Improving toe-side edge

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

Hello again wakeboarder.com!

FINALLY got out for my first run of the season last weekend and I am pleased to say that i feel much more confident on my board after having the off-season to bone up on some reading and speak to some other riders.

For now, my weakness is my toeside edge. I'm comfortable enough to maneuver, but nowhere near confident enough to attempt even a 1/2 wake jump. I was just wondering what tips you folks might have (or exercises, dryland stuff, etc) to improve toeside edge.

Happy riding

savage3221 · Posted: Aug 04, 2010 8:08 am Post subject:

Man, first beginning TS is something of a personal journey. I only say this because it's somewhat hard to describe the sensations from one person to another. That said, the handle position is the most important IMO. Make sure that when you cut TS either to go outside the wake or to attempt a wake jump, keep that handle on the back of your lead hip. "Put the handle in your butt pocket" some say. If you have the handle over enough, then it will help your body be in the right position approaching the wake (or wherever you are cutting to).

For a wake jump, whatever you do, don't come off edge up the wake. This will just make you fall. You'll get pulled over your board towards the boat and fall on a back/faceplant sort of way. But, there is also such a thing as edging too hard through the wake on TS, so try to keep a solid, controlled cut up the wake without railing as hard as you can.

In the air concentrate on keeping your handle in close to your body and low to the hip, just like a regular wake jump, but for TS it is even more important because of the body position.

TS is tricky in general, but not really that hard when it comes down to it. Just don't get discouraged and focus on your technique and you will be able to watch yourself progress regularly. Best of luck!

Roflcopter · Criminal Joined: 12 Jan 2010 Posts: 63

try holding the cuffed position (right behind the boat, both your hands behind yourback holding the handle, you should look like your in handcuffs, sliding backwards. this helps you really dial into your toeside edge because you are digging your toeside edge into the water, when you do this keep the boat at around 13 MPH and your weight on your toes to prevent your heelside edge from catching.

slidin_out · Soul Rider Joined: 05 Mar 2010 Posts: 353 City: Pearl

sign up for learnwake.com and watch the toeside edging drills video and cleaning up toeside pop drills, helped me out tremendously, went from a heelside to w2w toeside jumps with grabs and toeside 1's w/ grabs in one weekend, just gotta trust that cut all the way to the wake, don't let up too early, push the handle down and stand tall when hit the wake and enjoy the ride

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

GnarShredd · Posted: Aug 12, 2010 6:59 am Post subject:

The biggest thing for me on toeside is to concentrate using the leverage of the rope. Get used to setting a proper body position with your hands/handle at your lead hip, and cut out on your toes. Just get comfortable leaning your face over the water while keeping your body straight and your chest up (except for your knees, bend your knees a little bit).

Basically, if you're doing it right, you'll feel like your edge is mostly what's keeping you from falling on your face.

Try to watch as many videos/look at as many photos as you can and really focus on getting your body position right. In the past two years I've only ridden behind a boat twice (before that I used to ride almost daily) But even if I'm out of practice, my toeside edge/jumps are always my strongest.

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

So after a couple of days, toe-side is definitely getting stronger. Position is where it needs to be, but i run into one small snag from time to time.

I don't know if it's my bindings, the length of my toes, or what...(yes, i have nasty long-toed Dutch feet)...but when edging toeside my rear foot sometimes catches water (?) i cant describe it any other way. The only thing i can come up with is the bindings are made for a shoes size 9 - 11 and i take a 12, so many my toes are sticking out just a little further than they should be. Any thoughts?

GnarShredd · Posted: Aug 13, 2010 9:58 am Post subject:

You might get a little toe-drag depending on how you're edging but it shouldn't be enough to slow you down or anything. You might want to try distributing your weight a little more evenly between your front and back foot. Just play around with it a bit until you feel comfortable.