Trouble getting up on the board!

[tabh32]

I am having trouble getting up on the board and wanted any info such as proper starting position, timing of turning my board, and any other possible info that might help. Also wanted to know how fast does the boat need to be traveling to get up on the board, thanks!

[Matt_Want_Wake]

Ok, First you should try to think what's you'r best position to stand when u'r up Goofy, or Regular,(you have to learn to stand both ways, but try to do 1 first) Its weird Though cause when i wakeboard im Regular, and when i skateboard im goofy (i suck at skateboard). but i prefer wakeboarding, ok when the boat starts try to keep in the water for a lil bit,You'r board should be horizontal, Try to keep you'r board under control, and try to get u'r body up, dont lean to much forward or backwards, then switch it to u'r stance (regular or goofy) first you'd proberly stand up like for 10 secs or less or more. but u'l get used to it =D
I hope this Post will help you

[Avi]

Preface: This is coming from someone how BROKE a board because I was strong enough to be drug behind for so long (using the WRONG technique) that the board gave up the ghost...

I FINALLY was able to get up after reading articles on the internet, but none of them really explained it too well. For me, I did exactly what I read and it worked perfectly - To the point that I can get up to a full upright position in under 5 seconds (before I even hit the starting point of the boat) - My problem with everything I read was that it didn't describe, in detail, the process. So here is my take on it.

1) Figure out your foward foot - If you skate, surf or snowboard you should already know which foot should go forward. If you don't know, stand still with both feet together and have someone push you from behind - Whichever foot steps forward first would be a good place to start.

If you're left foot forward, then you are "Regular" foot. If right foot forward, you're a Goofy foot

(These terms come from surfing - If you faced a wave on a right break, you were considered "Regular" footed - Facing away on a right break you were "Goofy" foot because the wave was to your backside and you would have to look over your right shoulder to see where you were going, instead of looking right at it if you were "Regular" foot)

2) Sit in the water with the board facing the boat, parralell to the back of the boat.

3) Squat down as close as you can to the board - Knees bent as far as possible and ankles bent.

4) Bend your back so that you are as far bent over as possible.

5) Wrap your fingers over the top of the rope - Wrap your thumbs UNDER the handle - Not on top. Both hands should be on top, not mixed (one under one over)

6) Place your elbows on each side of your *forward* knee - Getting your elbows down to either side of your calves is even better - The trick here is to have your arms on either side of your foward leg.

7) Tell the driver of the boat to start slowly - BUT, as soon as the board starts to stabilize, to gradually increase power.

8 ) It will fell VERY strange to do this (I wish someone had TOLD ME THAT!). As you sit in the water with your arms on either side of your foward side you'll be thinking "There is NO WAY this is right!". The next thing you'll be thinking is "There is NO WAY this is going to work because it's not going to pick me up". Just do it this way.

9) As the boat starts to pull, DO NOT try to swing your back leg behind you - This will happen all by itself! Because you have the rope where you do, you forward leg will be pulled in the right direction. The rope will go from directly over you forward foot and slide a little towards center - Don't worry about it - This should happen.

WHATEVER YOU DO, do not allow you arms to move out of the position described above.


10) As the boat is pulling, DO NOT try to stand UP. The board will not be stable until it starts to plane (or flatten out on top of the water).

11) When doing this, you'll have to work with the driver of the boat - They cannot YANK you out of the water - You WILL lose your balance this way. But they also can't go too slowly because the board won't plane.

12) One other tip - In water skiing, we are taught to lean back when getting up - Wake boarding requires that you lean forward a little when getting up.

13) Once you feel the board stablize, stand up slowly.

The strength that it takes to do this is minimal - About the same amount as being pulled from a sitting position - Not much at all.

I am 6'1" and 215lbs and if I can get up within 5 seconds with almost no work, then anyone can.

[subjekt_rider]

my bro is 6'5" and 230 lbs so if he does it then you can cuz he is a big mudda.

[nathan]

AVI

That just rocked. That is the best description on how to get out of the water I have ever seen. And to all of you reading that description, follow it exactly, it works and AVI is right on the money.

[mintyfresh]

Yeah, that was reeeally helpful. Thanks for taking the time to share the knowledge