Getting started Video?

[sled491]

So we got out to the lake for a week of uninterupted boating fun. Got to ski every morning and every night. Every night after my last ski I would have my wife through me my board and would try to surf. I have read the threads about getting started and thought this was a good start. So for the 1st 2 nights I just ended up hurting my back foot knee as it would end up over extended trying to push my self up.

Fianlly the 3rd night after 2 tries I just popped right up. It was awsum and while I could through the rope I was able to move around abit and felt very comfortable. But the next morning I couldn't repeat the easy up.

I believe I understand what to do, lay on my back, put my heels on the board about midway across. As the boat begins to go I push the board so it goes flat against my feet and just kind of tilt up. But maybe that isn't what happened.

So the question is, who has a good how to video for both me the surfer and my wife the driver? I leave for Phoenix tomorrow morning but would love to order it AAP so that we can watch it before friday when we head back out to our lake house.

[Ed G]

your heels should be near the edge of the board, when your laying on your back. If they are about midway across, you won't have the leverage needed to tilt the board up flat across your feet.


I believe Inland Surfer, The Waker Poject and wakeoutlaws all have the instructional videos availabe.

wakeoutlaws might even have them available to download from their website.

edit:

Go to wakeoulaws home page. A lot of great tutorials availbale

here's an example: http://www.wakeoutlaws.com/wakesurfinghowtogetup.php

[sled491]

thanks Ed, will be giving it a try again on the weekend!

[shalpin]

start with the board on the swim deck and the front foot in the board. as the speed goes up transfer your weight to the back of the board and reel yourself out away from the boat with the rope. 8 feet back is fine. I have been wake surfing since 1985. This is the easiest way to get up on the board. utube shows many examples.

[deafgoose]

I saw a local wakesurfer do the quick-start method a few days ago and I could only find one clip on youtube.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2vBMbuulFUI

[sled491]

1st off, I saw the Utube video and it did seem interesting, but second let me say that we don't want Ed G seeing this as this practice is considered very dangerous and is not encouraged on this board.

For now I will continue to work at it the old fashioned way, in the water with my heels on the board.

[deafgoose]

start with the board on the swim deck and the front foot in the board. as the speed goes up transfer your weight to the back of the board and reel yourself out away from the boat with the rope. 8 feet back is fine. I have been wake surfing since 1985. This is the easiest way to get up on the board. utube shows many examples.

That sounds like an easy way to start before you get wet but once you fall off the board its faster to say in the water than get back on the swim platform and do it again.

[deafgoose]

This is the exact video that came with my CWB Razr surf board.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a6Pf5s7HGF0

[Ed G]

LOL!

Don't worry if I see it or not, we just need to keep the Skiers Choice folks from thinking unsafe practices are being encouraged on their web site.


A lot of newbies have NO idea how much lobying it took to:

1. get Skiers Choice to remove the safety warnings about wakesurfing from this website

2. get a wakesurfing forum

I don't mean to harp, I just keep trying to steer the issue around the corner where it can't be seen.

When someone eventually does gets hurt doing this, let's hope they were not on a boat made in Tenn.

Besides, when the boat is waited correctly for wakesurfing, the swim platform should be submerged until the boat starts moving. How safe can that be.

[Chad M]

Sled,
If you're hyperextending your back leg it sounds like you are too far behind/under the board. Try rolling forward so that you're pushing the board down underneath you with your heels - the suggestion of getting your heels towards the edge will help you get the board underneath you too. It should end up like a wakeboard start once the board settles in under your feet. Your heels need to end up lower than your butt so that your center of gravity can shift up onto the board.

The other thing I would highly recommend is a wakeskate (more toys!). I find it a nice cross between boarding and surfing. It is great for learning surface spins and board control. Catching an edge isn't nearly as painful since you aren't connected to the board. Will help your surf start technique too. I'll have mine at the jamboree - matte black and orange LSV. I think we met briefly at last year's...

Chad

[sled491]

Chad sounds good, I think I remember your boat. Mine was the only one without a tower. And yes more toys is always good. Hows your spark plug count? We did that test a while ago to check on # of toys.

[kaneboats]

You're going to be mad but when I tried it for the first time last month I popped up on the first try (220 lbs. of former athlete lost to the 12 oz curl). Course I had EdG in the water telling me exactly what to do. Think that made a difference?

[sled491]

Yeah, that's kind of like my wife last year popping right up on a wakeboard for the 1st time. And me, while a very accomplished skier and lightyears ahead of my wife on a ski took about 6 times to get up.

I think I'm to skier biased

[kaneboats]

I really struggled with the wakeboard too. I couldn't seem to figure it out. Then, after I did it, I forgot how and had to start all over. My brother was getting real mad at me after coming around for the 15th time. But, I did it and still remember how several years later. Still sore though.

[Tyger]

The biggest thing to remember is to keep your knees bent and your arms straight as you come up.

When people get up the first time, then have trouble, they are usually popping up too quick and pulling themselves up with their arms.

It's just like skiing - knees bent, arms straight. Say it like a mantra. :D

[sled491]

So I got up again this weekend but I think with no ballast I won't ever be able to surf. I still find I'm having limited sucess getting up. I got up after like 4 tries, got pulled around for quite a while, couldn't get slack and finally augered in. I tried to get back up again just to make sure I could, but after like 6 tries I had to get out. Why can't I get up consistently. PS I just bought a wake surf rope, and wasn't a big fan of the tiny T handle, but the knots helped move up and down the line.

[Ed G]

the two ropes I recently purchased have small handles too, like 6" in length.

I'm not real crazy about them either, takes some getting used to.

My last rope had a handle that was 8" long. It was perfect. Someday I'll do some research and try to find out who made that.

when you are struggling to get up, do you fall forward?

If so, like Tyger said, you are trying to stand up way too soon.

"knees bent, arms straight; knees bent, arms straight; knees bent, arms straight"

[sled491]

Man I just don't get it. On all the getting started videos I found on the internet it looks like nothing. I've been skiing a double highwrap since I was 19 and since the 1st time I tried it I could do it. This should be simple. The force to get up on the ski is way more! I will watch my knees this weekend and try to stay more squat at 1st. I also wonder if the waketowers make it easy as compared to my regular ski pylon?

[Ed G]

Sled, to be brutally honest, it doesn't matter where the rope is attached.

The problem exists on the other end of the rope.

Believe me (ask Kaneboats) once someone shows you how to do it, it is very easy to pop right up.

I think that's the key here. Someone needs to show you.

I don't think I could have learned from reading a description and forget those guys in the videos, they can walk on water.

Found the T-Bar rope with the longer handle that I really liked:

http://www.wakeside.com/product/brands/wake/proline/proline+t-bar++wakeboard+handle+combo+2008.do

[sled491]

Ed while I appriciate the honesty, I was hoping that wasn't the answer:)