I want to do it, but...

coolmojodude · Criminal Joined: 10 May 2003 Posts: 76 City: Clarkston, WA

I can consistently clear the wake and get moderate height, and I can flip really well on a trampoline, so I want to learn a flip on a wakeboard. Either a tantrum or a backroll i dont care, but i cant find enough guts to try either. I start coming to the wake and then all the sudden i collapse, it's pathetic. What got you guys to try your first one?

wakeboarder_360 · Posted: Jun 25, 2003 6:19 pm Post subject:

When I first tried a invert it was a tantrum and the people on the boat kept bugging me until I tried it. If you are going for an invert then don't hesitate or you can get hurt. Higher education has good tips.

pooser · Wakeboarder.com Freak Joined: 13 Jan 2003 Posts: 4738

if you are afraid to do it you are probably not ready. once you are feeling it go for it. if your afraid of doing no one can give you much help. when i tried my first invert i just did it it wasnt anything special that got me to do it. i just did it so i could learn more moves and improve my skills.

Rob74 · Criminal Joined: 14 May 2003 Posts: 90

I would try the tantrum first. Cut out about 20 feet. Get a solid edge going - make sure you edge all the way to the wake (not through the wake). Once you get to the middle of the wake, let go with your rear hand, and square up your back to the wake. Wait for the pop, then throw your chest up and arch your back.

Hold on to the rope tightly, and try to flex your arm a bit... When you land a tantrum the first few times your arm gets jerked a bit and it can strain some tendons. If your arm is flexed, it is harder for it to get jerked.

Do not try to huck it or throw a flip. Make sure to arch your back and push your chest to the sky, taking it straight up.

Personally, I think the tantrum is the easiest HS invert. It is a good way to get comfortable with inverts.

As far as fear goes.. give that stuff away man. The worst that might happen is you slam your balls, and that pain eventually goes away. It sounds like you need to crash a few times to get comfortable.

Be positive - you wont get hurt if you give the trick maximum effort

PEace

toothpick · Posted: Jun 26, 2003 7:25 am Post subject:

Just tuck in your dress and try it! Seriously, nobody I know of sticks their first try on their first invert...you're going to crash, plain and simple. I'm sure you've crashed before. Same thing as doing a 180, some crashes will be fine, others may hurt, that's wakeboarding. You're going to have to pay your dues before you land any flips, so just do it and the crashes will happen, being scared won't help.

JUST DO IT!!! Twisted Evil

WakeUp14 · Criminal Joined: 09 Jun 2003 Posts: 58 City: Oklahoma

You could try this..... this helps with spins and its fun.. I don't know if it's the safest thing to do but.... It may help. Get a good edge at the wake and when your coming off or at the bottom of the wake, throw the handle and do your trick in the air. lol somtimes the people in the boat think you still have the handle.

toothpick · Posted: Jun 26, 2003 4:11 pm Post subject:

You must be in the medical field lookin for some business WakeUp14, cause doing that with inverts will do nothing but hurt you. Very bad idea. The handle provides the momentum to make it all the way through the move. Under-rotating on flips is the way you get hurt on them, letting go of the rope will cause you to under-rotate. Over-rotation isn't usually as painful, but I've hurt both of my ankles a couple times due to under-rotation.

Hold on to that handle!

WakeUp14 · Criminal Joined: 09 Jun 2003 Posts: 58 City: Oklahoma

ahh dang dude. sorry I didn't know that it would hurt you. it seems like it wouldnt but I havnt tried an invert just spins. sorry man.

:: Very Happy

O NOT TRY MY PREVIOUS POST!!::::

Fredrick Eisenhauer · Posted: Jun 27, 2003 1:02 am Post subject:

I dont think it would hurt you because its only like crashing on an invert, you jsut dont have the rope.

toothpick · Posted: Jun 27, 2003 6:25 am Post subject:

Haha WakeUp, just trying to help others avoid pain I've gone through. Wink

Gatsby · Posted: Jun 27, 2003 7:49 am Post subject:

I agree w/ most all of these post except the let go theory. The tantrum seems to be one of the easiest inverts out there. If you search a little, you will even see some trick tips that flat out say you don't have to have good wakeboarding form to do tantrums.I can sympathize w/ that b/c I didn't have good form when I learned but my teachers coaxed me into triing it and it took about 10-12 tries.
I can honestly say that I never really got hurt on either of those attempts but I think it is b/c I grew a pair and just went for it.

Mentally prepare yourself and go for it, but don't go at it 1/2 way. You won't get it.

jedwards · Newbie Joined: 17 Jun 2003 Posts: 7 City: Auburn,CA

I think that the tantrum is pretty easy to do, but I disagree with you Gatsby. You have to be able to progressivly edge the right way, standing tall off the wake. To me solid form begins and ends with consistent HS and TS w2w jumps. Maybe not ends with, but opens all the doors. I know that you don't edge all the way through the wake on a tantrum, but you have to be past trying to pump, ollie or jump with your legs. A lot of my friends are trying the tantrum right now and they look like they are bent in half trying to touch they're toes, which I think is do to buckling at the hips on take off. Or not standing tall. That's my 2 cents, for what it's worth.

holdsworth · Posted: Jul 01, 2003 6:06 am Post subject:

try a tantrum because it is the most relaxed flip you will do. they say backrolls are easier, but i usually get the rope caught on my board and i'll do those this year probably. plus, if you do really good with a tantrum, then you will feel more comfortable doing more flips like TS backrolls and TS backroll 2 revert becasue that is how i got comfortable with those tricks

J_DOGG · Posted: Jul 01, 2003 8:16 am Post subject:

Toothpick is right- DO NOT LET GO OF THE ROPE, you will need that to keep your momentum going and get the board back under your feet. You will wreck yo self good if you do the let go deal, specially with a backroll or crow.

The Tantrum is one of the easiest inverts for most people to learn, why? Because most people don't have a good slow progressive edge, they flatten out at the wake and try to jump it like a snowboarder. This is the approach for a Tantrum, it is the complete opposite of the standard progressive edge trick approach. Tantrum, cut out real far, cut in hard and get on the gas early, 2 feet before the wake flatten out change edges to square up, pop up and over the wake like a standard back flip on a tramp.

I know people that can pull HS and TS 540's, crows, backrolls, TS backrolls and all that but still can't get the Tantrum down, why? They just can't get that whacked out approach in their head cuz it's the complete opposite of what they have learned from the get go.

I know one thing, like the TS backroll you can spot the landing super early.

Gatsby · Posted: Jul 02, 2003 5:45 pm Post subject:

yes jedwards. I agree w/ you that the progressive edge is first and foremost but just like J Dogg said, the tantrum does not require a progressive edge. It does require prerequisits (sp?) though. I think cool mo has all of them except a pair and they are not easy to come by. Like I said man just go for it. Say to yourself you are going to do it and don't back down. Take that hard cut, square up with the wake and throw your head up and back. You'll get it.

dumassonwheels89 · Posted: Jul 05, 2003 11:16 am Post subject:

Dont forget to arch your back and extend in a lay out position it looks pretty cool when your laid out.