I finally got to go out with the kneeboard and tried again. Friend with me knew the tactic for getting up on it and told me more speed, get weight forward, get the board planning, then move the knees up quick. It worked! Here's a video of the first run: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pXkrKbKHhxU
I like the rope long so I can get the hang of it and have more room to do S-turns without going over the wake. Also for learning Wake boarding more. I really like the idea of the retractable catch for the rope. My board is so bouyant that there is no way I could start with it on my knees. I tried and it just flips over. I used to surf waves in the ocean in my teens and the knee board felt similar but far shorter. I thought about adding a rope across the area of the kneeboard where my hands are when I'm first moving. That would allow me to hold the board via the rope, and the tow rope together. Rope burn could be bad though! If the tow line end was wider I would be able to hold the board on the sides and the line at the same time. I hope I can get another chance this year to try it all again. Its rapidly getting colder here (Spokane Washington area) and only hitting mid 50s and even 37f late tonight. And it was just last Saturday I was out knee boarding and wake boarding!
as some others had already said you do a shallow water launch, Me and my uncle looked like fools trying to do it for over a hr till someone said you take off from shallow water the SHAM WOW it worked lol. good luck
