Big Guy (as in fat) trying to get up

big guy · Newbie Joined: 06 Aug 2007 Posts: 2 City: Zürich

I'm a 29 year old male 185cm tall 115kg heavy (i guess that would be about 6ft2in 230pounds) I have just tried wakeboarding for the first time and could'nt get up. The handle kept getting ripped out of my hands. (so that i can hardly use them to write this! Crying or Very sad

) I felt like an achor in the water. I thought i was just to big to be draged out of the water, but then i read in this forum of a guy bigger than me and he was able to stand up easily. The equiptment i'm using should be ok (tige boat built for wakeboarding and a very wide board). What do i do? Thanks for any hints.

howabouttheiris · Addict Joined: 16 Jun 2005 Posts: 677 City: Austin, TX

OK. At 5'11" formerly 240lbs, I qualify as an expert.

My biggest hint is to let the board go under the water, way under the water. In fact, as soon as the weight comes on, pull the board back and under your butt.

As long as you keep your toes pointed up you will quickly plane to the surface.

You cannot get into a tug of war with the boat. You'll lose everytime. Actually practice falling out the front (having the boat pull you to your belly) a few times to get the feel of what is "too far".

As always.... arms straight, knees bent, lean back.

Rhawn · Posted: Aug 07, 2007 7:15 am Post subject:

Several large dudes in our crew, your equipment and boat are fine.

If the handle is being pulled out of your hands you are trying to fight your way up, like you do on water skis. You have to really ball up, let the boat roll you over the board, at which point the board will be all the way or partially under the water. Keep the board at an angle, tilted towards the surface and ride it to the top. Once you are riding on top of the water, then you stand. Standing beforehand will usually end in failure.

HHI Dave · Posted: Aug 07, 2007 12:52 pm Post subject:

6'3" 230 lbs here. My 135hp I/O boat pulls me up with no problem. You just need to work on your technique, that's all. Cool

sooner dud · Newbie Joined: 02 Aug 2007 Posts: 47

Let the boat do all the work. your trying to pull yourself up out of the water. put your knees up by your elbows, and lean back. the boat will pull you up.
got a buddy tha has the same problem. he can get up now but you still can see him fighting and pulling himself up.

Giff · Newbie Joined: 05 Feb 2007 Posts: 9

endlessracingz · Newbie Joined: 25 Jul 2007 Posts: 16

I know for some really big guys it is sometimes easier to get up sideways. like a slalom waterskiier.

This will probably really difficult, but a few DVD's I have seen discuss doing this for the really big guys, especially ones that have skiied before.

Like howabouttheiris, says if you can get in a position with your knees up towards your chest and your board under your butt it will make the board plane really easily and pull you up very easily.

Lewis215 · Newbie Joined: 06 Jul 2007 Posts: 29

big guys can get up to. no offence but the more wieght = more drag which will make it more dificult to learn how to. things like having the right equimpent is key but a wide board is not always the right board. more surface area will help acomodate the wieght when you are up but may be making it harder to get up because it can add more drag. if you have the means look for a board that is just a larger board overall and still proportionate. if the handle is getting ripped out of your hand to easily then your starting postion might be wrong. most people start by laying with their back in the water and their feet parallel to the surface. this works best with lighter riders because thers less drag. try starting with the board sticking out of the water a a diagonal out of the water have the tip of your front foot sticking out this will help with the suface area. you may also be leaning back to hard on the rope try holding the rope in different areas (e.g. against you chest, arms extended, at your waist). along with those things try slowing the take off speed. if you have the strenght you can really slow the acceleration down. if all else fails try a dock start.

shepherd1000 · Newbie Joined: 07 Aug 2006 Posts: 33 City: St. Louis

I just thought I'd toss in my words of encouragement. My 6'2" 280 lb son-in-law recently got up on a 144 cm board. Like others have said here, he was unable to get up with the board lying horizontal with its surface perpendicular to the water surface. Instead, he had to let it go under and let its surface ride parallel to the water surface--with its toeside edge angled slightly upwards--and let it rise to the surface before standing up.

big guy · Newbie Joined: 06 Aug 2007 Posts: 2 City: Zürich

Thanks for all the hints everybody. I've been dying to try out everything mentioned but the weather here in Zürich has been miserable for the last 2 weeks. It's looking like this week will be better though. I'll let you know how i went. Cheers from Switzerland