrad put it perfectly. The only thing I can add is to try to make sure your knees are locked straight as you're going up the wake. A good way to practice is at first dont even squat in your cut, ust edge in with your knees straight. As you get the feel for this start squatting but "stand tall" really early. This will give you the feel for the whole thing, pop, standing tall, ect. After you get that stuff down start working on your timing to be able to explode off the wake as you're going up it.
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JV · Posted: Oct 11, 2005 4:17 pm Post subject:

http://www.wakepics.com/view_single.php?medid=17379

this is me. critique all you want, i need it.

ballywho · Wakeboarder.Commie Joined: 05 Feb 2005 Posts: 1725

Standing tall is a much more dramatic change than you would think. Really try to LOCK your knees straight. It may feel weird but thats what you need to do. To get the correct timing the way I think is to try to push the rocker of the board into the trough of the wake.

In your vid you're not standing tall all the way, and not at all ts. I accually find the motion to be easier ts, but I dont know why.
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Blake · Posted: Oct 11, 2005 9:45 pm Post subject:

I am not going to flame you by not searching, becuase you are asking for individual help. That said, Wakebrad told you like it is. However, one thing I have my students do is take 3 cuts from 5 feet, 3 from 10, and 3 from 15. This will get you the timing of exploding upwards. Now, I am sure you are confused or think exploding up sounds so simple correct? Well, if you are at all familiar with lifting weights, squats in particualr, then this is the same motion you want to create. You really have to force yourself to explode up, you are fighting the boats natural pull, so doing so is a bit of a challenge. I mean, there is 8 year olds that can do this, but thats because they have the muscles needed worked/prepped for the sport. Now, when you edge in from 5' out, think explode up as if you were doing a squat. You dont want to jump, but rather force yourself into the top position with your knees locked as ballywho stated. Doing this from a shorter distance really makes you stay on edge and hold your edge up and through the wake. At the crest or peak of the wake, think dig your heels in the wake itself.Then, once you get the timing down, try it from 10 feet, with 3 cuts.

This is a pic of myself after a nasty spill off of a slider where I was just trying to get comfortable. I took a 10' cut into the wake (hs switch, on an unweighted I/O with no tower) so you should be able to do the same.

ballywho, the reasoning behind your better pop ts is because your knees only bend one way you silly goose. If one has the balls to charge the wake and stay on edge, they get the correct pop!

Blake · Posted: Oct 11, 2005 9:51 pm Post subject:

JV, From the looks of your video, you have way to much weight on your back foot when hitting the wake, and you are jumping off of the wake itself. Hence why your knees are forced to your chest. TS you just cut like a pink taco, that simple.

kuehn · Outlaw Joined: 21 Sep 2003 Posts: 186 City: London. UK

jv

it doesnt look that bad to me. dont know how long you have been boarding though but you look like someone who is progressing and someone who has the ability to progress quickly.

Heelside cut. Doesnt matter how much exploding or popping off the wake you do you, will not get away with letting your arms out the way you are. in general the position coming in is ok and your not making too many adjustments on your way in which is good! one of the main reasons for this is that you have your elbows in and handle in the right position. The handle position is critical to keep it tight in that position when you leave, push the handle down when you leave the wake. as wakebrad says slow it down. DO this and the locking of the legs will make sense and come a bit more naturally.

Toeside

You want your knees bent but not with your butt sticking out. You are changing your position on the way in. Hold the handle lower and have your forearm against your stomach. It will come just keep building it up. (too much info toeside can mess you up, do one thing at a time)

That rope looks a bit floppy though!

GOOD LUCK you will be fine. Smile

JV · Posted: Oct 12, 2005 6:53 am Post subject:

thanks guys, i'll get out there and try these things as soon as my boat gets out of the shop (i hit a submerged tree in 37 feet of water).

blake, you're right on with the pink taco comment. it doesn't take much for me to get a concussion--likely from the years of high school basketball and football beatings--and i've had 3 so far wakeboarding, usually by catching an edge. i have a helmet, but i don't wear it because it's not "cool" so instead i go out and wus it up because that looks sooo much better. in that video, there's absolutely no ballast and only 2 people. i figure i should improve my technique and not carry over bad habits to bigger wakes.

i just bought a Jacket line, so maybe that will help the floppiness a little.

nickdakoolkat · Posted: Oct 12, 2005 8:24 pm Post subject:

Blake · Posted: Oct 12, 2005 8:37 pm Post subject:

JV, I cant tell if you are being a smart ass or not. Laughing

Naw bro, its all good. I have torn my mcl, and acl, countless times since wakeboarding. Your health is more important in the long run. If you are serious about not wanting to wear a helmet because it isnt cool, then you have your priorties wrong. I have attempted sliders without a helmet before, and as murpheys law states, "anything that could go wrong will go wrong" usally is the instance. But man, just go out and have fun dude. Being all concust is a somewhat zin like experience anywho.

JV · Posted: Oct 13, 2005 6:50 am Post subject:

i usually wear it when i'm trying new things, but when i'm just cruising i go without. however, i ride noticeably better with it on. i guess it's a mental thing. if i was all that worried about "looking cool", i'd only ride when the lake was empty. but i understand everyone has been a beginner at some point, so i just have fun. although it would be nice to grow some balls Very Happy