Great suggestions here ..... Last Sun my 16yr old son and 13yr daughter tired to wakeboard with no success. They gave up for the day after trying several times as they were complaining about their hands hurtIng so we are getting gloves and will try again next weekend. This is their first time. I want to get them comfortable with the wakeboard before moving on to the surfboard. Let me know if this logic is not correct as I don’t know which is easier for beginners?
The other Q I have for the experts, can you tell me what should the rope length be for wakeboarding and for surfboardIng? I am attaching to the tower. Thx
Do they downhill ski or snowboard? Is there someone in your crew that can show them how to do it (always better in person than watching you tube).
1. Do some drills on the ground. Get them used to the rope and pull them up. Make sure they learn to keep their arm straight as their legs extend.
2. Get them used to (on the ground still) to starting square to the boat (rope puller). The board will naturally rotate
3. Make sure they understand there is no rush to stand up. They can stay crouched all day long
4. As the board starts floating, it will naturally rotate. I teach beginners to bring their hands to their hip. It's not an ideal riding position but what it does is it forces them to keep their arms straight to reach their hip. Otherwise, they tug on the rope, the rope tugs back and the boat wins.
5. Never let a beginner get to the point where they get discouraged. If they look tired after 3-4 tries, get someone else in the water and let them take a brake.
The day before my daughter went up for the first time, we did all the ground drills and I got her to the point where she had memorized the 3 steps to getting up. Got up on her first try.
a) stay in a ball, arms straight
b) count to 3 before getting up, count to 3 while getting up
c) hands to the hip once I'm up
Shawn Murray used to have a good video on youtube, try to find it.
WIth beginners, it's important to have an experienced driver that can read how the skier/boarder is doing and adjust the thrust accondingly. Get them used to a bit of drag and dynamic balancing before trying to pull them up. Ensure they can stay crouched while being dragged very slowly.
I scan the water for hazards first then either read them in the mirror or by looking over my shoulder directly. Until they get used to it, you are a team. If they fail, the driver failed!
For wakeboarding, I use about 65-70' to ensure they get no spray. Beginners don't like spray!
For wakesurfing, I'm 2 off (2 loops of the end) on my rope. You will have to figure out for your wave and your boat what the ideal length is. For a beginner, I want the rope dragging in the water either just in the max push area up to 2 feet behind, no more. Another good trick for beginner wakesurfers is tying the rope to the side of the tower. In case the driver has trouble keeping them outside the wake while learning to get up, it gives them a figthting chance away from the water jet. I always start with a turn towards the rider side to keep them out of the wake until they are up and steady.
