How to throw a 360?

[Matt Garcia]

Hoping someone could offer tips or suggestions. I have tried several times to throw a 360 on the wakesurfer but haven’t successfully completed it yet. I can get the full rotation on the board and stay on it but can’t keep up with the boat. I seem to spin, fall out of the pocket and just sink.

Does anyone have any experience doing this? Surfdad?

**EDIT - Dang my engrish is al brocken!

[Surfdad]

My guess Matt, is that you aren't looking over your shoulder. Try this the next time you are out, as you start the rotation, look over your trailing shoulder for the transom and focus on that. It will feel like your head is "wound up" at the start and then you'll unwind as you come around.

The other potential is that you're standing up in the middle of the rotation, which will slow you down. If your head rotation is sound (looking where you want to go) try and stay tucked through the rotation.

If those don't do the trick, can you get some one to take some pictures of you? The best would be the automatic sequence shots - that'll give us the perspective we need.

I'll also try and post some sequence shots of James - he spins 3's in his sleep

[Domsz06]

wow, do you need a big wake to spin a 3? I can't imagine doing it, but then again I have never seen someone do it, so not clue how. Would be cool though.

[Surfdad]

Hey Dom, for folks just learning, a smaller wake and a LONGER pocket is better.

[Surfdad]

Ok, this is not the best sequence that I KNOW I have, but it's the only one I could find. It's like when I set my car keys, I KNOW they are in the house...or the garage...or the shop, I think

I thought what I would do is post the sequence of four pictures just so you could see the major components of the surface three and then go back and disect each step a little more fully.

Sequence of pictures...you should note that this is a fluid, continuous motion, no sliding down the face nor at any point riding revert.

[Surfdad]

This board had 3.5 inch fins, so it's a little tougher to START the rotation, but the end is easier as the fins are 'grabbing'. To start the surface 3 you want a little bit of forward momentum. The spin will scrub off speed so it's best to start a bit behind where you want to initiate the spin, drive forward and then throw the three. Often times riders will get TOO MUCH speed and get out of control. I would suggest just starting about a board length behind where you want to start.

What you're looking to do is place the nose of the board on the peak of the wake - that is, where the lip reaches it's high point and starts to descend. You want to place the nose about 6 inches up over the lip/peak area. Your eyes should be focusing on that. If you're trying 3's and wind up in different locations each time - you're not focusing your eyes on the peak. It's like any sporting activity - you'll go where you look.

You'll initiate the rotation by dargging your trailing hand. It's a decided drag or pull. Cup your hand and pull to start the rotation, along with turning the board up into the wake...again, aiming the nose for the peak.

[Surfdad]

You'll maintain your focus on the peak until you actually see the nose of the board where it is supposed to be. As mentioned earlier, if you have wildly different results with each attempt, this is more than likely your problem.

[Surfdad]

It's a little hard to see, but if you line up the tail of the board in the various pictures you'll see that it's not moved much, just a bit back from where it started. Also, note that James has brought his head completely around and is focused on the transom. This is where most folks have trouble, they will be looking out into the flats and naturally, the rotation stops, causing the board to float out the back. The transition from the previous picture should be to spot the nose placement and then IMMEDIATELY bring your head around and focus on the transom.

[Surfdad]

The final phase is to bring the nose of the board around, this is mostly upper body bringing the lower body and board back around.

[Surfdad]

In my experience, the two biggest problems that folks have are the initiation of the 3. Either not placing the nose of the board in the same place each time and so, they MAY hit a 3 now and again, but are inconsistent. You can correct this by always placing the board in the same location. That location should be the nose just over the peak about 6 inches.

The OTHER most common poblem is not bringing your head around. If you've ever watched a wakeboarding instructional video, there is always a directive about head placement in rotational moves. Many folks align their head and shoulders with the centerline of he board and don't change that during the surface 3. What happens is that when the board is at about 270 degrees in the rotation, if you don't bring the board around, because you're looking into the flats, the board is losing speed and you'll drift out the back.

Hope that helps everyone!

[dogbert]

That's great!

One question, when are you releasing your instructional video?

[Domsz06]

AWESOME THANKS SURFDAD!!!

[Tequilasun]

So yeah, do what Surfdad said.

[Matt Garcia]

Awesome examples Surfdad! My problem was also not knowing where to place the board and what to aim for while trying the 360.

I will have to study this thread again when I go out.

Thanks again.

[Surfdad]

This is a REALLY poor quality video of James, but it does show him doing at least one surface three. Sometimes seeing it in motion is better than the step-by-step. Second video down:

http://www.thewalkerproject.com/category_s/75.htm