Wakeboarding advice?

How do you get up properly?
What speed does the driver go at?
Cutting across waves?

The driver is more important when learning to get up that the skier. There is no such thing as too slow.

For the skier, keep the knees bent, board in front and tipped forward. Don't stand up, let the boat pull you out of the water, and don't worry about turning the board immediately, you can ride it sideways all day, especially at low speeds. Biggest mistake guys make (in my experience) is trying to stand up too soon, or trying to lift themselves with their arms. The boat is stronger than you, I promise, let it do the work.

Once you get up, don't be afraid to ride slow, 15-16, until you get comfortable. I personally like to be around 19 or 20, but realize that each incremental speed change impacts the shape and width of the wake drastically.

Yes, beginnners apply way too much throttle,

No I don't have a boom. The challenge that I will have is wakeboarding behind my Dad's boat. He has an 18' checkmate which you can do watersports behind it but sort of challenging. It takes alot longer to be able to get up than with a Correct Craft. In other words the Checkmate is more of a go fast boat than an actual ski boat. I'm hoping someday to get a Ski Nautique. In that I like the style of them and how they do an awesome job of pulling people behind the boat.

IAughtNaut wrote: The driver is more important when learning to get up that the skier. There is no such thing as too slow. For the skier, keep the knees bent, board in front and tipped forward. Don't stand up, let the boat pull you out of the water, and don't worry about turning the board immediately, you can ride it sideways all day, especially at low speeds. Biggest mistake guys make (in my experience) is trying to stand up too soon, or trying to lift themselves with their arms. The boat is stronger than you, I promise, let it do the work. Once you get up, don't be afraid to ride slow, 15-16, until you get comfortable. I personally like to be around 19 or 20, but realize that each incremental speed change impacts the shape and width of the wake drastically.

I agree with everything you said. The only thing I do differently is I turn the board immediately. I used to let the driver drag me a few feet, then pop up. A few weeks back I started like I normally did, but I kept my forward foot (goofy foot) up at a slight angle while sitting in the water. Once the slack is gone, my buddy hits the throttle and I pop right up. I find these easier on my back and shoulders.

We run 19-20 with a 60' rope. Still trying to learn the "pop" to get more air.

Captain Nick: definitely check-out YouTube for some tips, but the best thing you can do is just head out there and keep trying. I can't water ski to save my life, but I was able to get up on a wakeboard after my 3rd try and I'm a spaz.

I bought a boat earlier in the year. It's a 2001 Baja 25 Outlaw. Has a 496 Mag H.O. 425 hp stock engine. Top speed of 70mph. I really do enjoy my boats look, speed, sound, and handling of the chop. The problem you can't ski behind it at all. I could only use it once a month because of the amount of gas my boat has a 96 gallon tank. The other reason I would like to keep it at my parents lake house. Which it would need a boat lift for the Ski Nautique. My current boat is on trailer at a marina. I also don't have a truck to tow with. So my two options would be keep my current boat and get the Ski Nautique as well. The Ski Nautique I could use for watersports and drive more often. The Baja for cruising and going fast. for   Or the other would be to sell my current boat and use the money for a Ski Nautique, boat lift, and a new dock for my parents lake house. This is what been the hold up.

IAughtNaut wrote: I know everyone has different preferences, but for me, a boat you can't ski behind is useless. It can be fast, or big, or really nice, but give me an open bow ski boat that I can get a bunch of my friends on and I'm the happiest. That outlaw's not a cheap boat, you could get a lot of ski boat for that kind of money, especially if you want to get into wakeboarding, or any other watersport. Just my opinion.

I kind of feel the same way. I like to look at and admire big boats and sail boats and fast boats (I am always distracted when I see the Fountain or Donzi or some such saltwater boat with 3 or 4 big outboards, the make and model changes every year, sitting on a lift in the sound on my way to the Outer Banks with my wife and kids), but I think I would find little interest in being in one of those very often or for very long. The ski boat, particularly the inboard, seems to the perfect combination of performance, utility and fun (I make do with the closed bow).

not to mention the fact that for the same amount of gas you can go out 3 times a month instead of 1...there's the real value to me

There's an application for team red you'll have to fill out

Captain Nick wrote: Thank you there guys. Now you know what my holdup has been. As far as a Ski Nautique goes it would be closed bow anywhere from an 85 to a 93. I like the way those look. Of course they made changes throughout the years which is fine by me. If I could choose a color it would be in red.

'93 was the first year for composite stringers. If you don't want to ever worry about stringer rot, then you need go '93 or newer.

Swatkinz wrote: I have more people struggle to get up on the wakeboard than any other tow toy. I too suggest dropping the trailing hand so that the boat will pull the rider sideways. With both hands on the handle everyone wants to keep their body straight to the boat

I am just learning to wakeboard. For me, the key to getting up has been knees close to chest, arms straight outside of knees, try to sit "high" in the water.   While keeping the leading edge from going under, angle the board just a little so the planing surface of the board is facing the water, then let the boat do the work (not too hard a pull from the driver, enough to get you on plane without pulling the handle out of your hands), then the lead foot seems to naturally rotate forward. I think slower speeds (15-16 mph) initially helped me start to build a little confidence, and I don't seem to slam into the water as hard if I catch and edge. I still have a mighty long way to go, still trying to switch the lead foot without falling, then on to trying figure out going from wake to wake I guess.

I am 57, 315, wear a brace and I got up on a wakeboard first try. It wasn't a pretty sight but I did it. The trick is to let the boat do the work. I put the thing on and instantly felt like I was velcroed to the dock. A belly flop got me in the water. Once in I managed to flip right side up tucked my knees into my chest (ok belly) and kept the board perpendicular to the boat with the edge up about an inch out of the water. With arms straight I let the boat pull me. Not fighting the pull but not rushing to stand, the board ran underwater for a few seconds and than I was up. I was at an angle to the boat so I let go with my rear hand and the board straightened out but I instantly realized I didn't have enough strength to hold on so I grabbed back with two hands and road crooked all the way back to the dock. Getting a little cocky and thinking I could ride right out of the wake I proceeded and face planted. (I did say the event was not pretty) I called for my boy to swim out and help get the wakeboard off. I swam back in to cheers from all present.

So there that's my wakeboard story. I did it. I may not try again for a while but I did it. If you let the boat do the work you will too!

I hate to admit it but since most of you are I will also.

After 20 years of tournament 3 event water skiing and countless hours of practice I too had a hard time with the wakeboard.

It goes against everything you've done to get up on any other type of skiing. I quit trying to get up one day and did a deep water start to foot just to make sure I could still get up at all!

giving into the boat is the only way to get up. We had to give up our spot on a private tournament site and move to an open lake. My kids weren't going to become tournament skiers but they are very into boarding and now I've gotten into it and wake surfing. Went from a nice slalom wake to adding ballast to the largest boat I've owned.

I don't know what was harder, getting up on a board the first time or going 180 from a slalom boat to a wakeboard v drive.

Board setup is important also. A bigger board will have more float and be easier to learn on. Putting the boots wide will give the new rider a more secure feel with their stance. Duck the boots out 20-40 degrees. Ask the new rider if they have ever ridden a skateboard and if so which foot did they use to push? That is your back foot.   

bhectus wrote: Board setup is important also.   Duck the boots out 20-40 degrees. Ask the new rider if they have ever ridden a skateboard and if so which foot did they use to push? That is your back foot.

I'm gonna disagree with you on this one Bret. A 20-40 degrees is a bit excessive and I think your cruising for a serious knee injury that duck footed. Mine are set 9 degrees which for most people IMHO is a normal everyday stance. I've taught many of people to board and it's always worked.

Wayne, The push back method is what I use when a newby says, "I've never skateboarded before." I have also used the kickball question because most people have kicked a ball at some point in there life. Their plant foot is their forward foot.

My $.02 worth.