Heelside Backside 180. Can't figure out why this is so hard

Christobull · Addict Joined: 29 Jun 2009 Posts: 898 City: Tulsa

I practiced the handle pass on the surface, then just off one wake jumps. I'm getting the pass every time, and extending my lead hand for the landing. I start with a slightly more seated edging position, and make sure my pop is straight up. Then I slide the handle over and make the pass with my shoulders forward. I spot my landing by looking at the second wake and lean forward over my toes and squat down with my weight more over my back foot. But, every time my board hits the water, I come off my edge and get pulled over. Any advice?

kent2010 · Soul Rider Joined: 14 Jun 2008 Posts: 281 City: Needles

do you ride away at all? or are you coming off axis and then catching?

Christobull · Addict Joined: 29 Jun 2009 Posts: 898 City: Tulsa

My first attempts I was over rotating. Which was pulling me off edge back towards the boat. These times, I leaned back into it, and slid out. But my last couple of attempts I slowed my rotation down, and rode a few feet, but my weight shifted forward, and one time I caught my lead tip edge, and the second my heelside edge. Maybe I'll letting too much slack in the rope, or I'm not edging hard enough. Trying to land even on both feet wasn't working at all. Is there something I can change about where I'm looking when I land? I don't want to look up the rope, but maybe look at the second wake behind where I'm landing?

kent2010 · Soul Rider Joined: 14 Jun 2008 Posts: 281 City: Needles

when i do spins i keep my eyes on the shoreline or the horizon to keep me on axis, then spot my landing. But if ur landing it, riding away a little, then catching, it sounds to me like you just need a little more practice landing switch. try this, do 5 heelside frontside 180s in a row, then go for the backside 180. if that doesnt work try taking ur frontside 180s huge out into the flats so you really get used to landing switch.

Christobull · Addict Joined: 29 Jun 2009 Posts: 898 City: Tulsa

kent2010, I'll try that next time out. I'm landing the FS 180s both directions, so I didn't expect to be having these issues doing it BS. Should I start grabbing the handle back with my other hand after the pass, or would that make me over rotate? That's the only real difference with the landing is that I only have one hand on the handle.

kent2010 · Soul Rider Joined: 14 Jun 2008 Posts: 281 City: Needles

it shouldnt unless you pull on it back to your hip. but if you think it will make you have more control go for it, it seems to me like grabing the handle again with your back hand would just make it easier to slide out on your heels though. But i think you should just do more frontside 180s taking them big and when you land really get used to carving away on your toes.

Wakebrad · Ladies Man Joined: 11 Dec 2003 Posts: 12257 City: Dallas

Have you mastered the olllie bs 180? That should help with feeling the landing a bit. Other than that it's just practice. For me I really have to focus on keeping the handle low, like below my butt on the pass to keep me on axis.

Christobull · Addict Joined: 29 Jun 2009 Posts: 898 City: Tulsa

Wakebrad, that would be negative. I skipped that step in the learning process, and started doing them off one wake. I may try passing the handle lower, and work on the ollies. We only went out Sunday, so I haven't really worked on this that much.

kent2010 · Soul Rider Joined: 14 Jun 2008 Posts: 281 City: Needles

oh, well ya, work on the ollies. i assumed you had them already.

Blindside_137 · Posted: Jul 13, 2009 7:26 pm Post subject:

do ollies ---> inside out----> one wake at slow speeds on a long rope-----> then speed it up a tiny bit on a very short rope and then lengthen the line and increase the speed until you're at your normal riding line/speed.