Proper board position for getting out of the water?

[tangent]

Re: Proper board position for getting out of the water?

Yes, gun it to start, but be ready to back off as soon as you hit about 14-16 mph. You get up much quicker than skis.

 

[deejaycee_2000]

Re: Proper board position for getting out of the water?

you can gun it yes, but as soon as the boat is on plane, you must slow down to the proper speed .......

 

[SuperNova]

Re: Proper board position for getting out of the water?

Applying power gradually and steadily will make it much easier than just ramming the throttle forward and then slowing down. How fast you push the throttle depends on how heavy the person is, but it should definitely be a controlled movement, not a slam. And if you're used to skiing, you are in the same position for wakeboarding to start, but once you get up it's a lot different. Body position is different and foot positon is different. How you ride the board is different and how you react to waves is different. I loved it. But I had to learn a whole different way of riding behind the boat. With skis you absorb waves with your knees, with a wakeboard you kind of float with the waves and jump a lot or you'll wear yourself out quickly. But, then I was rear-ended by a tractor-trailer which pretty much destroyed my lower spine and now I get to train other people. The suit did allow me to buy a new boat though.

 

[Liquid_force]

Re: Proper board position for getting out of the water?

some pro's actually instruct you to start as if you're sitting it a chair, with the board below you - deep in the water. Just make sure the front edge of the board is higher that the back edge.

As you accelerate the board naturally floats to the surface and you're off.

I learned the way of the OP photo, but the chair start might be an easier way to learn. There's no fighting it as the boat gets up to speed - when the board reaches the surface you're basically good to go.

 

[imported_Captain Morgan]

Re: Proper board position for getting out of the water?

I'm 36 now and recently bought a small ski boat for the family. I was never able to get up as a teenager but now can after snowboarding for years. My problem is that after riding for about 5 minutes I start to feel a strain in my lower back that makes me want to stop. I'm wondering if this is something I can alleviate by adjusting my binding position or if I'm just feeling my age. Any thoughts?

 

[tommays]

Re: Proper board position for getting out of the water?

Comeing from a bunch of 50 year old plus wakeboarders

I am sure you can tweak the board but if you wanna ride like on TV your gonna have to spend some time in the gym



Tommays

 

[8AteEight]

Re: Proper board position for getting out of the water?

Yeah, Im with tommays. I feel that same pain at the beginning of each season; but by the end of the year, Its all but gone. Its a little easier on you back if you tweak the position that your riding (ie, further forward/back, bend knees more/less)

The pain I usually get is from pulling the rope, and fighting to do what I want. instead I should just let it happen.

 

[Dunaruna]

Re: Proper board position for getting out of the water?

[colour=blue]15 y/o - ski/foot & board (planer board, not wakeboard) for 8 months out of 12, 5 or 6 hours a day (weekends). No pain. No recovery time.

30 y/o - ski/foot 3 months out of 12, 2 hours a day. Mild back/thigh/forearm pain. 2 days to recover.

45 y/o (now) - ski/foot 1 month out of 12, 30 minutes per day. Can't breathe for 10 minutes, legs and arms siezed. Completely lost all feeling from ankle down. 11 months to recover.......... :%

 

[imported_Captain Morgan]

Re: Proper board position for getting out of the water?

Comeing from a bunch of 50 year old plus wakeboarders

I am sure you can tweak the board but if you wanna ride like on TV your gonna have to spend some time in the gym



Tommays

I think you're right, I'm going to have to spend a little more time working out my lower back muscles in the gym for the next few months.

 

[bhanson]

Re: Proper board position for getting out of the water?

All the tips provided so far are right on. When she gets out of the water ONCE she will never have another issue. Therefore, two suggestions:

1) If you have a tower or tall ski pylon, shorten the rope to ten feet behind the boat off the highest point and it will pull her UP when you hit it. Once she "feels it" you can let out more rope.

2) Get her a first-timers lesson. Cost me $20 for 10 minutes at a local ski lake, 17 y/o got up first time, and she has never looked back. Excellent investment. (That 340 HP Mastercraft they will have at the ski lake sure helps, too !!!)

NOTHING worse than being the kid that cannot get out of the water, so give one or both of these ideas a shot.

 

[tangent]

Re: Proper board position for getting out of the water?

Being 48, I'd say it isn't age. To fight the aches and pains I took up running which, along with regular work-outs, definitely helps my back.

 

[Liquid_force]

Re: Proper board position for getting out of the water?

My problem is that after riding for about 5 minutes I start to feel a strain in my lower back that makes me want to stop. I'm wondering if this is something I can alleviate by adjusting my binding position or if I'm just feeling my age. Any thoughts?

My suggestion (if you haven't tried it already) would be to learn a 180 so you can ride with your opposite foot forward part of the time.

 

[JuanRiosBR190]

Re: Proper board position for getting out of the water?

Once you've determined what foot is dominantly your forward foot (earlier suggestions of pushing the person forward or back/tug of war postion will help, if you've slalom skied, use your front ski foot), you ought to point your front binding forward with toes toward the "front" of the board as much as possible (maybe 45 degrees). Your back foot should be 90 degrees with the length of the board. This is a good foot position for a beginner. Once you're comfortable getting up & turning, you will want to place your feet symetrically so you have the same position whether you're riding "forward" or "backward"
The best video I've seen that teaches you how to get up is at:
http://www.cwbwakeboards.com/2007/videos.php
scroll down to the "basic start" video.

 

[Road Guy]

Re: Proper board position for getting out of the water?

Okay this is probably a dumb question, I tried at least 12 times over the summer to get up behind a 130 hp jetski (which was able to pull up my wife, about 110 lbs less than me) I am about 220.

I was going to try it again this weekend behind the 250 hp ski-boat. I am hoping this will make all the difference in the world right?

 

[Grunt_Sculpin]

Re: Proper board position for getting out of the water?

This really depends on why you are wiping out. If it is because you can't hold onto the rope any longer because of the drag than the ski boat will do the job....but otherwise it may just be practice! I can get up even when the boat has minimal pull to it, for example if a newbie is driving and does not know how to pop me out, but it does take a lot of upper body strength if your just being dragged because the boat does not have the right amount of pull.

 

[wca_tim]

Re: Proper board position for getting out of the water?

on that lower back soreness stuff. Once you check with the doc and make sure there's nothing you're gonna hurt by workin it out, don't try to make the lower back muscles strongers, focus on abs... things like crunches and other trunk strengthening exercises. The abs are what hold the lower back in place... and for most of us 40+ guys, cycling and swimming are a lot better than running. (wear and tear on knees...). I'll get off my soapbox now...