Progress! YEAH!

[LakePerson1952]

Alright! I am beginning to improve on the wakeboard a bit ... still very much of a newbie and after 55 years of slaloming I am having some difficulty adjusting to the different ride ... but making slow progress ... the last time I posted I was asking for advice on how to get up at all ... thanks to everyone who posted on that thread with tips ... they worked ... I have not had any trouble getting up since ... now trying to figure out the right speed ... going 17-18 but I am thinking it feels mushy.

Also, this Labor Day w/e I got up first try on the WakeSkate and WakeSurf ... didn't stay up long on the skate but did better on the surf ... I think I'm going to need to spend some money on new toys this winter ... sigh

[sandm]

And so the spending begins.... Congrats on the weekend

[kaneboats]

You can try shortening the rope or speeding up just a bit.

[bergermaister]

... now trying to figure out the right speed ... going 17-18 but I am thinking it feels mushy.

Try bumping the speed about .5 mph at a time until the mush is gone. You may be able to get away with slower speeds if you are riding a bigger (oversized for you board) though.

And yes, let the spending frenzy begin! LOL

[rca]

I pull my girls around 21 depending on how they feel. I'm usually at 23-24, but I'm big so the speed helps. Really it's what you feel comfortable at. But since you slalomed for so long any of these speeds should feel SLLLOOOWWWWW. Crank it up a bit.

[LakePerson1952]

Thanks to all for the tips - I'll try 20-24 mph next time out. Below are links to a couple of videos - in the first I was concentration on the board so much I almost ran over the top of a buoy - saw it just in time to only glance off the side. In the second I think I execute a decent surface 180 but then do a really funny flying leap. Have only been boarding about 6 times so ...

Any tips for improving are very welcome.

[parrothd]

Thanks to all for the tips - I'll try 20-24 mph next time out. Below are links to a couple of videos - in the first I was concentration on the board so much I almost ran over the top of a buoy - saw it just in time to only glance off the side. In the second I think I execute a decent surface 180 but then do a really funny flying leap. Have only been boarding about 6 times so ...

Any tips for improving are very welcome.

http://www.thebookdvd.com/


The slower you go the easier it is to learn the basics, edging, slides, positioning, etc, you need to learn that stuff before learning to jump.. Once you get the basics down, you'll shorten that rope to 65, speed the boat up, and move your ballast(friends) to make the wake stiffen up on the other side (video 1) so you then start jumping...

[mmandley]

On the surface 180 what i think happened was 1 you pulled the rope and lifted it over your head that set you way off balance, plus a 180 puts you into the goofy position which is hard to handle till your used to it.

I would practice on keeping the rop low and slowly go into a side slide, lean on your heals and turn the board to face the boat so your riding whole body facing the boat, then you just move the handle to your goofy side and momentum will pull you into the goofy position.

Now let go with youback hand and hold on one handed as this forces you into a correct wake board position and will allow you a little time to get used to the feel of goofy.

Once you get this then its reverse to get back to dominant side.