What's Next?

BobL · Newbie Joined: 15 Mar 2006 Posts: 33

Had a great weekend at the lake as my 13 year old finally got the hang of getting up (he pops right up, now). He worked on turns inside the wake then crossing both wakes and appears to have the hang of it. My (his) next question is what is next, as in what tricks/techniques should he start working on? A suggested list (i.e. jumping one wake, edging, etc.) in order of less difficult to most would be great. Thanks in advance for your reply.

P.S. My 9 year old also made it up for a 100+ yards but has a little ways to go (starting to work on balance).

Sure is great to watch your kids have the time of their life.

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

i'd say prolly start on basic technique...get him to try cuttin hard from the wake out on both sides to get faster edging down without him having to slow down before he hits the wake...maybe get him to try some sliding around on the surface n get some board control..then after some of that maybe inside out ollies to get the feel of jumping and landing on the down side o the wake...then 1 wake jumps...then w2w. i wish i started boarding that young that woulda been rad...keep em going n they'll be pro by my age ( 18 ).

pilot_ryder · Posted: Apr 17, 2006 4:41 pm Post subject:

start carving in and out and slowly jumping a little bit more each time

Donkey_Wakeboarder17 · Criminal Joined: 03 Apr 2006 Posts: 61 City: Okay

Likebrath5, said, I would start him out slow, learning inside out jumps, and maybe olies, surface 180's stuff like that. Learning board control is most important get him comfortable on the board. Make sure he works on both heelside and toeside, cause that is my delima right now, I never spent anytime on my toeside and now I am having to go back and work on it....

BobL · Newbie Joined: 15 Mar 2006 Posts: 33

Thanks for all the replies and he is ready to get back in the water. One question about surface 180's (and surface slides) - do you suggest he remove the fins or is that not necessary? I am 44 with quite a bit of water ski experience but this wakeboard stuff is brand new to me (and my boys).

All the advice and coaching experience has to come from these boards. Thanks again!

pilot_ryder · Posted: Apr 19, 2006 5:06 pm Post subject:

when i first started i had a fin on both ends and 2 molded fins and that didnt stop me but with no fins it will let the board release easier

nfn · Soul Rider Joined: 25 Apr 2005 Posts: 388 City: Sioux City

SWITCH, SWITCH, SWITCH!!!!

BobL, have him learn switch NOW. If he learns to get up switch and balance that will give him more confidence on his surface 180s. Try to get him to progress riding switch as much as he does regular. If wakeboarding is something you think he is gonna stick with, he will thank you a million times for having him learn it right off the bat. Most people (myself included) spend way too much time riding regular. When everyone else his age is struggling to go back and learn switch he will be killing it. It will also expand the amount of tricks he can learn earlier.

Donkey_Wakeboarder17 · Criminal Joined: 03 Apr 2006 Posts: 61 City: Okay

BobL, surface 180's were MUCH easier for me after we took the fins off, however, I know a lot of people who rock out surface 180's and 360's with fins....its kinda just to each his own

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

depends on what kinda board u have...on my old byerly it had a flat bottom with 2 larger fins...taking them off made it impossible to stay straight and i could spin like nothing on water...if there are some molded fins then taking them off will prolly make them easier.

pilot_ryder · Posted: Apr 20, 2006 1:03 pm Post subject:

yes the size of the board will also determine how easy it is going to be to spin