boat drivers's job

[Ed G]

this weekend (for Christmas) I will be giving my wife a wakeboard, tow rope and instructional video. Her first experience with wakeboarding. We hope to get in the water the day after Christmas.


What should the boat driver know? How do you pull someone on a wakeboard up?

When slalom skiing, my wife likes to be pulled out of the water, slowly and steadily. is it the same in wakeboarding?

Any hints, tips, and general safety info will greatly be appreciated.

Thanks in advance

Ed G
Clermont, FL
2004 Outback

[sextons]

Ed,
Good choice on the gift, you're wife will love it.

I'd recommend checking out wakeboarder.com. They have a trick tips area that covers everything from getting up to pro moves. You could print off a few tricks and take them in the boat with you to refresh your memory.

Compared to slalom skiinig wakeboard is like slow motion, for a beginner if you don't have much ballast in the boat you can pull her along anywhere between 12-15 mph. To get her up just start out real slow and as she feels the pressure of the water on the bottom of the board she can just start it turing and stand up.

We taught three different people to get up this past summer and each was slightly different as far as preferred boat spead, acceleration etc so just try out different speeds and techniques to pull her up and have some fun.

As far as driving since you don't have as much speed as skiing the turns are a little slower but other than that just drive the same only at a reduced speed.

Have fun!

[Ed G]

thanks for the reply, the info and the lead.

will check out the wakeboard site.

Happy Holidays!

[csaj4506]

How did it go? Did she like the board? Did she get up? Did you try it?

[Inliner]

Ed, a quickie here. If she didn't make it up, have her keep her back perfectly straight and give the board a slight tilt to her favored side (r or l). Pull her up easily as if pulling up a beginning skier if she is a light weight. Heavier boarders require a more authoritative pull, in that way it is no different from skiing. By lightweight I mean anywhere below 190 lbs and running on an appropriately sized board. Heavier weight boarders should be on longer and wider boards in most cases and lighter weight boarders should be on shorter and thinner boards. At 165 - 170 lbs I board on a 139 to give you an idea. If the board is sized correctly, she will get up with ease if she is experienced in skiing on different types of equipment. Since I board goofie foot, I tilt the board slighty up on the right side as I am drug. When I yell "HIT IT", I let the board run to the right until I come up full. I keep the knees bent and back straight until I reach plane (the same as slalom skiing). Odds are she will get along fine.

[Ed G]

thanks for the responses and suggestions guys!

My wife loved receiving the wakeboard. Weather last weekend was pretty crummy and cold. Boat didn't want to go outside to play.

This weekend it's supposed to be sunny and near 80 degrees.

We probably will head out on the water to for her to try the board Saturday or Sunday.

will let you know how she did.

Happy new year to all!

[Inliner]

Originally posted by Ed G


thanks for the responses and suggestions guys!

My wife loved receiving the wakeboard. Weather last weekend was pretty crummy and cold. Boat didn't want to go outside to play.

This weekend it's supposed to be sunny and near 80 degrees.

We probably will head out on the water to for her to try the board Saturday or Sunday.

will let you know how she did.

Happy new year to all!

TOO COLD???? Wow, I would replace that boat with some thingies hanging! ;) As long as the water is warmer than 50 degrees and the air temp is at least 60 my boat goes out to play. If not I will replace it with one who will! :p

BTW, I was back on the water today. 71 degrees and a water temp in the mid-50s. Manageable with a wetsuit once your feet went numb and you didn't feel them anymore! :)

[Ed G]

glad to hear you were out on the water again Gordon.

You and your hanging thingies are da man.