save us

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the_anarchy16

Petty Officer 3rd Class
Joined
Mar 25, 2008
Messages
96
my cousin and I got a hold of a wakeboard. we have never done this and dont know anyone to teach us..... been googling but looking for some first hand tips/advise? we both ski extreemly well, waterski ok and snowboard fairly fell if that helps. also boat is a 17.5" bowrider with a 70hp if that helps any.thanks
 
ThreeMileBayWaker

ThreeMileBayWaker

Petty Officer 1st Class
Joined
Dec 17, 2009
Messages
342
Re: save us

That boat is going to drag you through the water a bit before you'll actually get up on plane, this is going to make it more difficult to pop you out of the water. It can be done, but its going to be harder. I have a 190hp V6... and fully loaded with fuel, 6 people mine still drags me a bit. Possibly look into changing your prop too, I have a high-five on the way myself to give me a better hole-shot.


Search youtube for more videos on how to edge and do simple tricks as you progress.
 
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tgell001

Petty Officer 1st Class
Joined
Jul 2, 2010
Messages
213
Re: save us

I'd say youre going to be underpowered and probably cause a first time failure. People tend to pull A LOT on their frist attempts.

Hey hows that high five prop? I upgraded to a 4 blade and I dropped the pitch 1 degree. I lost 6mph of the top end but the hole shot improved dramtically. I have 135hp so i'm worried about the increase in rotating mass being and issue with the High Five since i'm lacking in torque and also worried about the additional drag from the increased surface area hurting my top end even more.
 
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the_anarchy16

Petty Officer 3rd Class
Joined
Mar 25, 2008
Messages
96
Re: save us

thanks guys after a few failed attempts we both figured out how to get up easily. starting and riding in the wake are no longer a problem. What we found hard was riding outside the wake dealing with chop and then comming back into the wake. any suggestions? looking to get better at doing more than just carving inside the wake. thanks (board has no fins in that helps)
 
relocyo

relocyo

Chief Petty Officer
Joined
Apr 14, 2010
Messages
446
Re: save us

the_anarchy16 said:
thanks guys after a few failed attempts we both figured out how to get up easily. starting and riding in the wake are no longer a problem. What we found hard was riding outside the wake dealing with chop and then comming back into the wake. any suggestions? looking to get better at doing more than just carving inside the wake. thanks (board has no fins in that helps)
Click to expand...

Stay low, knees bent, and try to absorb the shock of entering wake with your knees, and try to let the board "bounce" you over the wake... Good luck! It only gets more fun from here on out!! Oh and try keeping most your weight on your back leg when crossing wakes... It just takes time and practice! Have fun...
 
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the_anarchy16

Petty Officer 3rd Class
Joined
Mar 25, 2008
Messages
96
Re: save us

thanks again figured it will come in time just sux getting bounced lol love it though new fav summer sport. now gotta get me a boat that can pull so i dont need to rely on my cuz
 
ThreeMileBayWaker

ThreeMileBayWaker

Petty Officer 1st Class
Joined
Dec 17, 2009
Messages
342
Re: save us

tgell001 said:
I'd say youre going to be underpowered and probably cause a first time failure. People tend to pull A LOT on their frist attempts.

Hey hows that high five prop? I upgraded to a 4 blade and I dropped the pitch 1 degree. I lost 6mph of the top end but the hole shot improved dramtically. I have 135hp so i'm worried about the increase in rotating mass being and issue with the High Five since i'm lacking in torque and also worried about the additional drag from the increased surface area hurting my top end even more.
Click to expand...

Night and day difference with bottom end torque which is mostly what I do.

I went from a 3 blade 21 x 14.3 ( 51mph @4800rpms wot)

5- blade 19x13.25 ( 43mph @ 4800rpms - engine will over rev if at WOT)

Top end suffers for sure, but it yanks people out of the water and I don't have to sit there and feather the throttle at all when riders cut hard.
 
S

salty87

Commander
Joined
Aug 12, 2003
Messages
2,327
Re: save us

the_anarchy16 said:
thanks guys after a few failed attempts we both figured out how to get up easily. starting and riding in the wake are no longer a problem. What we found hard was riding outside the wake dealing with chop and then comming back into the wake. any suggestions? looking to get better at doing more than just carving inside the wake. thanks (board has no fins in that helps)
Click to expand...

fins might help some at first. getting more comfortable with your edges will help you get back into the wake. reach your widest point outside the wake, slowly let the boat turn you back to the wake, barely dig the trailing edge of the board into the water by pulling against the boat, keep that edge and constant pull against the boat and it should take you right across. to jump the wake, increase the use of your edge by pulling harder against the boat.

proper positioning makes everything easier...just like how the correct form makes getting up effortless. keep the handle low and close to your hips, your shoulders back, knees slightly bent to absorb.

the handle, edge, and knees will give you air to get across the wake. handle low, edge set, knees ready to give you a little extension as you hit the wake. the edge and knee extension will give you the pop. once you're leaving the water, you have to roll your shoulders back a bit and give the handle a solid pull to your waist. that will give you the speed to make it across and also the proper position to land and ride away. if you let the handle get away from your hips....smile for the faceplant!
 
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the_anarchy16

Petty Officer 3rd Class
Joined
Mar 25, 2008
Messages
96
Re: save us

good advise thanks..... seems easy enough i have no problem getting up or turning just found the chop outside the wake difficult to deal with and still a bit nervous about burrying the tip on the way into the wake lol id like to say there will be no faceplants but who am i kidding.... this is gunna hurt lol
 
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rallyart

Lieutenant Junior Grade
Joined
Jun 7, 2008
Messages
1,179
Re: save us

When you are learning edging and slides you can go pretty slow. That gives you lots of space between the wakes and you can confidently learn how to control the board. I would slow to 12 mph when my daughter was learning surface 360's. Just go fast enough that the board doesn't sink. Try riding on your tow edge with your back to the boat. Back and forth and also letting the board slide without moving sideways. Do this on your heel edge first, of course. Faceplants are cushy below 15 and really hard if you are cutting across the wake at 18 for an over the water speed of almost 40.
 
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the_anarchy16

Petty Officer 3rd Class
Joined
Mar 25, 2008
Messages
96
Re: save us

thanks guys. we are getting better no problems carving or comming in and out of the wake. started small jumps (well little hops) and am getting more comfortable. having a bit of trouble outside the wake getting bounced by the chop. first jump )well more like powered faceplant) sure was fun thoguh lol
 
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craze1cars

Lieutenant Commander
Joined
Dec 26, 2004
Messages
1,822
Re: save us

Chop on a wakeboard sucks. Much worse than chop on waterskis. As hard as it can be to find, smooth water is your friend. Most of my runs are done at 7:00 am on weekdays....always glass...makes a HUGE difference. Obviously not everyone can do such a thing. But I don't care how experienced you are, choppy water on a wakeboard will mess you up, limit your ability to do many tricks, and take a lot of fun out of it...

If it's choppy, I usually leave the wakeboard in the rack and instead just free-ski on a slalom, or just swim and tube...

Have you gone "goofy-foot" yet? I feel it is very important to become equally comfortable going with EITHER foot forward. If you always have the same foot forward, you will be pigeon-holed into learning very few tricks. Even if you can't do surface 180's with confidence yet, just try getting straight out of the water with the wrong foot forward and just ride around like that for a while...it will feel VERY awkward at first. But it REALLY helps your stability after you learn to be equally comfortable riding in both directions.
 
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the_anarchy16

Petty Officer 3rd Class
Joined
Mar 25, 2008
Messages
96
Re: save us

wouldnt say im comfortable but i can ride goofy to an extent. still need some more practice but its comming. any tips on learning to do surface spins?
 
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craze1cars

Lieutenant Commander
Joined
Dec 26, 2004
Messages
1,822
Re: save us

Not sure if this has been mentioned yet, but one of the most useful tips I have received, and continue to give is this:

Never never NEVER NEVER look down at the water...or at your board. Keep your eyes up and out...look at the boat, look at the shoreline, look to your side, look behind you...look at ANYTHING else, but NEVER look down.

I always say "wherever your eyes, go, your face is sure to follow"...prepare for SPLAT!

Most beginners have a hard time with this. They feel the need to stare at the wakes/chop/bumps that they are about to be challenged with. And when practicing surface 180's, it seems natural to want to look at the board. Bad idea.

Rarely does looking at it help you to conquer it...and usually looking at it creates faceplants.
 
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the_anarchy16

Petty Officer 3rd Class
Joined
Mar 25, 2008
Messages
96
Re: save us

thanks guys im not to bad for watching my feet. mostly watch the boat and look for oncomming traffic/wakes. think that instinct comes from my skiing/snowboarding background though
 
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