Newbie with some small unclear fears

fotoshark · Newbie Joined: 11 Jul 2011 Posts: 42 City: Toronto

Hi I'm new, just took a lesson and purchased a board! Smile

Some fear's/worries...

We have a bowrider outboard boat, nothing like a wakeboarding boat, no platform, no tower.. lol The rope attaches to the hooks and sits out behind the motor during motion.

So what my fear is now is getting up going to be harder as the rope is way lower down (I visualize it pulling me up over the board lol), and whats the best way to get into the water and on the board seeing as theres no platform to prepare on.. ?

Ironically enough during my 30 minute lesson I got up every single time no problem ?? lol And I've never done this before nor have I been water skiing either. The only issues I had when falling/letting go of the rope, was riding switch/toe side (my god does it ever feel squirrely lol) and one handed. I gotta keep reminding myself DO NOT LOOK AT MY FEET lol.

And so far I haven't quite figured out edging/moving side to side yet.

Any help is greatly appreciated!

- T.

gswake · Posted: Jul 12, 2011 7:20 am Post subject:

I've always ridden behind an I/O runabout. And I've always gotten in the water before putting on the board. Not sure why - perhaps because my wife's family were skiers, perhaps because that's how the guy I learned from did it way back when. It's probably a little more tiring than doing it on the deck and jumping in, but it's not a problem. (And no, I don't use any binding lube. If you have to use lube to get into your bindings, you might need to find a way to get into them before you get in the water.)

As for rope angle - yeah, it makes a difference; but I don't think it's huge. I was quite comfortable getting up without a tower before I ever tried with one, though. The technique shouldn't be any different. It may just force you to have good technique. Very Happy

fotoshark · Newbie Joined: 11 Jul 2011 Posts: 42 City: Toronto

Awesome thanks.

Yea no binding lube that Im aware of. I just didn't want the board to sink when trying to put it on while floating lmao I can assume it'll take some coordination. lol

- T.

gswake · Posted: Jul 12, 2011 1:00 pm Post subject:

fotoshark, no worries - boards float.

fotoshark · Newbie Joined: 11 Jul 2011 Posts: 42 City: Toronto

Then I'm all set to go riding hahaha Smile

. Thank you

ericsoler · Newbie Joined: 12 Apr 2011 Posts: 18 City: Lake Stevens

fotoshark · Newbie Joined: 11 Jul 2011 Posts: 42 City: Toronto

Can't help it ha ha ...

-T.

Enygma · Soul Rider Joined: 26 Jul 2009 Posts: 356

I started out without a tower and learned to wake to wake without a tower. I have friends that say it's almost impossible to do anything without a tower and I tell them to hook the rope to the back and let me go.

I honestly noticed no difference with or without the tower while trying to get up. Even with jumping, at my level, it's not a huge difference. Main difference the tower makes is board racks and music for the boarder.

Don't let anybody fool you into thinking otherwise.

fotoshark · Newbie Joined: 11 Jul 2011 Posts: 42 City: Toronto

Thanks, you've been really helpful Smile

I'll find out in a cpl days when I get out there for my 2nd time. Im excited and diein to get out tho!

- T.

JeffreyCH · Posted: Jul 16, 2011 12:45 pm Post subject:

For me the having a raised tow point seemed to make it easier to get out of the water. I learned off the ski hook for 2 seasons, then put a tower on, felt like I was coming up with less strain on my shoulders/arms. I ride behind my brothers 17' bass boat, feels like it takes longer for the board to plane, my i/o with tower I pop strait up hardly any drag on my upper body. Maybe I just notice it more because I'm 41, and weigh 230 lbs. Either way, when learning it doesn't really make that much of a difference, just stay squatted for a second or 2 longer.

uenvythis · Newbie Joined: 22 Jul 2011 Posts: 2 City: Mount Juliet, TN

another easy way to put on the board in the boat is to sit on the enginegine compartment and put it on the back seat (dont do this if you have big fins because you could cut the seat)

fotoshark · Newbie Joined: 11 Jul 2011 Posts: 42 City: Toronto

I just got used to jumpin in and putting it on while floatin. Not that hard, bit annoying tho. lol Beggers can't be choosers as it ain't my boat :/

I went out a cpl times over the week at the cottage. No problems getting up except the one time I made the mistake of pulling the rope and ended up fighting to stay balanced and let go instead ah haha... Embarassed

Seems my first day out there was the easiest, and then any other chances I was just over anxious and unfocused. :/ Took the fins off 50/50 whether I like em or not. But swingin around to ride switch was impossible with 'em on (fell instantly), as soon as I took 'em off ironically no restrictions... But a bit more squirrelly.

- T.

pluto2 · Newbie Joined: 30 May 2011 Posts: 34 City: Destin

If you have just start I would normally recomend to keep the fins on, but seeing how you can ride without them leave them out. My little bro is just now fighting to break bad habbits that he developed with fins.

There are 2 ways to turn/carve around behind the boat:

Turning the board: generally considered the wrong way (unless you are to ding surface spins) this is where you look at you feet and point the board where you want to go, thus the fins act like rudders and move you in that direction)

Carving/Edging: put weight on your heels or toes and the board should turn naturally, the fins should be almost entirely out of the water if you do this hard enough, a good drill that i use to show people how to edge is to stand on land tie a rope to something, grab the rope and position urself as you would if you were riding, lean on your heals or toes, if you release the rope you should fall over to whichever direction you were leaning.

--->always imagine that you are sitting in a chair when trying to get up <---

Hope it helped

Enygma · Soul Rider Joined: 26 Jul 2009 Posts: 356

pluto2 · Newbie Joined: 30 May 2011 Posts: 34 City: Destin

out of the 2 ways i stated, i said was one was "the wrong way"

secondly when i do surface tricks i focus more on twisting my body with the board, for example i like to simple heel and toe slides and when i do i dont try to use the handle to turn me, i just simpling adjust the handle to wherever is comfortable as i twist/lean back

fotoshark · Newbie Joined: 11 Jul 2011 Posts: 42 City: Toronto

Im diein to get back out there now, one week at the cottage was just not enough Sad

lol But yea I def noticed having learned without fins they can be a hinderance. However I felt their advantage the first night I was up with 'em. They arent useless I'm 50/50 on whether I like em and dont. And at the back of my head I know riding and learning without them will make me stronger as I'll never depend on them.

- T.