Whats the trick????

[produceguy]

How do you get up on a wakeboard without a tower?

I can't seem to figure it out.

 

[skibrain]

Re: Whats the trick????

Have you gotten up WITH a tower?

 

[Dave.Mishchenko]

Re: Whats the trick????

I started without a tower, and while it helps a bit what is really important is how you position yourself and letting the boat do the work of getting you up. If you're falling forward then you're likely trying to pull yourself up which won't work. See these other threads for pointers.

http://forums.iboats.com/showthread.php?t=430397&highlight=position
http://forums.iboats.com/showthread.php?t=515664&highlight=position

 

[Augoose]

Re: Whats the trick????

What kind of boat is pulling you? How heavy are you? Lots of variables here plus there is no difference really between getting up with/without a tower - its all in your head.

Treat the board like a ski in that you should try a slow drag to get the feel of how the board moves through the water. Start with the board perpendicular to the direction of travel, knees inside your elbows - otherwise you'll slip right or left. As the boat starts to take off resist the urge to straighten the board for just a second or two. Once you have the water flowing under the board and you feel your body rising to the surface of the water, turn the board forward and "step" up onto the surface. I like to hold the handle flat and with "palms down" once I'm up as I find it give me a more stable platform.

 

[atcra]

Re: Whats the trick????

I have a 21ft cuddy cabin with a volvo penta 5.0L pulling/snatching me out of the water. i am 39 yrs old about 215lbs wet and am using 149/151 board. Just sit back and again...let the boat pull you and as you are being pulled push against the board and stand up! DO NOT rush turing the board straight...it will slide across the water sideways until you are all the way up...turning too soon will only dig your edges into the water and flip you forward...make sure you have fins! they are very important...i put bigger fins on my board for my stability. Good luck!

 

[Marada92]

Re: Whats the trick????

What exactly is happening when you cant get up? That will make it a little easier to tell you what to and not to do. When I first started wakeboarding it was behind a boat with no tower. My biggest problem when starting was trying to fight the board. I would try to keep pressure on my legs and lean back and the handle would get snatched out of my hand every time. People say to keep your knees between your arms when getting up, but I cant make myself do it. It just feels awkward to me. This is what works best for me.... As you feel the boat start pulling allow your arms to straighten out and your upper body start being pulled forward.. this will feel like you are being pulled over the board. At the same time allow the force of the water on the board to push your legs into your chest. This motion should cause the board to come under you and onto the top of the water. The board will actually sink under water some just as your coming up. Its hard to explain it in a way to make it completely understandable but no worries... when you do it once its like riding a bike. Good luck to ya! And again... let us know exactly what is happening when you cant get up. Itll help with the advice.

 

[bowler]

Re: Whats the trick????

It's all technique. Minor changes in body position can make all the difference. I rest my arms on TOP of my knees,that makes a difference with some riders. Generally as others have said, let the boat do the work. The less you do the better. When you start off, all tucked up, try not to move position or stand until the board has come out of the water and has planed completely. At that point you'll naturally turn to whatever stance is comfortable as you straighten your legs and stand up.

However, if you weigh 300lbs and are using a 134cm board its never going to work. Other factors have to be considered.

Is the board just ploughing through the water when the driver 'hits it'? If so then work on technique. If no,t maybe have the driver ease forward on the throttle gradually so it's a slower and steadier movement.

Good luck, a tower is not essential by any means!

D

 

[eabtx]

Re: Whats the trick????

I found that the key is to let the boat pull you. Keep your board flat against the water, knees bent. Relax. It doesn't take much boat speed at all to get out of the water generally, depending on your weight. Your board should pop forward and glide a bit. If you are right handed, let go of the rope with that hand. By only holding on with your left hand our board will turn sideways into the normal wakeboarding stance and track sideways straight. Practice with your one hand to get a feel for it before trying two hands. If you are left handed, it is the opposite: drop your left hand to let the boat and rope guide you on board stability and tracking.

 

[H20Rat]

Re: Whats the trick????

All good tips above! Don't blame the lack of tower, it makes almost NO difference to a beginner just getting out of the water.

 

[tpenfield]

Re: Whats the trick????

I think some of these responses are trying to say that you are too heavy or your boat is not powerful enough . . .

All that I can say is that from first hand experience, I let my kids do the wakeboarding; I drive the boat. I'm not sure what they do . . . something about keep your back leg bent or something ????

BUT, I have just a regular tow eye on the transom and everybody seems to get up OK. I have to give it full throttle, as I would a skier, for about 5 seconds, then I can back off. 24 foot boat with 454 I/O

 

[marcoalza]

Re: Whats the trick????

My son had the same problems getting up on a wakeboard the first time out.
Proved impossible.

He then watched the following videos and next time out got up first time and every time since.
This really explains the technique in easy terms. (We don't have a tower).

[video]http://www.thefootersedge.com/1hourwakeboarding//video1/[/video]

[video]http://www.thefootersedge.com/1hourwakeboarding//video2/#[/video]

Watch these, YOU WILL GET UP!!

 

[drrpm]

Re: Whats the trick????

A good driver helps a lot. I need to teach one of my teenagers to drive as my wife doesn't seem to get it and I never get to ski. You have to match the size of the person, board/ski and boat power. I find that I rarely need to go beyond half throttle for a teen on a wakeboard behind my 20 footer with a 5.0 V8.

 

[produceguy]

Re: Whats the trick????

Thanks, you guys nailed it. It was the driver not the guy on the board. It's all new to us but we got it down now. Thanks guys