Shoulder Width vs Gangsta Stance

[flyhigh]

So i was visiting with my buddy about shoulder width vs the new super wide stance. I was just curious what everyone's opinions on it were. I purchased a new s4 this year, and according to the specs all the way out are 26". Ive always read and heard that you want to keep your stance shoulder width apart. Now Im a pretty big guy, 6'1 210lbs, and consider myself to be larger boarder. So while pondering this yesterday, I measured my shoulder width (the best one can by their self) just at the top of my blades. I am thinking that my shoulder width is around 22.5 from what I can tell. So I am thinking to myself, If its true that you should keep your stance close to shoulder width, and me being a pretty big guy, why would they made a stance 26"? Thats gotta be for a brute! Assuming the width rule. So I supposed my question is this, how much wider is too much wider than your shoulders? I know the most answers will be "whatever is comfortable", but I was just curious what everyone elses answers were. What you would tell someone mounting up for the first time. That being said, I got to try out the new s4 the other day all out Gangsta stance, and I freakin loved it. So whatever the rule, thats gonna be how Im rollin..

[LakeIolaLuke]

If you go wider than shoulder width, you just need to duck the bindings out further than your natural stance. I like my stance ridiculously wide, I'm 6'2", and I keep my bindings ducked at 15 degrees. I feel more stable and easier to grab the board with the bindings really wide, also feel like I can ollie higher.

[drewproses]

Im 5'10" and I ride both feet ducked 15 degrees and as wide as I can get them on a 142 board. You will definitly have more stability with your feet out wide. Dont let anyone tell you different.

[savage3221]

I ride all the way out always. If my bindings have a setting to slide them a bit further out, that's how I have them set up too. It's much more stable overall.

[pet575]

Anyone have any thoughts on whether these stances (particularly the ducking out of the feet) are harder on your knees? I've always been told it was a lot harder on your ACL, PCL, and MCL to widen your stance.

[wakeboarderdave1]

[LakeIolaLuke]

pet575, that's why you duck you bindings more as you widen your stance... it keeps your knee in alignment with it's own natural axis of rotation

[Ryan H]

I'm 5' 10 ish and I ride all the way out (not sure exactly the distance) on a 142 I think at about 12 maybe 13 degrees. i do wear two knee braces though just for a little extra support. just some really basic ones from Sports Authority. I have this inflamitory thing with my knees, n the braces seem to make it way easier on them. But the stance width makes it more comfortable for me actually, i've tried a narrower stance, and it seemed like my knees would be worse off. . dont know if that is everybodys opinion. but hope it was of some help.

[Ryan H]

I'm 5' 10 ish and I ride all the way out (not sure exactly the distance) on a 142 I think at about 12 maybe 13 degrees. i do wear two knee braces though just for a little extra support. just some really basic ones from Sports Authority. I have this inflamitory thing with my knees, n the braces seem to make it way easier on them. But the stance width makes it more comfortable for me actually, i've tried a narrower stance, and it seemed like my knees would be worse off. . I think you would be better off with your stance all the way out, espcially being as tall as you are. dont know if that is everybodys opinion. but hope it was of some help.

[savage3221]

I ride all the way out, with ~15 degrees duck. If you ride too big of a board, and ride all the way out, then it would definitely be way too hard on your knees, but at the proper gangsta width, it's a good thing for you/your riding IMO.

[WakeMikey]

I ride wide, but not uncomfortably wide. Too wide and you can't stand tall becasue your dang knees won't even lock unless you duck it waaay out.

How long is your S4?????? that will make a difference too. If it's the right size for you, you really should need to go TOO wide.

With that said, I go a little bit past shoulder, and about 15deg front foot, about 12deg duck rear foot.

[Wakeboarder3780]

I know exactly what you're talking about with the "gangsta" stance man, I've seen a few people that have it out ridiculously far for their height. Basically if you ride super wide, you're destroying your knees. You can make up for it as others have said by ducking out more, but honestly going out much further than shoulder wide I feel is a choice that you will be kicking yourself for later in life. My $.02 (and I also have poor knees so I'm a little bit more worried about them)

[Chad H]

I too ride all the way wide. I feel much more in control of my board this way.

[STANG KILLA SS]

everyone in here should measure and post in this thread.
thats what it was meant for to help questions like this, ie see the norm of other riders.

http://forums.wakeboarder.com/viewtopic.php?t=80167&highlight=stance+width

POST UP!

[Thomas P.]

i think its a style and control thing. plain and simple it is harder to get the board closer to you for grabs and rotations if your knees are in the way, IMO it makes your legs naturally straighter in the air (knees extended) than if your stance is wider.

Of course it doesnt make sense to ride in pain, but for stability and style benefit: ride as wide as you can still feel comfortable.

[Medina]

I Dont have the widest position on my wakeboard, it results in a little to much no- agility for me.

[Chocoholic]

I like my stance pretty wide. Got my bindings set at 12 degrees each, feels really confy and stable for me.