Boat Driver Q??

PMart · Outlaw Joined: 12 Apr 2006 Posts: 113

Hey everyone I'm new here and I used the search button to look for it and couldnt find it. Well i was wondering what my dad needed to do to pull me, i mean i know the basics for wakeboarding but havnt cleared wake yet. my dad is good getting me up and everything and i was wondering if he needs to turn the boat when im out of the wake so that i come in and hit the wake so i hit it?? or does he just need to go straight and i do all the work?? also wuts a good speed to stay at when boarding and does he decellerate at all when i hit the wake?? thanks, need help

brath5 · Outlaw Joined: 06 Jul 2004 Posts: 222 City: Winnipeg

wow man u've got one crazy imagination...first of all the perfect cenario is the boat stays the speed u want and in a perfectly straight line, u do all the work for cutting in and hitting it (check the trick tips for progressive edging). as for speed 18-22Mph is recomended so try 18 for now. Going slower isn't a bad thing if ur more comfortable...if that seems 2 fast u can even go down from there, it just allows u to progress...also when starting out make sure to shorten the rope up a decent bit. when ur starting to catch air u don't want to have to clear 10-15 ft to go W2W(wake to wake) and shortening up the rope will leave u with a much smaller gap.
1 boat goes straight at constant speed
2 you do all the work
3 starting up in the sport u might want to gety an instructional DVD...the book among others will give u the tips u need and a visual to boot.

Have fun man Mr. Green

brath5 · Outlaw Joined: 06 Jul 2004 Posts: 222 City: Winnipeg

o yah...welcome to WB.com Cool

PMart · Outlaw Joined: 12 Apr 2006 Posts: 113

but when going 18 make the wake wider though, so u have to go bigger??

brath5 · Outlaw Joined: 06 Jul 2004 Posts: 222 City: Winnipeg

compared to other speeds it all depends on ur boat...my dads lund 19 fter didn't make a difference at all...maybe another foot gap which is peanuts when u start jumping. my buddys glastron 19fter w/tower made a pretty decent difference but with the proper technique at the slower speed it shouldn't be anything u can't handle....have u done any other board sports before?

phantom268 · Posted: Apr 13, 2006 5:06 am Post subject:

What they said. Boat ideally is a constant speed and a straight line. Also you might not want to shorten the rope too soon. I think it helps if you start on a longer or full rope length and work on 1-wake jumps before going to wake to wake. When you're able to jump past the middle of the table (water in between the wakes) or almost reach the 2nd wake, then I would shorten the rope and go for wake to wake jumps. Learning to get some height and distance on single wake jumps on a longer line seemed to help learning wake to wake on a shorten line.

PMart · Outlaw Joined: 12 Apr 2006 Posts: 113

yeah i have a fourwinns right now its 22' and ive been snowboarind my whole life, im sponsered right now for snowboarind actaully, vans, so this isnt new to me. ive been almost to the clearing part from wake wake so now ur saying i should shorten the rope...yeah ill try that. thanks guys. Also when i carve out and come towards the wake and when i hit the wake do i just need to let the wake get me in the air or i need to pop up an ollie?? also when i land in the middle of the wake, i loose balance alot and the rop is shaky, do i need to make the rope tight before hit the wake and is there a way to land good like ur sitting down??

phantom268 · Posted: Apr 13, 2006 12:48 pm Post subject:

As you're coming into the wake you need to be edging harder and harder to build up line tension. Straighten your legs at the wake, and make sure you keep your edge through the wake, don't let up too early. You don't have to ollie exactly, just stand up tall and you'll fly. Might take some time to work out the timing between edging and standing tall. Think of it like this if your knees are bent at the wake you could easily absorb alot of your pop/energy in your jump. If you're "standing tall" with straighter legs that energy is pushed more off the water instead of being absorbed at the knees, making better jumps. maybe that makes sense.

If you're landing off balance, you're probably landing flat or off edge. I've heard many times "you land just like you take off" so its very possible you're not edging all the way through the wake and going flat, so then you are landing flat and unstable. For landing just bend your knees to absorb the landing, almost like you're trying to stop bouncing on a trampoline. Combine that with landing on edge, and riding out the landing and you should be good to go. good luck!

PMart · Outlaw Joined: 12 Apr 2006 Posts: 113

hey thanks for everything guys, ur all good. Im goin to tell my dad now just to drive straight haha and not worry about turning or anything. I just need to practice clearing that wake before i get to fancy. thanks guys.

pilot_ryder · Posted: Apr 15, 2006 10:05 am Post subject:

and for clearing the wake just edge super hard

lukep90 · Outlaw Joined: 10 Apr 2006 Posts: 124

. .

PMart · Outlaw Joined: 12 Apr 2006 Posts: 113

okok and speed wise, around 18 mph??

brath5 · Outlaw Joined: 06 Jul 2004 Posts: 222 City: Winnipeg

18-22 is recomended...but you can go slower if it's more comfortable...i ride around 20-22ish but at the start i just rode 18 n played it safe...not i'm trying to go big so i need the bigger gap from the full rope n a nice crisp wake.

PMart · Outlaw Joined: 12 Apr 2006 Posts: 113

well im wrking on clearing the gap and i know how to carve and ride the board fine!!! its just that right way to jump the wake so im thinink 20

Mallorcan_Rider · Newbie Joined: 20 Apr 2006 Posts: 3 City: Cheshire, UK

may sound like a stupid question.. but when the boat is turning, does the driver keep the speed constant or does he increase the speed?? Confused

Do you guys have any other driver tips when turning??

Cheers.

brath5 · Outlaw Joined: 06 Jul 2004 Posts: 222 City: Winnipeg

when the boat is turning try and maintain the same speed...depending on how big the radius is in ur turn u want the keep the same speed which may include u haveing to increase or decrease throttle to do so...but the normal same speed is perfect idea is still in affect...and if ur riding an outboard or i/o make sure it's trimmed right so there is no pull in the wheel..i know when we ride trimmed up it's a pain to turn when the wheel is fighting you.

Mallorcan_Rider · Newbie Joined: 20 Apr 2006 Posts: 3 City: Cheshire, UK

ah k cool sounds good.. thanks for your advice brath5. Now just can't wait till I next hit the sea! I'm only a beginner but addicted already!!

Cool

pilot_ryder · Posted: Apr 20, 2006 3:20 pm Post subject:

start a bit slower then as you get better you can speed up

money_mike · Criminal Joined: 26 Mar 2006 Posts: 67 City: phoenix

i know people have already said this in different words but maybe this will help. Act like your trying to pull away from the boat when u edge, u should be putting quite a bit of muscle into it. Whatever you do dont just turn and go fast and hit the wake cuz u wont get air and the rope will be lose when you land and jerk you around and make you lose your balance.