Height without pylon/tower

JohnnyV · Newbie Joined: 28 Aug 2008 Posts: 25 City: Dartmouth

I've been wakeboarding a little more than 1 season and I haven't invested in a pylon or tower just yet. I'm curious as to how much height i can expect from my jumps when I'm tied to just the tow cleat of the boat.

pet575 · Posted: Aug 25, 2009 8:26 am Post subject:

You should be able to go w2w with no problem. There is video out there of people doing inverts from the towpoint. This emphasizes technique over equipment. However, a tower/pylon isn't going to hurt your hangtime.

JohnnyV · Newbie Joined: 28 Aug 2008 Posts: 25 City: Dartmouth

I know distance=speed when it comes to any kind of jump, so i'd would agree with the w2w.

I was just curioius what i could expect for my max height. If what you say is true about technique>equipment then i'm not going to miss out on anything if i start out learning some basics from the towpoint of the boat.

skurfer · Criminal Joined: 30 Oct 2008 Posts: 57 City: T-dot

JohnnyV, pet575 is right technique is very important. The pylon will help you by keeping the rope and handle at shoulder height and won't force the handle down as much it probably does just being attached to the boat cleat. There are a few guys on my lake that get 3 feet of air without a pylon...they have good technique and a firm wake.....

For my fist few years I did the boat cleat thing and then moved into a pylon. You do get a bit more hang time, but the major difference you will feel is how the rope doesn't want to tug you down. Also it is important that your wake is fairy firm and of somewhat decent size, that is what really helps you pop up...with proper technique of course Wink

If you are starting to clear the wake, perhaps you might want to investigate a pylon, or a tower...depends on your boat. Before I went with a new boat and tower, I upgraded from the boat cleat to a pylon....which are a little more cost effective...although monster tower does have decent prices....

Anyways, sounds like you are evolving with the sport and a pylon/tower will make riding more enjoyable...but if you can't afford one right now, just practice proper edging technique and standing tall at the wake when you hit it...don't come off your edge as you go through the wake, this will keep the load on the line and pop you up.

DJ_Sygnal · Newbie Joined: 20 May 2009 Posts: 28 City: Milledgeville

I went behind a boat with just the ski cleat yesterday... guy said i was getting 3 to 4ft. dont know how accurate he was with that guess-timate tho