Don't run before you can walk....

[Flooky]

Hi Guys ( & Girls),

I'm a newbie here and thought I'd just post a quick message about my first experience with my new hobby.

Had a lesson at West Midlands Watersports (recommended), totally hooked and with a birthday coming up treated myself to a board and bindings. Luckily a friend of mine has a boat and I got to have my first proper go at the weekend.

Got up OK, had a quick carve around inside the wake ( have snowboarded before which helped), did a little hop out of the wake, did a little hop back in and out again on the opposite side.

Obviously now a wakeboard master (in my own mind) I cut sharply inwards and set up for a huge (hopefully) air.

Hit the wake flat out and...... don't really know what happened after that.

Felt like I'd been hit around the head with a cricket bat and felt my eyelid turn inside out, I floated back to the surface with a ripped open bouyancy aid, pins and needles in my hand where I'd slapped the water so hard and a cracked rib.

Take it easy people, you need to build up slowly.

Have now watched a video (can't do much else at the moment) called further education and would totally recommend it.

Ryan

[Peter Sprimont]

Hi Ryan,

it's hard to hear such a story! :?
I've done a few face plants too, but never hurt to much...
Hope you'll get up the board again soon!

I can recommend the www.wakerboarder.com site, there are a lot of tricks explained...

Take care, but: no risk, no fun!
Peter
8)

[Peter Sprimont]

Hi Ryan,

it's hard to hear such a story! :?
I've done a few face plants too, but never hurt to much...
Hope you'll get up the board again soon!

I can recommend the www.wakerboarder.com site, there are a lot of tricks explained...

Take care, but: no risk, no fun!
Peter
8)

[kesev1]

Ryan,
That sucks!! With anything new take it easy at first. Try one wake jumps to get the feel of the board, wake, and landing then go flat out. My first time wakeboarding was a real experience as well. I saw the spoprt on TV and ran to my local waterski shop. Bought my first hyperlit with the sandal bindings. Ran out to my lakehouse with a few friends fired up the boat and went out. Got up with no problem but it felt like being on a sheet of ice. Was trying to jump the wake but couldn't even keep the board under me. I Was determined though and after about 5 hours on the water I gave and went to talk to the guy who sold me the board. Well it turns out I didn't know it was supposed to have fins on the board. Got the fins put on and raced right back out and was clearing the wake in no time. We all make mistakes! Mine didn't cost me any ribs though. Point being don't give up it's a lot of fun once you get the hand of it.

Jon

[Frye]

you mean higher education? lol that sucks. im thinking you just flattened off you edging before you hit the wake and it threw you off axis then you just flailed all over and hit the water. happens to me all the time when i dont think about my 3's.. o well.. just remember dont be scared of the wake next time you go out! :twisted: