Lack of progression =(

[ohdoor]

So recently I hit a point where it seems that my wakeboarding is going no where. I feel like I'm not progressing at all even though I'm at the lake almost every week and doing my best to learn new stuff. I got so fed up with it I've just began to ride switch a ton so that I can at least progress in some way. Even though I'm practicing switch its still going verrrrry slow and am becoming impatient with how slow i'm progressing. I started wakeboarding four years ago. Can get hs w2w, land 9/10 backrolls, do a few grabs here and there, ollie surface and wake 180s, and am alright at switch. I've been trying tantrums for awhile now but almost want to just want to give up on that. I also seem to be having trouble getting ts w2w. I've been riding at 21mph.

So what do you guys do when you get to a point where your almost ready to just quit because you can't seem to learn anymore. It doesn't help that I have absolutely no one to coach me... usually I'm the one doing the coaching for others.

[bass69]

i used to have the same feeling that you do. try and bring some friends on the boat or something. that will really push you and encourage you to try and do better, or atleast it worked 4 me

[michigan boarder]

Dude, I know the feeling. Everyone I ride with are the people I end up teaching. I have to push myself to progress. I always work on more than one trick at a time so that if I get frustrated at one I can move on to another one. I agree that riding with friends helps a lot. Can you do backflips on a tramp because if you can tantrums should come pretty quickly. What exactly is the problem you are having?

[ohdoor]

I almost always have friends with me but that doesn't seem to be helping me.

michigan boarder, I can do several backflips in a row on a trampoline. I practiced all kinds of stuff on a trampoline over the winter in hopes that I'd learn stuff on he water much quicker but I still have problems. As far as the tantrum goes, I almost always end up just short and land on my face. I've made it around completely but in order for me to do that I have to let go of the rope and don't get around quick enough to have time to even think about landing it. Its been that way this whole season so far.

[Jensen]

for the tantrum concentrate really hard to squaring up to the wake and taking the trick up into the air. Your probably spinning off the wake and not getting any pop.

i know the feeling all too well, bringing girls on the boat always gets me to throw new stuff though haha

[michigan boarder]

Listen to what Jensen said. You need to wait to feel the pop before you kick your head back. I used to throw mine really low until someone told me to wait on them and now I feel like I have so much time on them. You'll get them. It took me a whole summer to get mine and I could do backflips on a trampoline without a problem.

[alfromscotland]

Sounds like you just need to focus on the basics dude. A w2w 180 can be super satisfying. Little backside ollie 180s are sweet. Focus on taking your 1s wake to wake and getting across the wake toeside. If you are having trouble, make sure you are leaning away from the boat rather than in towards the wake. I think TS W2W 180s are easier than TS W2W so you should get them dialed quick. You could also try with a shorter rope. Riding switch can be a frustrating thing so just incorporate it into fun things, butter slides to switch etc.

Mix up your sets with some skating too, or even just get out on your board but dont put your feet in the bindings. I find that just messing about behind a boat is wicked fun, even if you are tired and frustrated, trying to stay up behind the boat with your feet out your bindings is a laugh and will entertain your mates in the boat.

And why not go to your nearest place that you can get a lesson? If you can stick backrolls then you are obviously capable of doing alot more than you can do now. A lesson or two could iron out some of the possible flaws in your riding that are preventing you from progressing. Hope this helps. Do it for the love brahhh! and chuck in a beast of a fashion air off a double up! YOU CANNOT LOSE!!

[Brit Rider]

alfromscotland, absolutely agree.

You've gone in head first learning flips when you don't have things like a full bag of 180's, 360's, comfrotable switch riding.

Learn half cab 180's... then try some new stuff... you'll quickly find that your riding progresses once you've ticked all the basics boxes.

[IrideLITE]

completey agree. its like trying to build a house with a foundation when you haven't got the basics down pat. thats why I may not be able to throw any sweet tricks...but i am working on the basics to help me progress much quicker.

[ohdoor]

Yeah I've always known that I sort of skipped the fundamentals... I learned a backroll before I had even attempted a 180 or could ride switch at all . I've defininently worked on more of the basics this summer though and when I get sick of trying tantrums. I guess I'm just going to forget the tantrum for awhile completely and work on nothing but more of the simpler things. I've also started riding more with someone who is much better then me but unfortunately this weekend we really couldn't ride at all since it was the 4th. Hopefully he'll be able to help me some in the future though. Thanks for the suggestions guys.

[burnedu]

If you are only riding at 21 mph than I would recmend that you try speeding up the boat a little bit. You will find that you don't have to cut into the wake as hard to get the same amount of air, thus you will be in more control. The only downside is that the rope will pull on you a little more when you are in the air.

[Wakebrad]

I'm starting to bottom out too. I find myself much more pumped on wakeskating now than I am on wakeboarding.

I still want to hit that whirlybird by the end of the year and maybe the OA5 but other than that it'll be all wakeskate.