Getting up on a wakeboard

[cobra 3.0]

For our daughter's 17th bday we bought her a wakeboard. Tried as she could, she just couldn't get up on one. We have a 16 ft 3.0 inboard 17" pitch prop with a tow eye at the back (no tower).

She gets up real easy on water skis and a knee board(she snow boards in the winter), but has tried and tried and no luck.

As soon as the boat "guns" the rope handle rips out of her hands from the pressure or rubs her hands over the edge of the board and that's as far as it gets.

What's the technique to get her up?

 

[DJ]

Re: Getting up on a wakeboard

Go SLOW on the throttle. Jamming it to full open will get you the results you're getting.

 

[dutch135]

Re: Getting up on a wakeboard

I've pulled my sons up quite a bit behind an I/O,
and it sounds like maybe you are giving too much
throttle. They pop up easiest on the wakeboard,
compared to a ski. I know they are in the water facing straight forward, with the board sideways to the rope/boat, and once I start off, they come up rather quick and then turn their board so it is lengthways with the rope. Maybe you can try less throttle, and see if it helps?
(I've never done the board myself)
They also use a "wake skate", which has no bindings,
they use sneakers,, and the board has a grip top like
a skateboard.. it's interesting!
8)

 

[turbodriven]

Re: Getting up on a wakeboard

There are a few writeups here

http://www.wakeworld.com/TrickList/TrickTips.asp

about half way down you'll see "getting started made easy" and a few other beginner type reads.

 

[vipzach]

Re: Getting up on a wakeboard

Is she starting with the board sideways in the water? IF so, float naturally, with your knees bent and arms straight. Keep them straight while the boat takes off. If she is letting go of the rope, she is trying to fight with the boat. Tell her to relax and let the boat pull her out of the water. She is trying to stand too quickly! The way I described it to my brother was " try to let the boat pull you over"

My first time trying to get up on a wakeboard, I could not get up with the board sideways. I would start off similar to a salom start and it worked for me. Now that I have done it a few times, I can do it both ways.

I hope that helps you two out some!! Good Luck!

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: Getting up on a wakeboard

wake broarding is nothing like skiing. you can go much slower. the object is to throw a wake not get on plane. the y want to ride the wake not be pulled. like surfing and riding a way, they want the tail of that board in the wake of the boat, so the wave pushes the along. that's the true sense of wake boarding, all these jumps and turns are skiing on a wake board. sorry if i pi$$ed an body off.

 

[tangent]

Re: Getting up on a wakeboard

When I started I found that I was pushing the water instead of getting up. I pointed my toes forward somewhat and I was OK after that.

 

[AguaSki]

Re: Getting up on a wakeboard

The lakes around me are full of wakeboarders more talented than I ever could hope to be. If there are other wakeboarders around, take some time to observe what they, and their drivers are doing. Explaining how to wakeboard on a forum is difficult. Once she does get up, she will not have trouble getting up in subsequent attempts.

I do agree that you are too aggressive with the throttle. When pulling wakeboarders I do go to maximum throttle and then back off to the proper speed, but I am very deliberate as I move from neutral to full throttle. You don't want to mash the throttle all the way as you do with skiers. Just a nice gentle movement to maximum throttle and back off to between 15-18 mph. Because there is more surface area on a wakeboard, you run at slower speeds than skis.

 

[deejaycee_2000]

Re: Getting up on a wakeboard

Ok I'll have a shot at this ..... it is very easy getting up on a wakeboard ... you need to tell your daughter that she needs to bend her legs and not try and stand up, the boat will pull her up, obviously when you are lying in the water you are half sitting in the water with the board sideways in the water .... when the rope goes tight and you are ready to pull away, she must put pressure on her back foot depending on if she is goofy or natural, then try and lift the front of the wakeboard out the water a bit and the same time pushing with her back foot, this will cause the wakeboard to pop up easy and not go under the water first and cause alot of resistance that make you loose grip on the handle .... hope this helps ... good luck

 

[cobra 3.0]

Re: Getting up on a wakeboard

Thanks for the advise so far guys. I was really gunning the boat thinking this is what you need to get up and maybe that was the problem...or part of it. I suppose if she doesn't pull back right away to try and get up, she might roll forward more and let the boat pop her up. Right now, she was just pushing water.

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: Getting up on a wakeboard

idea, get her to sit on the board like a surfer, towrds the rear so the tip is up, thenjust gentle pull her like that, slowerly so she can get the feel of how the board handles. i use to do this with kids teaching them to ski. i a swimming pool they would put on the skis, and learn how to handle them, then we would take a rope, put them at one end with the handle and a kid at the other to run with the rope. it really help them to be able to control and took part of the fear away.

 

[scoot_gt]

Re: Getting up on a wakeboard

Check the newbie forum here - http://forums.wakeboarder.com/ - best info I've ever read about learning to board.

The best advise I've ever heard on getting up for first timers is this - pretend you are siting on the ground, feet in front of you (this is your initial position in the water). Someone grabs you by the arms and gives you an assist in standing up (the someone translates to the rope). As the rope "lifts" you up and you work your way to a squatting position, the board will go completely under water - this is normal. Just keep your toes slightly higher than your heels and the board will quickly plane.

As the driver, ease it into gear and give her a little drag - then slowly increase the throttle. Once they are up, slower speed is better - about 12-15 MPH. After they are more comfortable on the board, turning, crossing the wake, etc. - increase to around 20 MPH. Note that once the wakeboarder figures out how to get up, there is no need to ease the throttle anymore - you can pretty much give her gas once the slack is out of the rope...

 

[lakelivin]

Re: Getting up on a wakeboard

In addition to the advice given above (slow start, knees bent, arms straight and at waist level, shoulders back), a couple of foolproof (to this point) tips I've used with beginners:

1) Like Tangent said, have 'em point their toes forward a bit. Makes a big difference w.r.t. the board planeing as compared to just pushing against the water. (think about it while you're looking at someone in the water as they get ready to start)

2) Have the rider pull their rear foot back (or push their front foot forward) just a little bit more than the other foot. Doesn't take much, maybe 6" difference between back & front of the board. Combined with #1, instead of pushing against the water, the board kind of 'slices' up out of the water, with very little resistance.

3) If the above doesn't work right away, tow the boarder at a very slow speed. Tell em what you're gonna do beforehand, and emphasize that you're not even trying to get them up; they're just getting towed so they can get the feel of the resistance and learn how to brace themselves so they don't get 'pulled over' by the boat/rope.

If they do the above, you'll be surprised how easily a light person pops out of the water. I was doing the 'towing' thing with my nephew. We were under 10 mph (I'd guess maybe 6 or 7 mph?) and darned if he didn't pop up in spite of the fact that we weren't trying to get him up at that point!

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: Getting up on a wakeboard

just something i saw in Overton's catalog, they have bladders in the shape of a bench seat to go across the stearn, that you fill with water, to bog the stern down so you throw a larger wake. we're trying to go fast, they're trying to bogged down.

 

[TahoeBlue]

Re: Getting up on a wakeboard

Some boards plow water way harder than others. Nor I or any of my friends have been able to get up on my board sideways like regular boards. It just plows like hell and either snaps the rope out of your hands or if you hang on longer will just dive under. Instead as soon as the boat moves i snap the board into riding position and lean back. Its actually easier and as long as you keep 75% of your weight on your back foot and your knees bent. I think its because my board is ment for carving more than others but i don't know. Hope that helps.

 

[wildspeed]

Re: Getting up on a wakeboard

Another important thing is to adjust your binding properly, few degres change can make a big difference ( as much as having fun or not getting out of the water....)

 

[aerwin]

Re: Getting up on a wakeboard

too much throttle, get her on top of the water then speed up a little, it just takes practice for the rider and driver, I have about the same set up that you have and it does make it a little harder to get up but it can be done. she also has to use her strength, balance and determination to get up also. then it will all click and it will be a joy for both of you. she almost has to force herself to get on top of the water by geting the board up and over, holding the board in the vertical position and being dragged won't work. forcing board on top then flatten out. keep on trying

 

[DaveM]

Re: Getting up on a wakeboard

Here is what I do to get up, and believe you me I am no expert:

1. Starting position: arms straight, knees bent, feet square with shoulders (board sideways), board under water, just under the surface.
2. Driver: easy on the power start and aim for about 12 MPH top speed.
3. Take off: keep knees bent, tip toes towards the boat during initial pull.
4. Getting out of the water: Turn the board after popping out of the water.

Alternatively, scrap the whole wakeboard thing and go slalom instead because it is way more cool.

 

[Colorado04]

Re: Getting up on a wakeboard

Just a thought but....is the board the proper size for her. The size and shape of the board will be different depending on the size and weight of the person much like in water sking. I'm 190lbs and my board is sized to match. When someone 140 lbs or so uses it, they "pop" way easier and faster than I do.

A note about the throttle. It is a progressive throttle up. Try to drag the boarder under idle for a second or two then progressively apply the throttle.

Good luck.

C.