I need kneeboarding tips!!!!!!

[Ed@team13racing]

We just got home from trying to ride this god forsaken kneeboard, I got the thing out of the water, up on the wake but had a heck of a time getting up on it, is there an easier way without killing myself?

 

[naughtybynature]

Re: I need kneeboarding tips!!!!!!

easiest way is to start off the beach or in about 6 inches of water. sit on the board and strap yourself in, then lean back and when the rope gets tight get the driver to hit it right away, you should have no problem from there, just keep leaning back with your arms straight till you get on plane. 17-20 mph will be plenty. if you want big air go for a short rope where the wake is bigger. 360's and flips are next. now for a deep water start, lay on the board with your bellyjust on the tail. have the strap out in front of you so you are not laying on it and it doesn't get in the way later. i like to hold the handle in both hands and hold the front of the board at the same time. your arms will be straight out in front of you. it helps to get the driver to drag you a bit to get in position. once you are comfy get the driver to get up on plane, once the board gets on plane simply tuck your knees under your belly and push up with your arms on the front of the board. do this in one fast motion and only when the board is up on plane. if you go too fast the board is unstable, if you wait too long i hope you are a good rodeo dude cause the board will start to bounce cause you are so far back on it. <br />there ya have it. piece of cake. i've been doin it since i was 5. am 30 now and did it this last weekend. let me know how you make out.

 

[Ed@team13racing]

Re: I need kneeboarding tips!!!!!!

Thanks naughty, I'll be sure to try those, I had to laugh because I did fall prey to the unstable @ high speed rodeo ride this evening! HA-HA! I WILL RIDE AGAIN!

 

[denniz]

Re: I need kneeboarding tips!!!!!!

get up with your chest/ stomache on the board, once you get"ON PLANE" slow the boat down pull your knees into the strap. Dont try to knee board too fast youll endo.

 

[CalicoKid]

Re: I need kneeboarding tips!!!!!!

I always float on my back while strapping in my knees. The driver hits the gas while I'm laying back and I pop right out (well, maybe not the first few times in my life). It's hard to get used to I guess. I'd like to try it belly style. How many gallons of water did you guys swallow getting it right?

 

[denniz]

Re: I need kneeboarding tips!!!!!!

None till you fall off. You rise above it if you lean back a bit.

 

[naughtybynature]

Re: I need kneeboarding tips!!!!!!

wow kid! never heard of that approach. gotta try that as it does sound like a lot less hassle once you've mastered it. thanks for the new challenge. next you guys have to try standing up. now that is a hoot, you can care the wakes once you get used to it. then i progressed to sitting down on the board with my feet out in front of me. give the driver the thumbs up and when you hit 40-42mph plant your feet in and sit up in the chair. now you're bare footing! it's as easy as that folks. now i did swallow many of gallons mastering that little trick.

 

[chesire]

Re: I need kneeboarding tips!!!!!!

On your BACK!!!! holy S!!!!! I think I gotta try that for kicks I start on my belly on the back 1/3 of of the board. hold rope w/2 hands pull knees under chest. I think I use my elbows at first not sure. Its automatic for me I have been doing it since I was 12 32 now. I didn't get out all that much as a kid now I have my own boat but my knees can't handle too much. I've been getting into wakeboarding lately. I also like to put some kind of support under my ankles. naughtybynature is right all the way Wouldn't know about the barefooting though.

 

[TxRiverRat]

Re: I need kneeboarding tips!!!!!!

I don't usually kneeboard, but when i do, i have always done deepwater starts...<br /><br />naughtybynature was right in the speed - 16-20 mph is plenty... <br /><br />as far as roplength, i would stick with either 15' off or 22' off. if you are unfamilar with the terms, this is 15 feet (or 22 ft) subtracted from a 75' rope... the red loop = 15' off, the orange loop = 22' off. in waterskiing, these are the 2 largest bumps...<br /><br />i loosen the strap as loose as it will go so it is easy to slip the knees into...<br /><br />then i lay down on towards the back of the board with the handle right in front of the tip... <br /><br />once the boats goes, i use one hand to hold the rope, and the other to help leverage myself up on it... trick is to not try to get up too early/fast...<br /><br />if your board has retractible fins: down = carving and cutting... up = 360s and slippin and slidin...<br /><br />hope that helps....

 

[ajp]

Re: I need kneeboarding tips!!!!!!

Forget the kneeboard and get a wakeboard.

 

[CalicoKid]

Re: I need kneeboarding tips!!!!!!

We've also tried starting out from a pier... strap in, gas it, hold on for life. I'm not recommending this but when we were kids we had a lot of unsupervised time with the toys. It worked a few times when things went just right, hard on the board and shoulders though. The local ski team left a ramp in the bay all the time too, we messed around trying to launch off that also. Naughty, if your still limber, try putting one knee in the strap and crouch over it so your laying on your knee on the board with your other leg dangling behind you for balance in the water until you get planed. Do that and you've got it half right. How fast have you been towed on a board?

 

[naughtybynature]

Re: I need kneeboarding tips!!!!!!

well i tell the driver to let me know when we are doing 40-42 (based on a calculation for my wieght... can't remember it though) that is all the speed i need to bare foot. i did have a guy keep his foot in it once cause he was a rooky and i must've been doing 50+ when i hit the water. man that hurt. <br /><br />the dock trick is sooooo fun. we managed to make it down a 50 ft dock and off the end. don't do this folks! major chance of death on that one.<br /><br />my fav is leaving the beach dry and ending back on the beach dry. time it wrong and you are either wet.... or dry with a mouth full of sand and a split chin. good luck kids. <br /><br />remember, never drink and kneeboard. that's how i learned how to do all this useless stuff!

 

[CalicoKid]

Re: I need kneeboarding tips!!!!!!

Gonna try the sandbar landing before the summer's done! Have you ever tried to leave the pier dry and return to the pier dry?? If you come across the wake at just the right trajectory and slap the tail of the board onto the edge of the pier to slow yourself.....

 

[naughtybynature]

Re: I need kneeboarding tips!!!!!!

no but my buddy used to do it on a slalom ski. he'd do a jump start and then when he'd get back he had a knack for just coming into the dock and just at the last second he would just turn sideways and sit his butt back on the dock! i never had enuff balls to try it. didn't want to loose mine!

 

[CalicoKid]

Re: I need kneeboarding tips!!!!!!

I was kidding about landing on a pier, thought you'd escalate the bluff. (we used to jump over houseboats with guys shooting at us, etc.) Probably should move to stupid human tricks with this though...

 

[naughtybynature]

Re: I need kneeboarding tips!!!!!!

don't get me started... in enuff trouble as it is. you see moose's post on the dark side. seems we are all alone like 2 dumbies in the corner wearin our dunce caps and suffering through another "time out" session. been there done that.

 

[naughtybynature]

Re: I need kneeboarding tips!!!!!!

shooting? who's shooting? ok. i will stop. i promise.

 

[snapperbait]

Re: I need kneeboarding tips!!!!!!

I thought kneeboarding was dead?? Apparently not.. Thank God! Expert advice here... AS for my qualifications: 2 concutions, 1 broken nose, several misc. cuts from broken fiberglass boards, torn ligaments, punctured ear drum, busted knuckles, A.K.A. rookie of the year, Enough? OK...You guys covered the basics very well. One little tip: When you try deep water starts try holding the strap in one hand along with the rope handle.. This keeps it out of the way and makes it easy to place the strap across your legs once your up and going rather than hunting around for it only to find it's dangling behind you somewhere.. Elbows on the pad where your knees will eventualy be, 2 hands on the handle, as the boat takes off push up with the elbows while pulling your knees up into position. Your there. RELAX don't try so hard..Have fun...