Toeside/heelside

[Robin]

I had my first session on a wakeboard at the weekend, and I'm planning my next outing a soon as poss.

I'd like to get comfortable crossing the wake before I try anything else. When I waterski (mono) I am much more confident and stable coming across the wake from right to left, than from left to right. I'm guessing this is because I'm right footed.

When I got up on the board, and felt comfortable, I tried moving about a bit. I was quite happy pulling outside of the wake heelside (I hope that's the right term :roll: ), but even the thought of crossing the other way, on my toes, felt pretty scary. Should I concentrate on trying to do heel and toe passes, or is it easier to flip the board round? When I tried moving the board round, to say 45 degrees, it felt as though it would spin 180 on the water quite easily, with a bit of pursuasion (or am I fooling myself 8O )

[MazzaM01]

I would say that when your going across the wake toeside don't try and jump the wake or anything, just let it go over on the surface, (if that makes sense), to get used to it dont cut out on heels or anything just sit next the wake then go over. If you want to try a surface switch my advice is to not lean on your toes or your face plant, lean slightly on yur heels, but not too much as the board wil slip from under you. The rope should go from your lead hip to the other. Another way to learn is to come up switch and then switch back, if your going to do this ask the driver to slow the boat down. (If you are on a boat and not cable of course). If you want to try switching from your regular stance then do it between the wakes and again ask the driver to slow the boat down. You can also try getting used to what you have been doing and switching the board 45 degrees so you are going parallel with the boat and then when you feel comfortable try and turn it the further 45 degrees, (dont forget to put the weight on your heels). I would not say your fooling yourself, you dont know if you dont try and theres no order in which you should learn things, i.e wakejumps or switches first.

[boarditup]

I teach people to ride heel side, switch heel side, toe side, and switch toe side in that order. Usually within the first two or three rides. It is just practice. It may be easier if you let go of the handle with the rear hand. Don't worry about wake jumps right away, just play around on the wakes "surfing and slashing" on the wake face each way. If you do this for the first few times, your long term learning curve will be much faster.

[Robin]

Thanks for the advise guys.

boarditup - Just getting used to the lingo so excuse me..... "heel side, switch heel side, toe side, and switch toe side" - the switch is the 180 'turn' right? So you would effectively teach to go across the wake heelside in both directions first, then toeside in both directions?

[boarditup]

Yes. I ride left foot forward. Riding right foot forward for me is switch or fakie, or sometimes revert. Learn switch as soon as possible - it really makes if difference.