Teaching to wakeboard

[rostap]

Need some advice on how to teach my kids on how to get up on the wakeboard. Like most of us I assume, we have been doing it so long that i dont even know what i do...the boat starts to move and you're up. I have a 7 year old i was trying to get started yesterday and we of course have the basics down...bend your knees, arms straight, etc.

We were out last night and i got in the water with him (near the shoreline) and only let him try a handful of times so he wouldn't get frustrated or burnt out. But other than repetition, any tricks you guys have used to make teaching any easier?

Thanks

[kknobl58185]

ever heard of the book... its a pretty boring but good...

http://www.thebookdvd.com/

im like you its hard to put the process in words... i always tell everyone who tries to learn remember not to pull on the rope

[rostap]

The last time I learned anything from a video since I was 16 or 17...but it might be worth a look! Thanks

[wallacmc]

There was a an awesome free tutorial site that I watched. After watching, I tried it for a 1/2 hr. in the water and was up. Unfortunately, the site is no longer there. It was http://www.performancewake.com/tricks.asp
If anyone knows what happened to it, please feel free to chime in. The tutorial had good ideas for drills you can do on land to practice what would happen in the water.

[contlee]

i have taught close to a dozen people to wakeboard this summer, and typically i tell them a few simple steps to get up. First I tell them to lay back in a relaxed position while they look up at the sky. They then should put their body in the position of a baseball catcher that is laying on their back in the water. Next they should put their arms between their legs. As the boat begins to go, the rider should let their chest be pulled to their knees and then let their butt slide to their ankles. After their butt has gone to their ankles they then should let the boat roll them up into a position that looks like a baseball catcher squatting on the surface of the water. finally they should stand up and pull the handle to their leading hip.

[murphini]

Agreed with contlee---few other thoughts:

I tell first timers to brace their elbows on their knees and hold the rope perpendicular--like a baseball bat. It's the crouched position contlee (catcher laying down) that works well.

Let the boat pull a bit/get water pressure on the board, then sort of twist the board so it's like a ramp pulling them up out of the water. I tell them the tower will pull them "UP".

Then when up, first timer's will naturally go way out to their heel side, so we tell them once they get up, and just hold on with the 1 arm closest to the boat so they get pulled straight behind boat instead of sideways.

Once up and straight, have them regrip the rope like a waterski rope, but to keep near their front hip vs. way out in front like a waterskiier.

Then learn gradually how toe and heel side turning works

We've taught probably 40 people over the last 6 years or so, youngest has been about 10 years old.....oldest 55ish. Only 2 or 3 were totally unable to get up-both guys in their 30's who absolutely fought the process versus letting the board twist up and "ramp" them out of the water.

Beginners 16-18mph. 16 is slow, but once you you can gradually increase the speed.

I'll drag them @ idle/4mph for just a bit to get the pressure on the board then roll on the power.

[murphini]

Agreed with contlee---few other thoughts:

I tell first timers to brace their elbows on their knees and hold the rope perpendicular--like a baseball bat. It's the crouched position contlee (catcher laying down) that works well.

Let the boat pull a bit/get water pressure on the board, then sort of twist the board so it's like a ramp pulling them up out of the water. I tell them the tower will pull them "UP".

Then when up, first timer's will naturally go way out to their heel side, so we tell them once they get up, and just hold on with the 1 arm closest to the boat so they get pulled straight behind boat instead of sideways.

Once up and straight, have them regrip the rope like a waterski rope, but to keep near their front hip vs. way out in front like a waterskiier.

Then learn gradually how toe and heel side turning works

We've taught probably 40 people over the last 6 years or so, youngest has been about 10 years old.....oldest 55ish. Only 2 or 3 were totally unable to get up-both guys in their 30's who absolutely fought the process versus letting the board twist up and "ramp" them out of the water.

Beginners 16-18mph. 16 is slow, but once you you can gradually increase the speed.

I'll drag them @ idle/4mph for just a bit to get the pressure on the board then roll on the power.

[3sportboat]

There are a few " how do you get up on a wakeboard " videos on you tube. Some good some not so good. Advise can be all over the place. What worked with my kids was

- grip the handle with both palms down , not like a baseball bat.
- arms out straight with your knees inside of your elbows.
- bring your knees tight to your chest.
- be patient , let the boat do all the work, once the board starts to plane one the surface straighten your leg and twist your hips.
- pull the handle to your leading hip.

[wake454]

Tell them to sit down on the floor in the boat as if they were in the water or in a chair. Grab there hands and pull them up to their feet. Tell them to do the same thing in the water. They need to imagine that the rope is just pulling them up out of a chair.

This allows the newbie to associate the feeling to something they do every day. It works really well.

[thtrog]

Tell them to sit down on the floor in the boat as if they were in the water or in a chair. Grab there hands and pull them up to their feet. Tell them to do the same thing in the water. They need to imagine that the rope is just pulling them up out of a chair.

This allows the newbie to associate the feeling to something they do every day. It works really well.

You can also do this in the water and pull them up on the back edge of the platform so they get the feel of actually coming out of the water.

[Iwndr]

You can also do this in the water and pull them up on the back edge of the platform so they get the feel of actually coming out of the water.

That is how I taught my daughter to get up. Had her hold the handle, arms straight, knees bent everything you all have been saying but I had her resting her board against the platform, then I would stand on the sun pad and pull her up and let her down till she got used to the feeling.
I also would not pull her until she learned how to rotate her board and hips and right herself from a face down position in the water.

[rostap]

Thanks everyone for the advice, sounds like some great ideas practicing before being towed. I think i'll give that a try and hope for a quite morning early sat am. I also thought about getting him on the board with me, but even as stable as i am, that scares me a bit. 7 may be too big for that anyways. Thanks again.

[awr90]

you can also sit them on a small raft or something like that so they are not completely in the water and let them practiice coming off that a couple times to kind of get the motion down and then let them try it regularly. iv also seen people use a tube the same way.

[goboardgo]

Eddie's way is the best way. Let them put the board against the swim platform and slowly pull them up. You can correct the bad behavior/posture right there. If you can get it right there, they will get up on the first or second pull everytime.

Remember that the main thing that beginners do wrong is stand up too soon! If they are falling forward, they are most likely straightening their legs.

[thtrog]

Eddie's way is the best way. Let them put the board against the swim platform and slowly pull them up. You can correct the bad behavior/posture right there. If you can get it right there, they will get up on the first or second pull everytime.

Remember that the main thing that beginners do wrong is stand up too soon! If they are falling forward, they are most likely straightening their legs.

Because I learned it from the best