Sort of a beginner with some ?'s

[infinityent]

Hey,
I've had my board for like 3-4 years now but I haven't really ridden it much until lately (last season and this season). I ride a Juvi 131 which is a small scale hyperlite fluid 137, a freeride designed in part by murray. Its the first and only board I've ever ridden. Right now my heelside edge is my best bet. I can hook about three to four foot of air off the heelside, maybe a foot and a half off the toeside edge. However, even off of my heelside I can't clear both wakes, have tried moving a little closer but hasn't helped. I ride behind an old school 88 Hurricane tri hull deck boat. The tow point is about 3 inches off the surface of the water. It has no ballast weight besides my mom and dad sometimes a few guys or girls but not on those early mornings. I also free water slalom ski (I've heard that this isnt necessarily a good thing). We have been thinkin about gettin a 22i (since we all slalom too) but i'm tryin to decide if thats the best option. Is my problem my Juvi, my boat or is it most likely just me and my lack of real wake board knowledge? I read a lot of forums and watch movies but these dont seem to help a lot. Do i really need a Tige w/ a tower and taps, can it really make that much difference? I mean equipment can't be everythin right? Can i build a better wake w/ fat sacs and a pylon? I have also been looking at a new Hyperlite State, thought it might improve my edging, could this help? Any other personal techniques that I could use to improve my jump? Sorry for such a long post, just wanted to add as much info to allow you guys to help me.
Here's wishin you all butter~ Nick

[smendez]

Infinityent:

All the best equipment in the world won't make you a better wakerboarder or skier. Riding will make you a better wakeboarder. Ride, ride, ride. Ride 2 or 3 times a week. Ride more if you can. Find friends and ride with them. Watch them and let them watch you and constructively criticize.

We just took some slalom lessons and in my opinion, I am a better skier because of it. Do the same.

The nicer boat is just that - a nicer boat. Once you're really good, it'll make it easier to move to the next level, but don't expect the boat to take you there all by itself.

I've seen the video for the solo (tiny pwc with tiny wake) and the wakeboard guy is doing all kinds of tricks on it.

One side note: A really cool boat may make it easier to find friends to ride with

[infinityent]

Any tips on ways to improve distance on the jump so I can get across both wakes. I get about 3-4 foot of air pretty consitently on my heelside but i dont feel like i have time to try anything because i just go up and come right back down, i was almost making it to the second wake yesterday but definitly not getting over it.

[Matt Garcia]

I agree with smendez, get out there and just ride. You dont always need a big wake to become a dood rider. For example you can work on switch riding, toeside, switch toeside, lip slides, back slides, surface 360s and surface 180s.

In my opinion and experience it is much easier to learn the fundamentals on a small wake than a big wake. Learning on a small wake requires you to properly edge and have proper handle and body postioning. I see guys all the time who can throw backrolls or tantrums but dont know how to ride switch or jump the wake toeside.

How fast are you riding and what is your length on your line?

To improve height on your wake to wakes set a progressive edge and dont flatten the board out when you hit the wake. Keep it on edge and stand tall as you hit the wake. Your handle should also be close to you body as well.

[infinityent]

I usualy ride between 20-25 dependin on water conditions and how I feel and what i'm doin. I usually slow down to about 20 if i'm tryin to do surface stuff like wake slides and surface 180s or when I'm workin on switch. That doesn't mean i dont ride switch faster too its just like if i go out there primarily to work on switch ridin for 5-10 minutes then I'll have em slow it down. My heelside edge is definitly getting there but my toeside is weak, I mean i can get air but not much! Not sure of the line length. Its an accurate non stretch i think 60-70 depending on handle. Unfortunately it is only a 3 piece line: Handle w/ brade (Hyper-Pro), long silver nonstretch (i think thats 60') and then a yellow nonstretch (maybe 5'-10') before the Y that hooks to my two tow hooks 3 inches from the water.

[holiday13]

When jumping do not look down at the wake, look strait across, this also helps and was one of my big problems.

[TeamAllen]

What area do you live in? Maybe someone can hook you up with a ride and see? If you are serious about he 22i, (nice boat) maybe the dealer will work out a demo ride?

[holiday13]

As for your choice in boat, demo the 22i and 22v. You will find, IMO, ther is not that much of a difference in the slalom wake between the I and the V (but I am not a slalom guy). The advantage to the V is more versatility. There is a much nicer/usable passenger area and better storage oportunities. Either one you go with definately get a tower though, and ballast. Although Tige' will tell you ballast is not necessary, id defiantely helps. I opted out of the factory ballast and wish I had gotten it, now I have put about 50 hours into doing my own ballast and there is a huge difference. So where are you located?

[Tequilasun]

if your doing everything else correctly, progressive edge etc. Then a tower or pylon probably would help you. Having the tow point higher in the boat allows you more time in the air, as the boat is not pulling you down. I don't know that it is a huge deal, but it might help.

[infinityent]

Located in upstate New York. We have a camp, and a boat, on the Great Sacandaga. Closest dealer is in Lake George and we have talked to him. He's a great guy but doesn't have a lot of used inventory (does more nautique business). I was all excited and pushing for my parents to get a new boat and now that it seems likely i'm just wondering if its worth it. I mean I know a boat alone wont make me better. I'm also becoming concerned w/ Tige's quality control, but thats another thread. I was also looking at Tige because I thought that the TAPS plate and Convex Hull were great ideas but now I see Nautique has created a very similiar system. The point of us getting a new boat has two sides. 1) More enjoyable wakeboarding to help push me to the next level (As I've said I dont expect the boat to do it alone) and 2) To get away from all the little problems we are having with our aging boat. However, it seems as though Tige is having these little problems with their NEW boats. I started looking at a Air 211 Team today w/ fusion hull and Sportshift...sounds a lot like the Tige ideas and they still have factory ballast which is nearly standard on anything bought from a dealer.

holiday13-
thats a great point. I'll have to work on it, I know that changing my vision helped my skiing and I'm sure it will help boarding too.

[Original Wing Nut]

Ride with guys better than you

I found that if I ride with guys alot better than me, I get more testicular fortitude, if you know what I mean. If you are catching 3-4 of air and someone before you grabs 8 and then throws a big trick. You will find that in some instances peer pressure is great.

[infinityent]

Doesn't a Direct Drive handle better than a V drive? That's one reason why we were thinkin 22i.

[holiday13]

Maybe a little due to where the engine sits (center vs rear), but they have the same rudder and prop positioning as well as same hull. As far as I know that is as I am no Tige' expert. What I do know is my 24v handles great and would have nothing else. Demo both the I and the V and see for yourself. From what I have seen most the people buying I (whether it be Tige' MC SN whatever) those people are mainly slalom only people.

[raythompson]

Originally posted by infinityent
Doesn't a Direct Drive handle better than a V drive? That's one reason why we were thinkin 22i.

The direct drive engine is also lower in the hull on a direct drive as it does not have to sit above the propeller shaft. I also think you are pulling on a ski pylon that is more centrally located in the boat and does not torgue the boat as much as the ski pylon on a V drive.

You also gain a little bit of efficiency as you no longer have the V-drive assembly and associated gears and bearings. These can consume a some power from the engine.

The differences are subtle and probably not something that most of us would notice.

[malarson]

This spring I upgraded to a '98 pre2100wt from A 18' Bayliner. I was having some of the same problems as you are with my wake. I wasn't able to get wake to wake unless I had a really short rope and was going 26 MPH. (way to fast for comfort). With my new boat and a new Hyperlite state board I feel that my boarding skills and confidence have improved 100% in just the 5 months since I invested in my new boat. I highly recommend the Hyperlite state board for people like me who are relatively new to the sport but want to take it to the next level. Hyperlite just had a demo day here in Idaho and the guys were super cool to talk to.