iboats.com
Recruit
- Joined
- Apr 5, 2011
- Messages
- 4
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[FONT=Trebuchet MS, Lucida Grande, Arial, sans-serif]When you think about wakeboarding, most people think about getting on a board, cutting hard at the wake, and throwing a trick. [/FONT]
[FONT=Trebuchet MS, Lucida Grande, Arial, sans-serif]Almost no one gives much thought to balance - except for trying not to fall off - especially when first learning. However, balance on your board is actually a very important basic element. Not much is said about balance, but it is crucial when it comes to developing a foundation for success, learning new tricks, and having endless fun on the water. [/FONT]
[FONT=Trebuchet MS, Lucida Grande, Arial, sans-serif]Your level of riding success and enjoyment depends greatly on how well you are centered over your feet and bindings as you ride, edge to the wake, or get air time. [/FONT]
[FONT=Trebuchet MS, Lucida Grande, Arial, sans-serif]But getting balanced over your feet and bindings, then really honing that fundamental, is much more complex than just employing a few body position tips like "bend your knees" and "relax your arms". [/FONT]
[FONT=Trebuchet MS, Lucida Grande, Arial, sans-serif]There's actually an art to developing great balance on the board at all times, no matter the conditions. Learning this as a beginner will definitely speed your progress as a rider. Elements I believe are important include Getting Centered, Weight and Strength, Binding Placement, Choice of Board and Choice of Line. [/FONT]
[FONT=Trebuchet MS, Lucida Grande, Arial, sans-serif]Getting Centered
The most important key to optimal balance is your body position. Concentrate on staying centered over your feet and bindings, with ankles and knees slightly bent, elbows slightly bent with shoulders relaxed and handle at waist height. [/FONT]
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[FONT=Trebuchet MS, Lucida Grande, Arial, sans-serif]When your weight is centered over your feet, you are not leaning against the line. Rather, the line is towing you along and that means you will be set to do wake jumps, spins and inverts from a balanced position over your bindings. [/FONT]
[FONT=Trebuchet MS, Lucida Grande, Arial, sans-serif]When you are balanced over the board in this manner, you are using the board's design, thus reaching your full potential in achieving any trick. This balanced position lets you focus completely on technique, letting the wake and the line do much of the work of any jump, spin or invert. [/FONT]
[FONT=Trebuchet MS, Lucida Grande, Arial, sans-serif]But there are additional variables that can either help or hinder you in achieving this centered position. [/FONT]
[FONT=Trebuchet MS, Lucida Grande, Arial, sans-serif]Body Weight and Strength
One factor that can affect your body position on the board is your weight. Body weight and your strength relative to body weight affect balance. [/FONT]
[FONT=Trebuchet MS, Lucida Grande, Arial, sans-serif]It's amazing how shedding just a few unneeded pounds helps get you more over your feet for better balance and more easily performed tricks. [/FONT]
[FONT=Trebuchet MS, Lucida Grande, Arial, sans-serif]You can further work on a centered body position by increasing strength so that you have a better strength-to-weight ratio. I'm not suggesting you become a body builder, but basic strengthening of legs, arms and core muscles like back, gluts and abs will all help you stay over your bindings. Low weight/high repetition gym workouts, Pilates and yoga can help to improve your strength and thus your balance. [/FONT]
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The Board
All wakeboards provide ample surface area, however, there are differences in shapes and sizes that will affect your balance. Wider shaped boards provide more lift from the wake without needing to edge to the wake as fast, but they also provide more surface area. [/FONT]
[FONT=Trebuchet MS, Lucida Grande, Arial, sans-serif]Some boards, like my signature model, the Maiden by Hyperlite, feature a sleeker profile that lets you get more momentum when edging to the wake for bigger air tricks. Wakeoards can vary in length.The Maiden comes in 134 and 138 cm sizes. [/FONT]
[FONT=Trebuchet MS, Lucida Grande, Arial, sans-serif]Get the right board for your body size. The key to finding the best board for you is to test, test, and test various boards in multiple sizes. Consider how well balanced you feel over the bindings, when riding and doing tricks. Keep in mind there will always be pros, cons and tradeoffs. [/FONT]
[FONT=Trebuchet MS, Lucida Grande, Arial, sans-serif]More Testing: Binding Placement
The positioning of the bindings is another important area for testing. Some riders prefer a wider stance and others a more narrow one. Some riders rotate their bindings out more than others. Test different boards, board sizes and binding placement with the goal of finding your personal optimal balanced position. While testing, only change one variable at a time. Trying a new board and a new binding placement at the same time won't help you isolate each factor. [/FONT]
[FONT=Trebuchet MS, Lucida Grande, Arial, sans-serif]The Line
Tow line material and line length also affect balance. Using a polypropylene line as for slalom skiing will result in stretch and bounce in the line. That puts weight on your heels, again causing you to lean against the line. You can improve balance greatly by using a wakeboard specific line that offers either no stretch or very low stretch. A tight line will keep you better centered over your feet. [/FONT]
[FONT=Trebuchet MS, Lucida Grande, Arial, sans-serif]Line length also matters. I typically use an 80 foot line attached to the wakeboard handle. This length allows me to get more momentum edging to the huge wakes of my Nautique G23. However, if you need to work on your balance, especially for wake jumps, try a 70 foot wakeboard line. [/FONT]
[FONT=Trebuchet MS, Lucida Grande, Arial, sans-serif]The shorter line will stay taut better to help keep you directly over your bindings, reducing your speed as you edge to the wake. Once you are solid and confident with balance at 70 feet, test the 80 foot line and keep honing your balance. [/FONT]
[FONT=Trebuchet MS, Lucida Grande, Arial, sans-serif]
Putting It All Together
So having great balance on your wakeboard, or how well you are centered over your feet and bindings, starts with body position. It also depends upon variables of body weight, strength, binding placement, the board and the line. These elements work together to allow the rider to reach full potential. Working on these elements individually and collectively will pay huge dividends on the water. [/FONT]
[FONT=Trebuchet MS, Lucida Grande, Arial, sans-serif]Raimi Merritt, 2013 Masters Wakeboard Champion and IWWF Open Women Wakeboard World Champion, is sponsored by MonaVie, Nautique, Hyperlite, Rollei Actioncam America, Breathe Boardwear. OrigAudio, Wakami, Peripheral LS and Fly High. For all her latest news, check out www.raimimerritt.com. Raimi also offers personalized coaching in Orlando, Florida. E-mail raimi@stevemerritt.com to schedule a lesson. [/FONT]
[/FONT][FONT=Trebuchet MS, Lucida Grande, Arial, sans-serif]When you think about wakeboarding, most people think about getting on a board, cutting hard at the wake, and throwing a trick. [/FONT]
[FONT=Trebuchet MS, Lucida Grande, Arial, sans-serif]Almost no one gives much thought to balance - except for trying not to fall off - especially when first learning. However, balance on your board is actually a very important basic element. Not much is said about balance, but it is crucial when it comes to developing a foundation for success, learning new tricks, and having endless fun on the water. [/FONT]
[FONT=Trebuchet MS, Lucida Grande, Arial, sans-serif]Your level of riding success and enjoyment depends greatly on how well you are centered over your feet and bindings as you ride, edge to the wake, or get air time. [/FONT]
[FONT=Trebuchet MS, Lucida Grande, Arial, sans-serif]But getting balanced over your feet and bindings, then really honing that fundamental, is much more complex than just employing a few body position tips like "bend your knees" and "relax your arms". [/FONT]
[FONT=Trebuchet MS, Lucida Grande, Arial, sans-serif]There's actually an art to developing great balance on the board at all times, no matter the conditions. Learning this as a beginner will definitely speed your progress as a rider. Elements I believe are important include Getting Centered, Weight and Strength, Binding Placement, Choice of Board and Choice of Line. [/FONT]
[FONT=Trebuchet MS, Lucida Grande, Arial, sans-serif]Getting Centered
The most important key to optimal balance is your body position. Concentrate on staying centered over your feet and bindings, with ankles and knees slightly bent, elbows slightly bent with shoulders relaxed and handle at waist height. [/FONT]
[FONT=Trebuchet MS, Lucida Grande, Arial, sans-serif]
[/FONT][FONT=Trebuchet MS, Lucida Grande, Arial, sans-serif]When your weight is centered over your feet, you are not leaning against the line. Rather, the line is towing you along and that means you will be set to do wake jumps, spins and inverts from a balanced position over your bindings. [/FONT]
[FONT=Trebuchet MS, Lucida Grande, Arial, sans-serif]When you are balanced over the board in this manner, you are using the board's design, thus reaching your full potential in achieving any trick. This balanced position lets you focus completely on technique, letting the wake and the line do much of the work of any jump, spin or invert. [/FONT]
[FONT=Trebuchet MS, Lucida Grande, Arial, sans-serif]But there are additional variables that can either help or hinder you in achieving this centered position. [/FONT]
[FONT=Trebuchet MS, Lucida Grande, Arial, sans-serif]Body Weight and Strength
One factor that can affect your body position on the board is your weight. Body weight and your strength relative to body weight affect balance. [/FONT]
[FONT=Trebuchet MS, Lucida Grande, Arial, sans-serif]It's amazing how shedding just a few unneeded pounds helps get you more over your feet for better balance and more easily performed tricks. [/FONT]
[FONT=Trebuchet MS, Lucida Grande, Arial, sans-serif]You can further work on a centered body position by increasing strength so that you have a better strength-to-weight ratio. I'm not suggesting you become a body builder, but basic strengthening of legs, arms and core muscles like back, gluts and abs will all help you stay over your bindings. Low weight/high repetition gym workouts, Pilates and yoga can help to improve your strength and thus your balance. [/FONT]
[FONT=Trebuchet MS, Lucida Grande, Arial, sans-serif]
The BoardAll wakeboards provide ample surface area, however, there are differences in shapes and sizes that will affect your balance. Wider shaped boards provide more lift from the wake without needing to edge to the wake as fast, but they also provide more surface area. [/FONT]
[FONT=Trebuchet MS, Lucida Grande, Arial, sans-serif]Some boards, like my signature model, the Maiden by Hyperlite, feature a sleeker profile that lets you get more momentum when edging to the wake for bigger air tricks. Wakeoards can vary in length.The Maiden comes in 134 and 138 cm sizes. [/FONT]
[FONT=Trebuchet MS, Lucida Grande, Arial, sans-serif]Get the right board for your body size. The key to finding the best board for you is to test, test, and test various boards in multiple sizes. Consider how well balanced you feel over the bindings, when riding and doing tricks. Keep in mind there will always be pros, cons and tradeoffs. [/FONT]
[FONT=Trebuchet MS, Lucida Grande, Arial, sans-serif]More Testing: Binding Placement
The positioning of the bindings is another important area for testing. Some riders prefer a wider stance and others a more narrow one. Some riders rotate their bindings out more than others. Test different boards, board sizes and binding placement with the goal of finding your personal optimal balanced position. While testing, only change one variable at a time. Trying a new board and a new binding placement at the same time won't help you isolate each factor. [/FONT]
[FONT=Trebuchet MS, Lucida Grande, Arial, sans-serif]The Line
Tow line material and line length also affect balance. Using a polypropylene line as for slalom skiing will result in stretch and bounce in the line. That puts weight on your heels, again causing you to lean against the line. You can improve balance greatly by using a wakeboard specific line that offers either no stretch or very low stretch. A tight line will keep you better centered over your feet. [/FONT]
[FONT=Trebuchet MS, Lucida Grande, Arial, sans-serif]Line length also matters. I typically use an 80 foot line attached to the wakeboard handle. This length allows me to get more momentum edging to the huge wakes of my Nautique G23. However, if you need to work on your balance, especially for wake jumps, try a 70 foot wakeboard line. [/FONT]
[FONT=Trebuchet MS, Lucida Grande, Arial, sans-serif]The shorter line will stay taut better to help keep you directly over your bindings, reducing your speed as you edge to the wake. Once you are solid and confident with balance at 70 feet, test the 80 foot line and keep honing your balance. [/FONT]
[FONT=Trebuchet MS, Lucida Grande, Arial, sans-serif]
Putting It All TogetherSo having great balance on your wakeboard, or how well you are centered over your feet and bindings, starts with body position. It also depends upon variables of body weight, strength, binding placement, the board and the line. These elements work together to allow the rider to reach full potential. Working on these elements individually and collectively will pay huge dividends on the water. [/FONT]
[FONT=Trebuchet MS, Lucida Grande, Arial, sans-serif]Raimi Merritt, 2013 Masters Wakeboard Champion and IWWF Open Women Wakeboard World Champion, is sponsored by MonaVie, Nautique, Hyperlite, Rollei Actioncam America, Breathe Boardwear. OrigAudio, Wakami, Peripheral LS and Fly High. For all her latest news, check out www.raimimerritt.com. Raimi also offers personalized coaching in Orlando, Florida. E-mail raimi@stevemerritt.com to schedule a lesson. [/FONT]