Jumping HS, landing on face

sjalper · Newbie Joined: 05 Jul 2006 Posts: 3

I've been trying to learn to jump. When I take it slow, I can get a little bit of air, but I'm not going W2W.

When I commit and try to go W2W, I have been getting some air on the jump, but the board is getting behind me in the air and I end up hitting the water horizontal.

Having read a bunch of the tips on jumping threads, I think I've been cutting hard too early and I'm not sure if I'm 'standing up' or 'trying to jump.' I'm also not sure of my hand position when I jump. Those are all things I'll keep in mind next time.

However, seeing as landing on my face isn't very fun (except for those watching), I'm wondering if I have given enough information to help diagnose the problem? Have any of you had (and hopefully solved) this problem?

I looked through a bunch of threads but didn't see anyone who seemed to be having the same problem (unless landing, catching an edge, and faceplanting is similar only less extreme than what I'm doing). Many thanks for any help you can provide!

Natman · Addict Joined: 13 Jan 2006 Posts: 873 City: Eddy TOWN

umm, keep the rope to your hips. Rise up with the wake, Progressive edge is key. So start slow then load the line and carry your edge through. I would think your board is going behind you because you might be leaning over your toeside edge when rising up with the wake.

ontrider · Ladies Man Joined: 30 Jul 2003 Posts: 16491 City: Russia

If you're landing on your face you're flattening off when you get to the wake. Keep the load on the line and stand up, otherwise you'll just get yanked.

burntorange77 · Soul Rider Joined: 31 Jan 2006 Posts: 321 City: Kingwood

Something that has helped me is to keep my eyes on the opposite flat and not on the wake. If you're looking at the wake, you may end up with your head down and your center of gravity will get all screwed up.

ontrider · Ladies Man Joined: 30 Jul 2003 Posts: 16491 City: Russia

burntorange77, that's another good tip. Look where you're going. If you look down, that's where you'll go!

burntorange77 · Soul Rider Joined: 31 Jan 2006 Posts: 321 City: Kingwood

Thanks ontrider. Now I just need to be better about practicing what I preach. Laughing

sjalper · Newbie Joined: 05 Jul 2006 Posts: 3

Thanks for the tips! Now I'll try to practice what both of you preach. Here's what I think I need to try next time:

* focus on keeping the rope to my hips
* look to the opposite wake
* progressively edge all the way until I stand up, and trying to maintain the edge as I stand up
* keep my weight back, in other words, don't lean forward on the jump

If there are any other tips / useful pieces of advice, they'd be very appreciated. Thanks again.

timmyDecker · Outlaw Joined: 22 May 2006 Posts: 187 City: Manhattan...KS

I've had problems feeling like I'm getting pulled forward when I jump the wake, and it's usually from flattening out instead of holding my edge all the way through. I'd be willing to bet that's the lead cause of what you are experiencing. Focus on keeping your belly button pointed up, and trying to show the bottom of your board to the people in the boat...that should help at least a little.

sjalper · Newbie Joined: 05 Jul 2006 Posts: 3

Okay - perhaps a stupid question . . . but just relating to timing . . .

timmyDecker talked about keeping your belly button pointing up and showing the folks in the boat the bottom of the board. This is how I understand that comment . . .

To jump (without landing on my face):
* cut out TS
* flatten out to get rid of slack in the line
* start a soft HS cut, and increase the cut all the way to the wake (i.e. progressively edge)
* as approaching the wake, this is when I think about keeping my belly button pointing up and showing folks in the boat the bottom of the board. This is how I make sure that I am not flattening out my board for the jump. Also, keep the rope held tight to my hips
* when I get to the wake, still leaning back in a crouch, stand up hard (where, in relation to the wake do I stand up?)
* hopefully go flying into the air with my feet underneath me
* if so, hopefully land gracefully on the other side of the wake

Please feel free to correct me . . . these are the things that I am thinking about right now. Thanks again for everyone's help.

WakeFrog1970 · Outlaw Joined: 08 Jun 2006 Posts: 143 City: Richmond

sounds about right.... just commit it to memory... because you won't have a checklist on the water... Very Happy

Dave88LX · Criminal Joined: 16 Jul 2006 Posts: 64 City: Pasadena

Do a bunch of sit-ups, get them abs strong so you can pull your board back up frontwards if it's trailing out behind you. Very Happy

KduB11 · Criminal Joined: 01 Aug 2006 Posts: 56

when your cutting in to the wake if you going hs lean back more almost like sitting in a chair then when you get to the wake stand up and then sorta lean back in the air and make sure the front of your board doesnt land first